Page 325 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Pacific Northwest

PR A C TIC AL INFORM A TION  323

Media and Communications Mail sent within the US or
Canada takes from 1 to 5
The wide use of cellular telephones and the Internet has business days for delivery;
changed the communications picture in most of the world, overseas mail, up to 7 business
and the Pacific Northwest is, of course, no exception. Visitors days. Courier companies and
the priority services of the
will find this region well supplied with mobile telephone US Postal Service and Canada
stores and public access to computers and Wi-Fi. The variety Post offer speedier delivery.
of readily available local newspapers and magazines makes
it easy to keep up with world news as well as the latest dining Newspapers, Television,
and entertainment options for each of the cities. and Radio
Newsstands in the Pacific
the country code, Northwest carry most major
then the city or area international and national papers,
code, then the local including the New York Times, the
tele phone number; or Wall Street Journal, and USA Today
dial 0 for the operator. in the US, and The Globe and Mail
and the National Post in Canada.
Local papers are available at
Cell Phones sidewalk boxes, coffee shops,
Visitors who wish and convenience stores.
Many places offer free Wi-Fi access to use their own cell The US has a multitude of TV
phone in the US and channels, provided by the four
Public Telephones Canada will need a SIM card that networks – ABC, CBS, Fox, and
Public pay phones are becoming has been set up for “roaming.” NBC – as well as many cable
rarer, but they can still be found However, it is essential to check channels. CNN is a national
at some bars, restaurants, public with your phone provider what 24-hour headline news station.
buildings, gas stations, and at charges you may incur while Various radio stations in the US
rest stops outside of urban areas. abroad. Some companies offer offer local news bulletins and
Some use credit cards, but most “bundles” of calls and data to weather forecasts. National
are coin-operated and take 5-, save costs while you are away. Public Radio is a good source
10-, and 25-cent coins. Local calls Cell phones can also be rented of commercial-free news and
made from pay phones in the US or purchased locally in many entertainment; it is usually
cost 35 cents; in Canada, 50 cents. places, from kiosks in shopping located along the FM band.
You can buy prepaid phone cards malls to stores and online, with The CBC, Canada’s public
from mini-marts and gas stations companies such as Cellhire. broadcasting corporation, has
for long-distance calls. local, national, and international
For local calls, dial the area code television and radio program-
followed by the seven-digit num- Internet ming. VTV, the Vancouver affiliate
ber. For long-distance calls within Almost all hotels offer the use of CTV, Canada’s largest private
North America, dial 1, followed of computers and most also television broadcaster, airs news
by the area code and the local have Wi-Fi, though you may and other programs daily.
number. For calls out side North have to pay. In hotels’ public
America, dial 011, followed by areas, however, Wi-Fi is often DIRECTORY
complimentary. Coffee shops, Cell Phones
Area Codes libraries, shopping malls, and
university hangouts usually offer Cellhire
Oregon free Wi-Fi access as well. To find Tel (877) 244-7242.
• Portland, Salem public Wi-Fi hot spots at your ∑ cellhire.com
and Astoria 503/971 destination, go to jiwire.com.
• Oregon, elsewhere 541/458 Internet
Washington
Western Washington Postal Services Wi-Fi Hotspot Finder
• Seattle 206/564 Post offices generally open ∑ jiwire.com
• Eastside 425 weekdays from 9am to 5pm; also
• Southside, on Saturdays in the US. Stamped, Postal Services
including Tacoma 253/564
• Elsewhere 360/564 addressed mail can be dropped United States Postal Service
Eastern Washington 509 into roadside mailboxes, which Tel (800) 275-8777.
British Columbia are blue in the US and red in ∑ usps.com
• Vancouver/Lower Canada. Pick-up times are listed Canada Post
Mainland 604/778/236 on the boxes. Most hotels will Tel (800) 267-1177.
• BC, elsewhere 250/778/236 also accept letters and postcards ∑ canadapost.ca
at the front desk.

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