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Anchorage, Alaska
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Anchorage Travel Basics
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Language: English is the dominant language.
Other languages spoken (in descending order) are Spanish, Native American,
Tagalog, German, Korean, French, Japanese, and Russian. Dena'ina (Tanaina) is
the Athabascan language of the Cook Inlet area with four dialects on the Kenai
Peninsula, Upper Inlet area above Anchorage, and coastal and inland areas of the
west side of Cook Inlet. Of the total population of about 900 people, about 75
still speak the language.
Climate: Anchorage has a temperate maritime climate, with cool summers
and cold winters. The average annual temperature is a chilly 36 degrees
Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius). The area gets only around 15 inches (40
centimeters) of rain annually, but summers are cloudy more than 50 percent of
the time. The city receives an average of 69 inches (175 centimeters) of snow
annually, most of it between October and April.
Summer (June through August) high temperatures are commonly in the 60s
Fahrenheit (high teens Celsius) but can reach into the upper 70s Fahrenheit (mid
20s Celsius) on warm days. Winter temperatures are cold (but much milder than
Fairbanks and other parts of interior Alaska), with typical January nights
around 6 degrees Fahrenheit (-14 degrees Celsius).
Anchorage never really gets dark in the middle of summer, and the summer
solstice (June 20th or 21st) is a time for celebration, with 19 hours and 20
minutes of sunshine. The reverse occurs in winter, and by the winter solstice in
late December, the city sees only about five hours of daylight.
Most travelers visit Anchorage in summer. Winter attracts hardy souls who want
to take in the spectacular northern lights or to enjoy a dog-sledding adventure.
Potable Water: Tap water is good, and bottled water is readily available.
Time Zone: Alaska has its own time zone, which is offset from UTC/GMT by
-9 hours. Daylight Savings Time extends from the first Sunday in April at 2 am
local standard time until 2 am local daylight time on the last Sunday in October
(UTC/GMT offset -8 hours).
Entry Requirements: Under the Visa Waiver Scheme, designed to speed up
immigration procedures, citizens of Britain, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and
most European countries in possession of full passports do not require visas for
trips to the United States of less than ninety days duration. Visa waiver forms
are handed out on incoming planes, and are processed during immigration control
at your initial point of arrival on US soil. The form requires details of where
you are staying on your first night, and the date you intend to leave the US.
You should be able to prove that you have enough money to support yourself while
in the US. You may experience difficulties if you admit to being HIV-positive or
having AIDS or TB. Part of the form will be attached to your passport, where it
must stay until you leave. The same form also covers entry across the land
borders with Canada and Mexico.
Citizens of all other countries should contact their local US embassy or
consulate for details of current entry requirements. Even those eligible for the
visa waiver scheme must apply for a free tourist visa if they intend to stay in
the US for more than ninety days. Whatever your nationality, visas are not
issued to convicted felons or to anybody who admits to being a communist,
fascist or drug dealer.
Canadian citizens are in a particularly privileged position when it comes to
crossing the border into the US. For a brief excursion, you do not necessarily
need even a passport, just some form of ID; if you're obviously setting off on a
longer trip, you should carry a passport, and if you plan to stay for more than
ninety days, you will need a visa, too.
Bear in mind that if you cross into the United States in your car, trunks and
passenger compartments are subject to spot searches by US Customs and Border
Protection personnel, and these are especially likely in the aftermath of the
terrorist attacks on New York and Washington in September 2001. Remember, too,
that Canadians are legally barred from seeking gainful employment in the US.
Extensions: The date stamped on your passport is the latest you're
legally allowed to stay. Leaving a few days later may not matter, especially if
you're heading home, but more than a week or so can result in a protracted,
rather unpleasant interrogation from officials, which may cause you to miss your
flight. Overstaying might also cause you to be turned away the next time you try
to enter the US.
To get an extension before your time is up, apply at the nearest US Customs and
Border Protection office (addresses appear in the Federal Government Offices
listings in local telephone directories). They will assume that you are working
illegally, and it is your responsibility to convince them otherwise. Do this by
providing evidence of ample finances and, if you can, bring along an upstanding
US citizen to vouch for you. You will also have to explain why you didn't plan
for the extra time initially.
Work and Study: Only the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Service can
grant permission to work in the country. Contact your local embassy or consulate
for advice on current regulations and CBP addresses; however, unless you have
relatives (parents or children over 21) or a prospective employer to sponsor
you, your chances are at best slim.
Illegal work is not as easy to find as it once was, as the government
imposes fines of up to $10,000 on companies caught employing anyone without the
legal right to work in the US. Even in the traditionally more casual
establishments, like restaurants and bars, things have really tightened up.
Students have the best chance to prolong their stay in the US. One way is
to get onto an Exchange Visitor Program; participants get a J-1 visa that
entitles them to accept paid summer employment and apply for a social security
number. However, most of these visas are issued for jobs in American summer
camps, which aren't everybody's idea of a good time; they fly you over, and
after a summer's work you end up with around $500 and a month to six weeks in
which to spend it. If you want to study at an American university, apply
to that institution directly; once accepted, you're more or less entitled to
unlimited visas so long as you remain enrolled in full-time education.
Applicants for au pair visas must prove that they have at least 200 hours
of experience with infants, 24 hours of training in child development, and eight
hours of child safety training. Prospective employers must provide a written
description of the job they expect their au pair to perform, so that there is
protection on both sides.
Customs: All passengers arriving in the US must present a completed
customs declaration form (also handed out on incoming planes). Customs officers
check whether you're carrying any fresh foods and ask if you've visited a farm
in the last month: if so, you could well lose your shoes. As well as foods and
anything agricultural, it's prohibited to carry into the country any articles
from such places as North Korea, Cambodia, Iraq, Libya, or Cuba; obscene
publications; lottery tickets; chocolate liqueurs; or pre-Columbian artifacts.
Anyone caught bringing drugs into the country will not only face prosecution but
be entered in the records as an undesirable and probably permanently denied
entry.
Tax Free/Duty Free: The duty-free allowance if you are over 17 is
200 cigarettes and 100 cigars (Cuban cigars are not allowed) and, if you
are over 21, a liter of spirits.
Cash and Foreign Currency: If you carry more than US$10,000 (all
currencies, traveler's checks, money orders, or other bearer or negotiable
monetary instruments) into or out of the US, you are required by US law to file
a report with the US Customs and Border Protection Service. Failure to do so can
result in these funds being seized and penalties assessed.
Medications: Foreign visitors should bear in mind that many pills
available over the counter at home -- most codeine-based painkillers, for
example -- require a prescription in the US. Anyone caught with such
medications without a prescription could be prosecuted.
Luggage inspection: All baggage is subject to inspection at the first
point of entry.
Currency/Money: Currency is the US dollar (USD). Paper bills are in
denominations of $1, $5, $10, $20 and $50. Coin denominations are 1 cent, 5
cents, 10 cents, 25 cents, fifty cents, and $1.
Transportation:
Air Service: Many major airlines utilize Anchorage International Airport.
Air taxi and charter services are available to smaller airports.
Public Transportation: Anchorage provides public transportation through
its People Mover system.
Accommodations: Lodging is available in a variety of price ranges.
Cuisine: Alaskans eat a lot of seafood, but they also enjoy meats such as
moose and bear. For a special treat, why not try some fireweed honey or Alaskan
Crude cake?
Alcohol: The legal age for alcohol consumption is 21. Alaska exercises
zero tolerance for underage drinking. Caution: Do not consume alcohol before
or during prolonged exposure to cold; alcohol is dehydrating and can hasten or
worsen injuries caused by cold exposure.
Telephones: The Area Code for Alaska is 907. Ten-digit dialing for local
calls may be in effect in some areas. Country Code is 1, and international
access code is 011. Directory Assistance is 411, and the Emergency
Police/Fire/Rescue is 911.
Electricity: The standard for the United States is 110 volts. Visitors
from outside North America will require a transformer or converter.
Attire: Clothing is a primary consideration anywhere in Alaska. Emphasis
should be based on comfort because the dress code is informal. Layering works
extremely well here.
Banks: Normal banking hours are 9 am to 4 pm Monday through Thursday, and
9 am to 6 pm on Friday. Most banks are closed on weekends, although a few open
for half-days on Saturday.
Personal Safety: and while no one can pretend that the USA is
trouble-free, away from the urban centers crime is often remarkably low-key. The
majority of the most dangerous cities are safe by day. At night, however, some
areas are completely off limits. All the major tourist areas and the main
nightlife zones in cities are invariably brightly lit and well policed. By
planning carefully and taking good care of your possessions, you should,
generally speaking, have few real problems.
Mugging and Theft: The biggest fear for most travelers is mugging. It's
impossible to give hard and fast rules about what to do if confronted by a
mugger. Whether to run, scream, or fight depends on the situation, but most
locals would just hand over their money. Simple precautions can drastically
reduce the likelihood of being targeted. Remember a few basic rules: don't flash
money around; don't peer at your map at every street corner, thereby announcing
that you're a lost stranger; if drunk, take a taxi to your hotel; avoid dark
streets; and in the wee hours stick to the street-side edge of the sidewalk, so
you can run into the street to attract attention. If you must ask for
directions, choose your target carefully. Consider carrying a wad of cash,
perhaps $50, separately from the bulk of your holdings so that if you do get
confronted you can hand over something without losing everything. If the worst
happens and your assailant is toting a gun or (more likely) a knife, try to stay
calm: remember that he (most muggers are male) may be scared, too. Keep still,
make no sudden movements, and hand over your money. When he's gone, find a phone
and dial 911, or hail a cab and ask the driver to take you to the nearest
police station. Here, report the theft and get a reference number on the report
to claim insurance and travelers check refunds. If you're in a big city, call
the local Travelers Aid (their numbers are listed in the telephone directory)
for sympathy and practical advice.
Hotel-Room Burglary is another potential problem. Always store valuables
in the hotel safe when you go out; when inside, keep your door locked and don't
open it to anyone who causes you to be suspicious. If they claim to be hotel
staff and you don't believe them, call reception to check. Obviously, losing
your travel documents -- especially your passport -- is a traveler's nightmare.
If you are unlucky in this respect, go to the nearest consulate and get a
temporary passport -- usually just a sheet of paper saying you've reported
the loss -- which will suffice to get you out of the United States and back
home.
Car Crime: Crimes committed against tourists driving rented cars aren't
as common as they once were, but it still pays to be cautious. In major urban
areas, any car you rent should have nothing on it, such as a particular license
plate, that makes it easy to identify as a rental. When driving, under no
circumstances stop in any unlit or seemingly deserted urban area, and especially
not if someone is waving you down and suggesting that there is something wrong
with your car. Similarly, if you are "accidentally" rammed by the driver behind,
do not stop immediately but drive on to the nearest well-lit, busy area and
call 911 for assistance. Keep your doors locked and windows never more than
slightly open. Do not open your door or window if someone approaches your car on
the pretext of asking directions. Hide any valuables out of sight, preferably
locked in the trunk or in the glove compartment.
Medical Facilities: If you have a serious accident while in the
US, emergency medical services will get to you quickly and charge you later. For
emergencies or ambulances, dial 911, the nationwide emergency number. Should you
need to see a doctor, consult the Yellow Pages of the telephone directory under
"Clinics" or "Physicians and Surgeons." The basic consultation fee is $50-100,
payable in advance. Medications aren't cheap either -- keep all your receipts
for later claims on your insurance policy. Foreign visitors should bear in mind
that many pills available over the counter at home -- most codeine-based
painkillers, for example -- require a prescription in the US. Local brand
names can be confusing; ask for advice at the pharmacy in any
drugstore.
Health Risks: In 1994, an international commission certified the
eradication of endemic wild poliovirus from the Americas. Ongoing surveillance
in formerly endemic Central and South American countries (Tropical and
Temperate) confirms that poliovirus transmission remains interrupted.
The incidence of communicable diseases is such that they are unlikely to prove a
hazard for international travelers greater than that found in their own country.
There are, of course, health risks, but in general, the precautions required are
minimal.
Certain diseases occasionally occur, such as plague, rabies in wildlife
(including bats), Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia, arthropod-borne
encephalitis, and seasonal outbreaks of influenza. Rodent-borne hanta virus has
been identified, predominantly in the western states of the US. Lyme disease is
endemic in the northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic, and the upper Midwest,
and in the southwestern provinces of Canada. Occasional cases have been reported
from the Pacific Northwest. Recently, cases of West Nile virus have occurred
around the New York City area. During recent years, the incidence of certain
food-borne diseases, e.g., E. coli O157:H7 and salmonellosis, has increased in
some regions. Other hazards include poisonous snakes, poison ivy, and poison
oak. In the north, very low winter temperatures pose a serious hazard.
Injuries: Cold hurts. Hypothermia, frost bite, frost nip, and immersion
foot (also called trench foot) are serious conditions requiring treatment. Learn
what precautions to take and how to treat early symptoms to ensure they don't
progress. Don?t risk permanent injury or loss of limb.
Injuries, especially those from motor vehicle crashes, pose the greatest
risk of serious disability or loss of life to international travelers. However,
the risk of motor vehicle-related death is generally many times higher in
developing countries than in the United States. Motor vehicle crashes result
from a variety of factors, all of which are preventable or can be abated.
Defensive driving is an important preventive measure. When driving or riding,
request a vehicle equipped with safety belts, and, where available, use them.
Cars and trucks should be carefully inspected to assure that tires, windshield
wipers, and brakes are in good condition and that all lights are in good working
order. As a high proportion of crashes occur at night when drivers are returning
from "social events," avoid nonessential night driving, alcohol, and riding with
persons who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. This risk of death in a
motor vehicle crash is greater for persons sitting in the front seat than for
those in the rear seat. Where possible, travelers should ride in the rear seats
of motor vehicles. For travel with young children, you should bring your own
child safety seat.
Fire injuries are also a significant cause of injuries and death. Do not
smoke in bed, and inquire about whether hotels have smoke detectors and
sprinkler systems. Travelers may wish to bring their own smoke detectors with
them. Always look for a primary and alternate escape route from rooms in which
you are meeting or staying. Look for improperly vented heating devices which may
cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Remember to escape a fire by crawling low under
smoke.
Other major causes of injury trauma include drowning and injuries to water
skiers and divers due to boat propellers. Boats equipped with propeller guards
should be used whenever possible. Wear a personal flotation device (PFD)
whenever you ride on a boat.
Travelers should also be aware of the potential for violence-related injuries.
Risk for assault or terrorist attack varies from country to country; and
location to location. Heed advice from residents and tour guides about areas to
be avoided, going out at night, and going out alone. Do not fight attackers. If
confronted, give up your valuables.
Animal-Associated Hazards: Animals in general tend to avoid human beings,
but they can attack, particularly if they are protecting their young. In areas
of endemic rabies, domestic dogs, cats, or other animals should not be petted.
Wild animals should be avoided; most injuries from wild animals are the direct
result of attempting to handle or feed the animals.
The bites, stings, and contact with some insects cause unpleasant reactions.
Medical attention should be sought if an insect bite or sting causes redness,
swelling, bruising, or persistent pain. Many insects also transmit communicable
diseases. Some insects can bite and transmit disease without the person being
aware of the bite, particularly when camping or staying in rustic or primitive
accommodations. Insect repellents, protective clothing, and mosquito netting are
advisable in many parts of the world.
Poisonous snakes are hazards in many areas, although deaths from snake
bites are relatively rare. The coral and rattlesnakes in the Americas are
particularly dangerous. Most snake bites are the direct result of handling or
harassing snakes, which bite as a defensive reaction. Attempts to kill snakes
are dangerous, often leading to bites on the fingers. The venom of a small or
immature snake may be even more concentrated than that of larger ones;
therefore, all snakes should be left alone. Fewer than half of all snake bite
wounds actually contain venom, but medical attention should be sought any time a
bite wound breaks the skin. A pressure bandage, ice (if available), and
immobilization of the affected limb are recommended first aid measures while the
victim is moved as quickly as possible to a medical facility. Specific therapy
for snake bite is controversial, and should be left to the judgment of local
emergency medical personnel. Snakes tend to be active at night and in warm
weather. As a precaution, boots and long pants may be worn when walking outdoors
at night in snake-infested regions. Bites from scorpions may be painful but
seldom are dangerous, except possibly in infants. In general, exposure to bites
can be avoided by sleeping under mosquito nets and by shaking clothing and shoes
before putting them on, particularly in the morning. Snakes and scorpions tend
to rest in shoes and clothing.
Anthrax-Contaminated Goatskin Handicrafts: Anthrax is a disease caused by
a bacterial organism that produces spores that are highly resistant to
disinfection. These infectious spores may persist on a contaminated item for
many years. Anthrax spores have been found on goatskin handicrafts from Haiti.
Because of the risk, importation of goatskin handicrafts from Haiti is not
permitted at US ports of entry; such items will be confiscated and destroyed.
Swimming Precautions: Swimming in contaminated water may result in skin,
eye, ear, and certain intestinal infections, particularly if the swimmer's head
is submerged. Generally for infectious disease prevention, only pools that
contain chlorinated water can be considered safe places to swim. In certain
areas, fatal primary amebic meningoencephalitis has occurred following swimming
in warm dirty water. Swimmers should avoid beaches that might be contaminated
with human sewage or with dog feces. Wading or swimming should be avoided in
freshwater streams, canals, and lakes liable to be infested with the snail hosts
of schistosomiasis (bilharziasis) or contaminated with urine from animals
infected with Leptospira. Biting and stinging fish and corals and jelly fish may
be hazardous to the swimmer. Never swim alone or when under the influence of
alcohol or drugs, and never dive head first into an unfamiliar body of water.
Emerging Infectious Diseases: Emerging infectious diseases are diseases
of infectious origin whose incidence in humans has increased within the past two
decades or threatens to increase in the near future. Many factors, or
combinations of factors, can contribute to disease emergence. New infectious
diseases may emerge from genetic changes in existing organisms; known diseases
may spread to new geographic areas and populations; and previously unknown
infections may appear in humans living or working in changing ecologic
conditions that increase their exposure to insect vectors, animal reservoirs, or
environmental sources of novel pathogens. Reemergence may occur because of the
development of antimicrobial resistance in existing infections (e.g., gonorrhea,
malaria, pneumococcal disease) or breakdowns in public health measures for
previously controlled infections (e.g., cholera, tuberculosis, pertussis).
Vaccinations: In general, inoculations are not required for entry into
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