When to Go
High Season (Jun–Aug)
A Warm days across the country, with generally high temperatures.
A Busiest season, with big crowds and higher prices.
A In ski-resort areas, January to March is high season.
Shoulder (Apr–May & Sep–Oct)
A Milder temperatures, fewer crowds.
A Spring flowers (April) and fiery autumn colors (October) in many parts of the country.
Low Season (Nov–Mar)
A Wintry days, with snowfall in the north, and heavier rains in some regions.
A Lowest prices for accommodations (aside from ski resorts and warmer getaway destinations).
Useful Websites
Lonely Planet (www.lonelyplanet.com/usa) Destination information, hotel bookings, traveler forum and more.
National Park Service (www.nps.gov) Gateway to America’s greatest natural treasures, its national parks.
Eater (www.eater.com) Foodie insight into two dozen American cities.
Punch (www.punchdrink.com) Quirky guides and helpful insights on how to drink well in America’s cities.
New York Times Travel (www.nytimes.com/travel) Travel news, practical advice and engaging features.
Roadside America (www.roadsideamerica.com) For all things weird and wacky.
Important Numbers
| Emergency |  %911 |
| USA country code | %1 |
| Directory assistance | %411 |
| International directory assistance | %00 |
| International access code from the USA | %011 |
Exchange Rates
| Australia | A$1 | US$0.67 |
| Canada | C$1 | US$0.75 |
| Europe | €1 | US$1.09 |
| Japan | ¥100 | US$0.94 |
| New Zealand | NZ$1 | US$0.63 |
| UK | UK£1 | US$1.20 |
For current exchange rates, see www.xe.com
Daily Costs
Budget: Less than $150
A Campgrounds and hostel dorms: $10–50
A Food from a cafe, farmers market or food truck: $6–15
A Local bus, subway or train tickets: $2–4
Midrange: $150–250
A Double room in midrange hotel: $75–200
A Popular restaurant dinner for two: $30–60
A Car rental per day: from $30
Top End: More than $300
A Double room in a resort or top-end hotel: from $250
A Dinner in a top restaurant: $60–100
A Concert or theater tickets: $60–200
Opening Hours
Typical opening times are as follows:
Banks 8:30am to 4:30pm Monday to Thursday, to 5:30pm Friday (and possibly 9am to noon Saturday)
Bars 5pm to midnight Sunday to Thursday, to 2am Friday and Saturday
Nightclubs 10pm to 4am Thursday to Saturday
Post offices 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday
Shopping malls 9am to 9pm
Stores 9am to 6pm Monday to Saturday, noon to 5pm Sunday
Supermarkets 8am to 8pm, some open 24 hours
Arriving in the USA
JFK International Airport (New York) From JFK take the AirTrain to Jamaica Station and then LIRR to Penn Station ($12–16; 45 minutes). A taxi to Manhattan costs around $60, plus toll and tip (45 to 90 minutes).
Los Angeles International Airport LAX Flyaway Bus to Union Station costs $9.75 (30 to 50 minutes); door-to-door Prime Time & SuperShuttle costs $17 to $30 (35 minutes to 1½ hours); and a taxi to Downtown costs $47 (25 to 50 minutes).
Miami International Airport SuperShuttle to South Beach for $22 (50 to 90 minutes); taxi to Miami Beach for $36 (40 to 60 minutes); or take the Metrorail to downtown (Government Center) for $2.25 (15 minutes).
Time Zones in the USA
The continental USA has four time zones:
EST Eastern (GMT/UTC minus five hours): NYC, Boston, Washington, DC, Atlanta
CST Central (GMT/UTC minus six hours): Chicago, New Orleans, Houston
MST Mountain (GMT/UTC minus seven hours): Denver, Santa Fe, Phoenix
PST Pacific (GMT/UTC minus eight hours): Seattle, San Francisco, Las Vegas
Most of Alaska is one hour behind Pacific time (GMT/UTC minus nine hours), while Hawaii is two hours behind Pacific time (GMT/UTC minus 10 hours).
For much more, see Getting Around