Page 280 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Alaska

278  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

Communications and Media from outside the US, in some
cases they may occa sionally
The United States has some of the most sophisticated be connected through an
communications systems in the world. Postal, tele phone, operator and charged at the
and Internet services are all widely available, providing regular toll rate.
fast and efficient services to destinations both in-state
and worldwide. In these days of widespread cell phone Cell Phones, Internet,
usage, public card phones and pay phones are found and Fax Services
in decreasing numbers around the state, and in smaller Many travelers bring their own
towns and villages, cell phone coverage is usually cell (mobile) phones, but service
quite limited. varies among operators, so
check if your service provider
provides coverage in Alaska.
Telephones will be interrupted by an Coverage is usually good in
All local telephone numbers operator when more money towns, and even, surprisingly,
have seven digits. The cost of a is needed. A phone card is in many remote areas, but
local call is 25 to 35 cents, which easier, but it is advisable to may be erratic outside towns.
is usually good for any use only reputable International travelers can
length of call. Alaska’s companies such purchase a prepaid SIM card, a
area code is 907, as AT&T. Cards can TracFone, or a temporary cell
though the village of be purchased phone, available at larger retail
Hyder uses 250. This is at supermarkets, outlets, for a few dollars.
required when calling convenience stores, An increasing number of box
long-distance, even and hotels for values stores, shops, and restaurants
in-state. Long-distance bet ween $5 and $50, offer Wi-Fi access to patrons.
calls to any number and operate by Most hotels offer Internet access
outside the local area Phone cards for providing a series of to their guests. Virtually all
(especially in-state calls) long-distance calls num bers to punch libraries also have free Internet
cost consider ably more, into the phone, which access. Faxes can often be sent
but are cheaper when dialled then accesses the account and from larger hotels and copy
direct or at off-peak times, usu- announces how much time centers. Many places in rural
ally in the evenings and on remains on that card. Each card Alaska have only limited
weekends. Calls made on hotel has clear usage instructions Internet access.
phones will usually be charged printed on it.
at much higher rates. Toll-free numbers are widely Mail Services
Pay phones are becoming used in the US for contacting
increasingly rare as cell phones hotels, car rental companies, In the US, all domestic mail is
replace landlines. They can tour operators, and even First Class unless otherwise
be used for international calls, some tourist offices. While requested, and
but callers will need a stack most toll-free numbers are generally takes
of change to dial direct and not accessible when call ing between three
and five days to
Useful Dialing Codes arrive. First Class
mail costs only
• To make a direct-dial long- • For international operator assis- about 20 percent
distance call within Alaska, the tance, dial 01. more than parcel
rest of the US, or Canada, dial • For local operator assistance, post (surface
1 (the country code) followed dial 0. mail), which is
by the area code and local • For international directory
number. Useful area codes: inquiries, dial 00. also available.
Alaska 907, Yukon Territory • For local directory inquiries, International mail
867, British Columbia (and dial 411. sent by air takes Typical US mailbox
Hyder in Alaska) 250. between five and
• For international direct-dial • For inquiries in another US or ten days to arrive, but surface
Canadian area code, dial 1
calls, dial 011 followed by the parcels may take over four
desired country code. Then followed by the desired area weeks. Special parcel services
dial the area or town code code and 555-1212. are also offered by the US Postal
(omitting the first 0 or 1), and • For emergency police, fire, and Service. Priority Mail delivers
the local number. ambulance services, dial 911. faster than normal First Class
• To make an international call • Dial 844 for temperature, and costs only marginally more.
via the operator, dial 01 and weather, and time. Express Mail guarantees next
follow the same procedure as • 1-800, 866, 877, and 888 day delivery within the Lower 48
detailed above. indicate toll-free numbers. states, and a day or two more to
Hawaii. International Express

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