Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
a black bear will 'bluff charge' to test your dominance. Stand your ground by making
yourself look as big as possible (eg waving your arms above your head) and shouting
menacingly.
Mountain lion attacks on humans are rare, but can be deadly. If you encounter a moun-
tain lion stay calm, pick up small children, face the animal and retreat slowly. Make your-
self appear larger by raising your arms or grabbing a stick. If the lion becomes menacing,
shout or throw rocks at it. If attacked, fight back aggressively.
Snakes and spiders are common throughout California, not just in wilderness areas. Al-
ways look inside your shoes before putting them back on outdoors, especially when
camping. Snake bites are rare, but occur most often when a snake is stepped on or pro-
voked (eg picked up or poked with a stick). Antivenom is available at most hospitals.
Telephone
Cell (Mobile) Phones
You'll need a multiband GSM phone to make calls in the USA. Popping in a US prepaid
rechargeable SIM card is usually cheaper than using your network.
SIM cards are sold at telecommunications and electronics stores. These stores also sell
inexpensive prepaid phones, including some airtime.
You can rent a cell phone at Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO) International
Airports from
TripTel
(
877-874-7835;
www.triptel.com
)
; pricing plans vary, but typically are
expensive.
Dialing Codes
US phone numbers consist of a three-letter area code followed by a seven-digit local
number.
When dialing a number within the same area code, use the seven-digit number (if that
doesn't work, try all 10 digits).
For long-distance calls, dial 1 plus the area code plus the local number.
Toll-free numbers begin with 800, 855, 866, 877 or 888 and must be preceded by 1.
For direct international calls, dial 011 plus the country code plus the area code (usually
without the initial '0') plus the local phone number.
If you're calling from abroad, the country code for the US is 1 (the same as Canada, but
beware international rates apply between the two countries).
