Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Tipping
Tipping is standard practice across America. In restaurants, for satisfactory to excellent ser-
vice, tipping 15% to 25% of the bill is expected; less is OK at informal diners. Bartenders
expect $1 per drink; cafe baristas a little change in the jar. Taxi drivers and hairdressers ex-
pect 10% to 15%. Skycaps at airports and porters at nice hotels expect $1 a bag or so. If
you spend several nights in a hotel, it's polite to leave a few dollars for the cleaning staff.
Opening Hours
Standard business hours are as follows:
Banks
8:30am to 4:30pm Monday to Thursday, to 5:30pm Friday; sometimes 9am to
12:30pm Saturday.
Bars
Most bars 5pm to midnight; to 2am Friday and Saturday.
Businesses
9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.
Post offices
9am to 5pm Monday to Friday; sometimes 9am to noon Saturday.
Restaurants
Breakfast 7am to 10:30am Monday to Friday; brunch 9am to 2pm Saturday
and Sunday; lunch 11:30am to 2:30pm Monday to Friday; dinner 5pm to 9:30pm, later Fri-
day and Saturday.
Shops
10am to 6pm Monday to Saturday, noon to 5pm Sunday; shopping malls keep ex-
tended hours.
Photography
All camera supplies (print and slide film, digital memory, camera batteries) are readily avail-
able in local drugstores, which also usually provide inexpensive film developing (including
one-hour service) and burning of photo CDs and DVDs.
Don't pack unprocessed film (including the roll in your camera) into checked luggage be-
cause exposure to high-powered X-ray equipment will cause it to fog. As an added precau-
tion, 'hand check' film separately from carry-on bags at airport security checkpoints.
When photographing people, politeness is usually all that's needed (though street per-
formers appreciate a tip).
For a primer on taking good shots, consult
Lonely Planet's Guide to Travel Photography
.
