Page 214 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Washington, DC

212  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

Communications and Media Post Service
Post offices are open from 9am
The almost universal use of cell phones has caused the demise to 5pm, Mondays through
of coin-operated pay phones. It is now difficult to find a public Fridays, and have limited
pay phone in the street, although they are still available at main Saturday service, usually 9am
stations. Like most major cities, Washington, DC is thoroughly to noon. Post offices are closed
on all federal holidays. Stamps
wired for Internet access. Free Wi-Fi is provided in many public can also be bought from most
places and there are several other ways to get online. Since major supermarkets, such as
Washington, DC is the political capital of the United States, Giant and Safeway.
news is readily available from newspapers, magazines, If the correct postage is
television, and radio. affixed, you can send a letter
by putting it in one of the blue
mailboxes found on street
Cell Phones supermarkets, 24-hour stores, corners all over Washington.
Cell phone service in Washington newspaper stands, and some Times of mail pickup are written
is generally excellent. If you are branches of Western Union. inside the mailbox’s lid; there
coming from overseas and want are usually several collections
to guarantee that your cell a day. It is man datory to use a
phone will work, make sure Telephone Charges five-digit zip code when
you have a quad-band phone. Local calls cost around 50 cents sending mail. Be aware that
Tri-band phones from outside for 3 minutes from pay phones. small packages may not be
the US are also usually Calls made from hotel rooms posted in mailboxes for security
compatible but, because the will cost much more, so it is reasons; they must be taken
US uses two frequency bands a good idea to use a public pay to a post office.
itself, it is recommended to phone or your cell. Operator Depending on how far the
contact your service provider for assistance can also be used to mail needs to travel in the US, it
clarification before you travel; help you connect your call, but can take from one to five days to
you may also need to activate again, this will cost more.
the “roaming” facility. Useful Dialing Codes
Other options include buying
a prepaid cell phone in the US Internet Access • To make a direct-dial call
or a SIM chip for a US carrier. In Washington, many public outside the local area code,
Many car rental companies also places – such as book stores, but within the US and
rent cell phones for customers cafés, airports, and the Mall – Canada, dial 1 before the
(see p219). have a free wireless service. area code. Useful area codes
Most hotels in the city have for DC and the surrounding
wireless Internet in their rooms, area include: Washington,
Public Telephones and many also have a dedicated DC 202; Baltimore 410; MD
In the last decade, the number business center (with computers) 301, 240; Delaware 302;
Northern Virginia 703; West
of public pay phones in the within the hotel. For those Virginia 304.
United States has decreased without their own laptops, • For international calls,
by half and Washington is no computers (with Internet) dial 011 followed by the
exception. However, public are available for use in public appropriate country code.
pay phones are still available at libraries and in stores such as Then dial the area code,
Union Station, the Smithsonian FedEx, DHL, and UPS. omitting the first 0, and
Museums, and some Metro the local number.
stations, and occasionally on • To make an international
the street. The area code for call via the operator, dial 00;
Washington is 202. It must note that the call will be
be used even when dialing charged at a higher rate.
within the district. When • For international operator
dialing outside the district assistance, dial 01.
from within DC, you will need • For local operator
assistance, dial 0.
to use the appropriate area • For international directory
code. The area code for the inquiries, dial 00.
Maryland suburbs is 301 and • For local directory inquiries,
for the Virginia suburbs, 703. dial 411.
Credit card calls can be made • For emergency police, fire,
by calling 1-800-CALL-ATT. or ambulance services,
Directory Assistance is 411 and dial 911.
calls are charged at the local rate. • 1-800 and 888 indicate a
Phone cards of various values Using the Internet in the reading room toll-free number.
can be purchased from most of a Washington public library

212-213_EW_Washington.indd 212 04/04/17 2:40 pm