Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
which lists neighborhood-specific event
information. Available on newsstands,
Boston
magazine is a lifestyle-oriented
monthly with cultural and restaurant
listings.
Newsstands with good selections of
international periodicals include
Out of
Town News,
Zero Harvard Square, Cam-
bridge (
&
617/354-7777);
Nini's Corner,
across the street at 1394 Massachusetts
Ave. (
&
617/547-3558); and the news-
stand on the street level of Faneuil Hall.
Passports
The websites listed provide
downloadable passport applications as
well as the current fees for processing
applications. For an up-to-date, country-
by-country listing of passport require-
ments around the world, go to the
“International Travel” tab of the U.S.
State Department site at
http://travel.
state.gov
. International visitors to the
U.S. can obtain a visa application at the
same website.
Note:
Children are required
to present a passport when entering the
United States at airports. If you're travel-
ing with your child but not your spouse,
it's a good idea to carry a notarized letter
from the spouse granting permission to
travel and a copy of his or her passport (to
allay suspicions of custody interference).
For Residents of Australia
You can
pick up an application from your local
post office or any branch of Passports
Australia, but you must schedule an inter-
view at the passport office to present your
application materials. Within Australia,
contact the
Australian Passport Infor-
mation Service
(
&
131-232;
www.
passports.gov.au). If you're already
abroad, contact an Australian diplomatic
or consular mission.
For Residents of Canada
Passport
applications are available at travel agen-
cies throughout Canada or from the cen-
tral
Passport Office,
Department of
Foreign Affairs and International Trade,
Ottawa, ON K1A 0G3 (
&
800/567-
6868;
www.ppt.gc.ca).
Note:
Canadian
children who travel must have their own
passport. However, if you hold a valid
Canadian passport issued before Decem-
ber 11, 2001, that bears the name of your
child, the passport remains valid for you
and your child until it expires.
For Residents of Ireland
You can
apply for a 10-year passport at the
Pass-
port Office,
Setanta Centre, Molesworth
Street, Dublin 2 (
&
01/671-1633;
www.
irlgov.ie/iveagh). Those under age 18 and
over 65 must apply for a 3-year passport.
You can also apply at 1A South Mall,
Cork (
&
21/494-4700
), or at most main
post offices.
For Residents of New Zealand
Yo u
can pick up a passport application at any
New Zealand Passports Office or down-
load it from their website. Contact the
Passports Office
(
&
0800/225-050
in
New Zealand or 04/474-8100; www.
passports.govt.nz).
For Residents of the United Kingdom
To pick up an application for a standard
10-year passport (5-yr. passport for chil-
dren under 16), visit your nearest pass-
port office, major post office, or travel
agency or contact the
United Kingdom
Passport Service
(
&
0870/521-0410;
www.ukpa.gov.uk).
Police
Call
&
911
for emergencies.
The Boston police emergency line to call
from a cellphone is
&
617/343-4911.
Smoking
In a word, no. State law bans
smoking in all workplaces, including
restaurants, bars, and clubs, and the
MBTA forbids smoking in subway sta-
tions. A growing number of hotel chains
ban smoking in all guest rooms.
Taxes
The United States has no value-
added tax (VAT) or other indirect tax at
the national level. Every state, county,
and city may levy its own local tax on all
purchases, including hotel and restaurant
checks and airline tickets. These taxes will
not appear on price tags. The 5% state
sales tax in Massachusetts does not apply
