Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Emergency numbers
For Police, Fire or Ambulance dial
911.
ELECTRICITY
110V AC with two-pronged plugs. Unless they're dual voltage (most mobile phones, cam-
eras, MP3 players and laptops are), all Australian, British, European, Irish, New Zealand
and South African appliances will need a voltage transformer as well as a plug adaptor
(hair-dryers are the most common problem for travellers).
GAY AND LESBIAN NEW YORK
There are few places in America where gay culture thrives as it does in New York. Chelsea,
Hell's Kitchen, the Villages, the Lower East Side and Park Slope are the biggest hubs of
gay life. If you're looking for local resources, check out
Gay City News
(
www.gaycitynews.com
)
,
Next Magazine
(
www.nextmagazine.com
)
,
GO
magazine (
www.gomag.com
)
or the listings in the weekly
Time Out
.
HEALTH
Drugstores can be found every few blocks - CVS and Duane Reade are the city's major
chains, many open 24hr (such as the Duane Reade at 1470 Broadway, near Times Square).
If you do get sick or have an accident, medical costs can be incredibly expensive; organ-
ize insurance before your trip, just in case. It costs upwards of $100 to simply see a doctor
or dentist, and prescription drugs can be prohibitively expensive - if you don't have US
medical insurance, you'll have to cough up the money and make a claim when you get
home.
In the unlikely event that you are involved in a serious accident, a medical service will
pick you up and charge later. Note that basic emergency care will cost at least $200, ran-
ging to several thousand for serious trauma - that's in addition to fees for drugs, appli-
ances, supplies and the attendant physician, who will charge separately.
Should you find yourself requiring a doctor or dentist, ask if your hotel has links to a local
practice, or look in the
Yellow Pages
under “Clinics” or “Physicians and Surgeons”.
Doctors in Manhattan often have long waiting lists, however, and will be reluctant to see a
new patient at short notice - if you have an accident or need immediate attention head to
the 24hr emergency rooms at these and other Manhattan hospitals: New York Presbyterian
(Cornell), E 70th St at York Ave (
212 746 5050); and Mount Sinai, Madison Ave at 100th
St (
212 241 7171).
