Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Embassies & Consulates
All embassies are located in the nation's capital,
Washington, D.C. Some consulates are located in major U.S. cities, and
most nations have a mission to the United Nations in New York City. If
your country isn't listed below, call for directory information in Washing-
ton, D.C. (
&
202/555-1212
) or log on to
www.embassy.org/embassies
.
The embassy of
Australia
is at 1601 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washing-
ton, DC 20036 (
&
202/797-3000;
www.austemb.org). There are consulates
in New York, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
The embassy of
Canada
is at 501 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC
20001 (
&
202/682-1740;
www.canadianembassy.org). Other Canadian con-
sulates are in Buffalo (N.Y.), Detroit, Los Angeles, New York, and Seattle.
The embassy of
Ireland
is at 2234 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington,
DC 20008 (
&
202/462-3939;
www.irelandemb.org). Irish consulates are in
Boston, Chicago, New York, and San Francisco.
The embassy of
Japan
is at 2520 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington,
DC 20008 (
&
202/238-6700;
www.embjapan.org). Japanese consulates
are located in many cities including Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, New York,
San Francisco, and Seattle.
The embassy of
New Zealand
is at 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washing-
ton, DC 20008 (
&
202/328-4800;
www.nzemb.org). New Zealand con-
sulates are in Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, and Seattle.
The embassy of the
United Kingdom
is at 3100 Massachusetts Ave. NW,
Washington, DC 20008 (
&
202/462-1340;
www.britainusa.com). Other
British consulates are in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Houston,
Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle.
Emergencies
Call
&
911
to report a fire, call the police, or get an ambu-
lance anywhere in the United States. This is a toll-free call (No coins are
required at public telephones).
If you encounter serious problems, contact
Traveler's Aid International
(
&
202/546-1127;
www.travelersaid.org) to help direct you to a local
branch. This nationwide, nonprofit, social-service organization geared to
helping travelers in difficult straits offers services that might include
reuniting families separated while traveling, providing food and/or shel-
ter to people stranded without cash, or even emotional counseling. If
you're in trouble, seek them out.
Gasoline (Petrol)
Petrol is known as gasoline (or simply “gas”) in the
United States, and petrol stations are known as both gas stations and serv-
ice stations. Gasoline costs about half as much here as it does in Europe
(about $2 per gallon at press time), and taxes are already included in the
printed price. One U.S. gallon equals 3.8 liters or .85 imperial gallons.
Holidays
Banks, government offices, post offices, and many stores, restau-
rants, and museums are closed on the following legal national holidays:
January 1 (New Year's Day), the third Monday in January (Martin Luther
King Day), the third Monday in February (Presidents' Day, Washington's
Birthday), the last Monday in May (Memorial Day), July 4th (Independence
Day), the first Monday in September (Labor Day), the second Monday
in October (Columbus Day), November 11 (Veterans Day/Armistice Day),
the fourth Thursday in November (Thanksgiving Day), and December 25
