Travel Tips

Since Congress broke up Bell Telephone in the early 80s, the American telephone system has become much, much more complex. As a visitor, you have two choices for making telephone calls: Use coin-operated telephone booths (call boxes) or buy a telephone card. Nowadays, except for local calls, don't even think about using coins. You'll pay a fortune. With the card, you pay a given amount -- $10 perhaps – and that allows you to call anywhere you like until the money runs out. Depending on the card yo buy, you can make very cheap calls, indeed. Often, when you use a calling card, there is no difference in the per minute charge, regardless of the distance involved. Therefore, one of the first things you should do is to buy one. Drug stores and supermarkets are good sources of supply.

<b>Using a Calling-Card</b>
American calling cards operate differently than those in the rest of the world. Instead of sticking the card into a slot as in an ATM, you will find an 800 number printed on it. (See below for 800 number explanation) After you call the number, you will be asked to enter the PIN number, which is also printed on your card. Once that is entered, you can dial the number. Note also: If you use a calling card, you must ALWAYS use 1+Area Code+Number.

<b>The Number setup</b>
American telephone numbers all consist of a three digit Area Code (Dialing Code) and a 7 digit number, e.g., 555-4879. They are always written with the hyphen. We say them that way, too, with a pause between the two sets of digits. We would never say “triple-five” and rarely “double-five” or something. If you quote a phone number, say each number individually with the pause. If you don't, you may have to repeat it endlessly.

<b>Long Distance Dialing</b>
“1” connects you with the long distance system, which includes all 50 US states, all 10 Canadian provinces, and some Caribbean islands. The 1 + area code must be used for all calls that go outside the area code you are in. The only exception to this would be in really large metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles or New York where there is more than one area code within the city. In this case you would simply dial the area code plus the number.

<b>International Access code:</b>
This is 011. Therefore, if you were calling a number in Oman, you would dial 011-968-513000.

<b>Toll-free 800, 877, and 888 Numbers</b>
These toll-free area codes have become ubiquitous in the U.S. Every business of any size at all will have one. Often, you will not be able to find a local number for a company office, but will have to deal with the 800 number. Although they're free of charge, calling one can be an exercise in frustration because you find yourself in a rabbit warren of “menus”: “Press 1 for X, press 2 for Y, press 3 for Z”, etc. If your English is not fluent, you may be in trouble. That said, there is often the choice of Spanish or Vietnamese, too, so if you speak those languages… Most international airlines have a choice of several different language menus, too.

To use these, you pick up any phone – including public telephone booths – and dial 1 + 800 + XXX-XXXX. Sometimes you'll see numbers like 1-800-GETBUSY or 438-2879. The letters refer to the letters on the buttons. I find them aggravating to use, but they ARE memorable, which, of course, is the point.

<b>Directory Assistance</b>
Otherwise known as "Information" (UK: Directory Enquiries), the number is 411 for numbers within the area code you're calling from. To get numbers in another area code, dial 1 + Area Code + 555-1212

<b>Emergency Number</b>
911 This will get you an ambulance, a fire truck, or a search and rescue.