Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
19
Fast Facts: American
Southwest
AREA CODES
The area code in Phoe-
nix is 602. In Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa,
and the east valley, it's 480. In Glendale
and the west valley, it's 623. The area code
for Tucson and southeastern Arizona is
520. The rest of the state is area code 928.
New Mexico has two area codes: The
northwest, including Albuquerque and
Santa Fe, have the 505 code, while the rest
of the state it's 575. The area code for
southwestern Colorado is 719 and for
southern Utah, 435. Las Vegas's code is
702.
AUTOMOBILE ORGANIZATIONS
Motor clubs will supply maps, suggested
routes, guidebooks, accident and bail-
bond insurance, and emergency road ser-
vice. The
American Automobile
Association
(
AAA;
&
800/222-4357;
www.aaa.com) is the major auto club in
the United States. If you belong to a
motor club in your home country, inquire
about AAA reciprocity. You may be able to
join AAA even if you're not a member of a
reciprocal club (call AAA). AAA has a
nationwide emergency road service tele-
phone number (
&
800/AAA-HELP
[222-4357]).
BUSINESS HOURS
The following are
general hours. Banks are open Monday
through Friday from 9am to 5pm (some
also on Sat 9am-noon). Stores are open
Monday through Saturday from 10am to
6pm and Sunday from noon to 5pm
(malls usually stay open until 8 or 9pm
Mon-Sat). Bars generally open around
11am and close between 1 and 2am,
depending on the state.
DRINKING LAWS
The legal age for
purchase and consumption of alcoholic
beverages is 21; proof of age is required
and often requested at bars, nightclubs,
and restaurants, so it's always a good idea
to bring ID when you go out.
Each of the states in the region has its
own restrictions on when and where you
can buy alcohol. Arizona, New Mexico,
and Colorado have pretty standard laws,
which allow purchase from morning to 1
or 2am in licensed stores on most days,
with some time restrictions on Sundays.
Utah's laws are stricter; you can buy beer,
wine, and hard liquor every day except
Sunday, when the state-owned liquor
stores are closed. You can buy 3.2% beer,
which has less alcohol, 7 days a week. Note
that some Native American reservations
(including the Navajo reservation) pro-
hibit alcohol within the reservation.
Do not carry open containers of alcohol
in your car or any public area that isn't
zoned for alcohol consumption. The police
can fine you on the spot. Don't even think
about driving while intoxicated.
DRIVING RULES
See “Getting There
& Getting Around,” p. 40.
ELECTRICITY
Like Canada, the United
States uses 110 to 120 volts AC (60
cycles), compared to 220 to 240 volts AC
(50 cycles) in most of Europe, Australia,
and New Zealand. Downward converters
that change 220 to 240 volts to 110 to 120
volts are difficult to find in the United
States, so bring one with you.
EMBASSIES & CONSULATES
All
embassies are located in the nation's capi-
tal, Washington, D.C. Some consulates
