Page 286 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Southwest USA & National Parks

284  SUR VIV AL GUIDE PR A C TIC AL INFORM A TION  285

Media and Communications Cell Phones and Several private international DIRECTORY
Internet Access
delivery services offer swift,
The United States has some of the most sophisticated The most prevalent cell phone next-day delivery for overseas AT&T
communications systems in the world, and cities service providers are AT&T, mail, the best known being Tel (800) 331-0500.
throughout the Southwest region provide all of the Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint. FedEx, UPS, and DHL. DHL
necessary services. Most city hotels offer WiFi and Any modern cell phone will All the major cities have a Tel (800) 225-5345.
main post office as well as
be able to connect to a local
have business centers. However, cell phone reception network as long as “roaming” several local offices. In addition, FedEx
and high-speed internet service may not be available has been activated on your there are post offices in air- Tel (800) 463-3339.
outside the cities, especially in the mountains, canyons, phone. However, it is essential ports, grocery stores, and UPS
remote areas and vast wilderness sections of the to check with your home drugstores. If you have the Tel (800) 742-5877.
Southwest. Payphones are often not available in these provider what charges you correct value of postage
may incur in the US, not
stamps, both letters and
areas either.
AT&T phonecards, available from local only for making and parcels can be mailed conditions; they may also
stores and vending machines receiving calls and in any one of the many contain discount vouchers for
texts, but, especially, for mailboxes dotted local attractions.
Telephones Many hotels include free local operate by giving you browsing the Internet around every town. Various radio stations offer
All telephone numbers within calls in their room rates; ask a series of code numbers to and downloading These are generally local news bulletins and
each local area consist of seven when you check in. Otherwise, punch into the phone, which information. dark blue and have the weather forecasts. National
digits. To dial long distance be warned that using a hotel accesses your account and tells It is also possible to collection times posted Public Radio is a good source
within the US, add a one and telephone, especially for you how much call time you rent or purchase a cheap on them. Any hotel will of commercial-free news and
the three-digit area code in long-distance calls, is liable to have left. There are clear cell phone while on also be happy to place entertainment, and is usually
front of the seven-digit number. incur a heavy surcharge over instructions on how to vacation in the US; your mail in their out- located along the FM band.
Long-distance calls are those usual rates. use them on each card. prepaid cell phones can US mailbox going mailbox. It is also The US is famous for having
made to any number outside Pay phones can still be found be bought for as little as possible to buy postage a multitude of TV channels,
the area code you are in and in some public buildings, Useful Dialing Codes $10, and 30 minutes of airtime stamps from convenience provided by the four networks
cost less during off-peak times, transportation hubs, hotels, for an additional $10. stores, vending machines, – ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC – as
generally in the evenings and and motels, but can be • To make a direct-dial call Almost every hotel provides and in most hotels. well as many cable channels
on weekends. International expensive and requires a large outside the local area code, Wi-Fi access in its rooms, thus including magazine programs,
numbers are preceded by 011, (especially for inter national but within the US or Canada, making it possible to use a Newspapers, Television, sitcoms, cartoons, and special
then the country code, followed calls) number of coins. Newer dial 1 then the area code: program such as Skype to make Spanish-language channels.
by the city code (dropping pay phones also accept Utah 435 (801 and 385 free calls. In Las Vegas the “resort and Radio Most hotel and motel rooms
the initial 0), and the number. credit cards. for the Salt Lake City area); fees” charged by the big hotels, The best-selling daily papers provide at least the network
Las Vegas 702; New Mexico
Toll-free numbers, which By far the cheapest way to (505 for Albuquerque & of as much as $25 per day, country-wide are the Wall channels (which all have local
start with the digits com municate is to use Skype, Santa Fe area, 575 for cover Wi-Fi among other Street Journal, New York Times, services), as well as PBS, the
800, 866, 877, or or a similar rest of state); Arizona amenities, but elsewhere Wi-Fi USA Today, and Los Angeles public subscription channel
888, are widely program, in order (520 in the south, 928 is usually free. Most towns hold Times, which cover the country (with no commercials), and
used in the US, to make free Wi-Fi in the north, 602, 623, or at least one coffee shop offering as a whole. However, there Cable News Network (CNN).
offering free calls calls from your 480 for the Phoenix area); a free Wi-Fi connection, while is a wide selection of local Other popular cable channels
to businesses and AT&T logo phone or laptop. Colorado 970. shopping malls, university newspapers available at even include Home Box Office (HBO),
services such as hotels Alternatively, prepaid • To make an international hangouts, and libraries also the smallest town in the which shows movies and
and car-rental or activity phone cards – issued both by direct-dial call, dial 011 provide free or inexpensive region, and these are entertainment shows. Most
companies. It is seldom possible major telephone companies and the appropriate Internet access. invaluable for local information. daily newspapers provide
to call a toll-free number from such as AT&T and by all sorts country code. Then dial Visitor centers also often carry network program times, and
the area code, omitting
outside the US; if you do get of independent operators – the first 0, followed by the free papers detailing local hotel rooms are often equipped
connected, you will hear a are widely available from gas local number. Mail Services news, events, and weather with local television schedules.
message explaining how you will stations, supermarkets, and • To make an international Within the US all regular mail is
actually be charged for the call. other outlets. The cards usually call via the operator, dial 01 the same “class” and generally
and then follow the same takes between one and five
procedure above. days to arrive. The correct zip
• For international operator (postal) code usually ensures
assistance, dial 01. a swifter delivery.
• For local operator assistance, International mail sent by air
dial 0. can take between one to ten
• For international directory business days to arrive, but
inquiries, dial 00.
• For local directory inquiries, parcels that are sent by surface
dial 411. mail may take as long as four to
• For emergency police, six weeks. There are two special
fire, or ambulance services, parcel services run by the federal
dial 911. mail: Priority Mail promises faster
• 800, 844, 855, 866, 877, delivery than regular mail, while
and 888 area codes indicate the Flat Rate envelopes and
a toll-free number. boxes are charged a set amount
Virtually every cell phone functions in Las Vegas based on package size. Reading the paper over coffee in a Southwestern café

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Practical template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.7)
Date 5th March 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm