Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
6. POST OFFICES
Most US post offices are open from 9am to 5:30pm Monday to Friday and 9am to
2pm on Saturdays. Stamps can be purchased here, from some hotels, and from vend-
ing machines. If you need to mail something other than postcards and letters, wait
in line at the nearest post office. Otherwise, drop your stamped mail off at the hotel
desk or in any street mailbox.
7. TELEPHONES
San Francisco's area code is 415, but neighboring localities have other codes. If you
are calling from within the same area, you do not dial the area code; conversely, if
you are calling from outside the area, you must dial the area code and precede it with
a “1.” From pay phones, calls cost 50 cents and up. Toll-free numbers start with 800,
877, 888, or several similar prefixes. For directory information, dial
411
. Internation-
al calls should be preceded by 011.
8. VOICE MAIL
The use of this service has reached epidemic proportions in the US, and you may
rarely rouse an actual person. Leave a message, with a call-back number, then hope
for the best.
9. INTERNET
There are many cafés that offer Internet services, usually from about $10 per hour.
Many coffee shops offer free Wi-Fi.
10. COURIER SERVICES
FedEx, UPS and DHL serve international needs, but you should also be aware that
the US Post Office offers overnight delivery, both to major cities within the US and
to selected cities abroad, and at much more reasonable costs.
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