Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Left
Standard mailbox
Center
Automated teller machine
Right
Currency exchange counter
Banking and Communications
Banking Hours
Most New York banks
are open from Monday
through Friday, 9am-4pm,
though individual
branches may have
longer opening hours.
Only larger banks are
equipped to exchange
foreign currency. Be
prepared to show a
passport or other photo
identification when
changing currency.
d
188 Madison Avenue
at 34th St
•
Map K4
•
212
592 7000.
(see ATM section) take
MasterCard; Plus card
banks (see ATM section)
accept Visa. American
Express members can
also withdraw cash
with their credit card at
American Express offices.
Sending
Mail
Postage for letters sent
within the U.S.
costs 37 cents for the
first ounce, and 23 cents
for additional ounces;
stamps for postcards
cost 21 cents. To send
mail internationally, post-
cards cost 70 cents, and
letters start at 80 cents for
the first half-ounce.
Cashing Checks
Travelers' checks in
dollars issued by well-
known organizations such
as American Express
or Travelex are widely
accepted in the U.S. in
restaurants, banks, and
stores, although personal
checks on a foreign bank
are not. American
Express offices will also
cash checks for their
cardholders.
Currency Exchange
Locations
People's Foreign Exchange
offers currency exchange
with no commission
charge. Travelex Currency
Services charge a fee.
d
People's Foreign
Exchange: 575 5th
Avenue at 47th St.
Map K3. 212 883 0550
•
Travelex Currency
Services: 1590 Broadway
at 48th St. Map J3. 212
265 6063
Post Office
Hours
All city post offices are
open from 9am to 5pm
Monday to Saturday;
the General Post Office
stays open 24 hours a
day. Most hotels sell
stamps and will mail
letters for their guests.
d
General Post Office:
421 Eighth Avenue at
33rd St. Map K2. 212
967 8585
•
For branch
locations: 800 275 8777
Telephones
Public telephones are
found on many street
corners, in hotel lobbies,
and in restaurants and
department stores. You
will need 25 cents in
coins to make a local
three-minute call, and
more if you talk longer.
You can buy prepaid
telephone cards at many
newsstands, which
conveniently eliminate
the need for coins.
Automated Teller
Machines (ATMs)
ATM machines can be
found at almost all banks
and are open 24 hours a
day. They accept most
common bank cards and
credit cards, although they
usually charge a small
service fee. d
For banks
accepting Cirrus bank
cards: 800 424 7787
•
Plus cards: 800 843 7587.
Express and
Courier Delivery
The U.S. Post Office
Express Mail next-day
delivery service starts
at $12.25 for up to 8
ounces; global 2- to 3-
day delivery costs from
$24. Next-day delivery is
also available from Federal
Express, DHL, and United
Parcel Service; all include
pick-up services in their
charges.
d
Federal
Express: 800 GO FEDEX
•
DHL: 800 CALL DHL
•
UPS: 800 742 5877
Internet Access
Many hotels now
have free dataport
connections for laptop
Internet access. In
addition, free access to
the Internet is available
for members of the
public at the Science and
Business branch of the
New York Public Library.
Credit Cards
Cash advances can
be obtained from ATM
machines using Master-
Card and Visa cards;
Banks accepting Cirrus
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