Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
withdraw cash may charge its own fee. As
a rule, ATMs in convenience stores, which
cater to middle-of-the-night impulse buy-
ers, charge the steepest fees. At Massachu-
setts ATMs, a message should appear—
onscreen or on a sticker near the key-
pad—to warn you that you're about to be
charged. To compare banks' ATM fees
within the U.S., use www.bankrate.com.
Visitors from outside the U.S. should also
find out whether their bank assesses a 1%
to 3% fee on charges incurred abroad.
CREDIT CARDS & DEBIT CARDS
Credit cards are the most widely used
form of payment in the United States:
Visa (Barclaycard in Britain), Master-
Card (EuroCard in Europe, Access in
Britain, Chargex in Canada), American
Express, Diners Club, and Discover.
Visa and MasterCard are the most widely
accepted, Diners Club the least. You can
withdraw cash advances from your credit
cards at banks or ATMs (provided you
know your PIN), but high fees make this
a pricey way to get cash.
Traveling with at least one major credit
card is highly recommended, but I'd sug-
gest you carry at least one emergency
back-up. You must have a credit card to
rent a car, and hotels and airlines usually
require an imprint as a deposit against
expenses.
Debit cards look like credit cards,
complete with Visa or MasterCard logo,
but they draw money directly from your
checking account. Stores and restaurants
that accept credit cards generally accept
debit cards, and some stores and most
U.S. post offices enable you to receive
“cash back” on your debit-card purchases
as well. If you don't keep a large checking
balance, be aware that most banks
“freeze” a portion of your account when
you initiate a purchase without a definite
total, such as a car rental or tank of gas.
TRAVELER'S CHECKS
Credit cards and debit cards are more
often used, but traveler's checks are
widely accepted in the U.S. In tourist-
friendly Boston, you won't have much
trouble using traveler's checks at any busi-
ness. International visitors should make
sure that they're denominated in U.S.
dollars; foreign-currency checks are often
difficult to exchange.
You can buy traveler's checks at most
banks. Be sure to keep a copy of their
serial numbers separate from the checks
in the event that they are stolen or lost.
You'll get a refund faster if you know the
numbers.
Prepaid traveler's check cards, such as
the American Express Travelers Cheque
Card, are reloadable cards that work much
like debit cards but aren't linked to your
checking account.
AMERICAN CURRENCY
The most common bills are the $1 (a
“buck”), $5, $10, and $20 denomina-
tions. There are also $2 bills (seldom
encountered), $50 bills, and $100 bills
(the last two are usually not welcome as
payment for small purchases).
Coins come in seven denominations:
1¢ (1 cent, or a penny); 5¢ (5 cents, or a
nickel); 10¢ (10 cents, or a dime); 25¢
(25 cents, or a quarter); 50¢ (50 cents, or
a half dollar); the gold-colored Sacagawea
coin, worth $1; and the rare silver dollar.
6 Health
STAYING HEALTHY
Here's hoping you won't need to evaluate
Boston's reputation for excellent medical
care. The greatest threat to your health is
the same as in most other North American
cities: overexposure to the summer sun. Be
sure to pack sunscreen, sunglasses, and a
hat, and don't forget to keep yourself
hydrated.
 
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