FAQ's

Visa & Customs | General Tourist Information | Weather, Time, Currency | Accommodation | Transportation | Things To Do | Cultural and Sports Events | Disabled Travelers | Getting Married in the USA

Introduction

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Tourism Industries, almost 1.2 million German tourists visited the USA in 2003 In a ranking of all tourist visits to the U.S., Germany is third after Japan and the United Kingdom.

Visa and Customs

Under the U.S. visa law and regulations, German citizens do not generally need to obtain visas if they intend to travel to the United States for business or pleasure for a period of 90 days or less.

Information about customs requirements is available from U.S. Customs & Border Protection. For answers to frequently asked questions such as: Can I take my dog / my cat with me to the U.S.? --- What can I take with me when entering the U.S. (food, medicine, alcoholic beverages ) ---- Can I get a sales tax refund on purchases made in the U.S.? check the U.S. Customs FAQ.

Please take a look also at the Guidelines and Safety Tips for Travellers published by the Transportation Security Administration.

Tourist Information

Where can I obtain tourist information?
The U.S. no longer operates a national tourist office in Germany. Travel brochures may be obtained from the local tourism offices in the U.S. A list of addresses, phone and fax numbers to individual state and territorial Tourism Offices is composed by the Travel Industry Association of America.

Visit USA Committee Germany e.V., a private non-profit group offers a selection of information brochures on travelling to the U.S., and a number of tourist destinations have representations in Germany.

Alternatively, try the Travel Planner The Travel Planner which presents links to over 500 official Web sites of U.S. visitors bureaus, airports, airlines, and hotels. Included are over 300 official sites of state and regional Visitors Bureaus, many of which provide online forms to request free travel planning material by mail.

Where can I obtain travel information about a particular city or state?
All of the states now have their own homepages with a wide range of interesting and useful information for tourists. They usually include links to cities and places of interest within each state. Several sites have picklists of states and or cities that allow you to pinpoint your destination. For example, you can also use Yahoo Get Local! to home in on the information you need, or the German-language Travel Guides USA-Tipps or Marco-Polo.

Where can I obtain U.S. road maps to plan my travel route?
Road maps by American and German publishers are readily available at German bookstores and from your local ADAC store (ADAC also offers the AAA TourBooks to its members). Free maps are usually included in the materials you can request from the individual state and territorial Tourism Offices in the U.S. Mapquest offers interactive maps and driving directions on the Internet.

Where can I find information on the West Nile Virus, SARS or other diseases?
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention offers current information.

Weather, time, currency ....

What's the time difference?

Time zones in the U.S. :


EST (Eastern Standard Time) = MEZ - 6 hrs

CST (Central Standard Time) = MEZ - 7 hrs

MST (Mountain Standard Time) = MEZ - 8 hrs

PST (Pacific Standard Time) = MEZ - 9 hrs

Alaskan Time = MEZ - 10hrs

Hawaiian Time = MEZ - 11 hrs

For the current time look up the official U.S. time. This service is provided by the two time agencies of United States: the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and its military counterpart, the U. S. Naval Observatory (USNO) The time shown should generally be accurate within 1 second.
To convert time zones ask the Time Zone Converter.

Is the U.S. on Daylight Saving Time?
Most U.S. states observe Daylight Saving Time (DST), except for Indiana, Arizona and Hawaii. DST in the U.S. begins each year at 2 am on the first Sunday in April and ends at 2 am on the last Sunday in October.

What's the weather like where I'm going?
The websites of the Weather Channel, a 24 hour cable channel, and the national newspaper USA Today are among a number of websites providing current weather reports and 5 day forecasts for U.S. cities.

Where can I find storm, flood and fire warnings?
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) provides information on hurricanes, tornados, winter storms and floods at their National Warning Area.

How do I convert the following temperature/weight/speed?
Check with the Online Measurements Converter. Also, most travel guide-books, and possibly your English-German dictionary contain a section on measurement conversions.

What's the current exchange rate?
Ask the currency converter online or the Exchange Rates Calculator, which uses data from the Federal Reserve Bank.

Accommodation

Where can I find addresses of hotels and motels?
Materials available upon request from city and regional tourist offices often include a listing of hotels and other accommodations. Addresses of hotels are also listed in many travel guide-books, some even include recommendations. For a list of hotel chains in the U.S. see Yahoo!

Where can I find addresses of alternative accommodation such as youth hostels, YMCAs and B&Bs;?
Addresses can be found in many travel guide-books, and on the Internet at YMCA of the USA, YWCA of the USA, Youth Hostelling International, Hostelling International - American Youth Hostels, or Budget Hotels Guide.

For Bed & Breakfast places see the Bed & Breakfast Inns Online and the Professional Association of Innkeepers International or one of the regional guides listed at Yahoo!: Bed and Breakfasts.

Is it possible to trade homes/houses with an American family during our vacation?
Please contact one of the International home exchange organizations found on the Internet at International Home Exchange Organizations.

How do I find addresses of campgrounds & trailer parks?
Check with Go Camping America Directory the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds, RV America On Line, KOA's Campground Directory or Woodalls Campground Guide. Campers, hikers, and RV enthusiasts will appreciate the CampNet America web site, which includes links to a wealth of outdoors attractions and a useful U.S./Canada Public Parks Locator Map.

How can I find out about vacations on a dude or guest ranch?
Check with Guest Ranches of North America or Worldwide Ranch Headquarters. Download a free copy of the Dude Ranch Directory from the Dude Ranchers' Association or ask your local travel agent.

Transportation

How do I find information about Greyhound bus schedules, tickets & fares?
Visit the Greyhound web site or your local travel agent.

How do I find information about Amtrak train schedules and the North America Rail Pass?
Contact your local travel agent or visit Amtrak on the Internet. Train fares are not available online, for fare information please call Amtrak at 001 (212) 582-6875.

How far is it from ..... ?
How far is it from? (maps.com) helps you calculate the distance between two places.

Is my German driver's license valid in the U.S.? Do I need an international driver's license to rent a car?
The U.S. has an agreement with most countries whereby the renter's full national driving license may be used for a period of up to one year in the U.S.A. This applies to the full German driving license.

International Driving Permits are generally not required in the U.S.A but it is helpful to carry one. If they are taken, they are only valid in conjunction with a full national driving license. For more information contact the ADAC or your local Straßenverkehrsamt.

What do I need to know about renting a car/motorcycle/motorhome in the U.S.?
Most car rental companies require a major credit card, and that you have held a full license for at least one year, regardless of age. The minimum age for renting a car is normally 21 although it can be as high as 25. Often an additional charge is levied on drivers who are under 25 years of age. We suggest that you check the requirements of your prospective automobile rental company by contacting them directly. Check with your local travel agent before you leave, it may be cheaper to book your rental car in Germany. Information on renting cars is available from Free Travel Tips.com.

What do I need to know about traffic regulations?
Most travel guide-books and the materials available from href="http://www.adac.de/">ADAC provide an overview of traffic regulations, speed limit and road signs. For more in-depth information about state by state rules of the road visit the Online Study Guide for Student Drivers.

May I take a motor vehicle with me on my trip to the U.S.A.?
Yes, you may temporarily import an automobile, trailer, airplane, motorcycle, boat, or similar vehicle for the transportation of yourself, your family, and your guests.
Motor vehicles and motor vehicles equipment for personal use may be imported for a period of one year or less. The vehicle must be imported in connection with your arrival and be owned by you or on order prior to your departure. A vehicle not complying with all applicable Federal laws (EPA + DOT) cannot be sold in the United States. For more information see the U.S. Customs and Border Protection page on importing a car.

How do I find out about 'drive-away' options ? (moving a car from one location to another)
Check with the local chapter of the American Automobile Association (AAA) a few days in advance or contact one of the local relocation companies. They might need someone to move a car from one city to another, sometimes clear across the U.S..... You will find addresses listed in the yellow pages under 'Drive-Away' or 'Automobile Transporters'.

Things To Do

How do I find information on amusement and theme parks in the U.S.?
Check our links on Attractions in our travel section to find the websites for Amusement and Theme Parks.

Where can I find information about the National Parks and Wildlife Refuges in the U.S.?
The National Park Guide site provides general information on visiting parks, park maps, fees and reservations, and links to all of the National Parks web pages, which contain documents specific to that park.
The National Wildlife Refuge System provides information on wildlife sanctuaries, for information on national forests visit the USDA Forest Service.

How can I obtain a hunting or fishing license?
Please contact the individual state's Department of Fish and Wildlife. You can find the address and phone number information on this list of the State Natural Resource Agencies.

Where can I find information on visiting Native America?
Check the Native Tourism Alliance for addresses and activities.

Will I be able to see a Space Shuttle launch while holidaying in Florida?
NASA provides a list of future shuttle launch dates. These are, of course, subject to change at short notice. Information on viewing launches or touring the Kennedy Space Center is available from the Center's Public Affairs Office. Tel: 001 (407) 867-6000

Cultural and sports events

How do I find out about art exhibits at museums and galleries?
Check with the MuseumLink, the exhibition calendar at the Art Museum Network, the Gallery Guide Online or with the city or state you plan to visit.

How do I find out about cultural events in ??? or what's playing at ???
Check with the visitor's bureau at your destination or the venue directly (e.g. to find information on the MET opera season contact the MET.) For more information check the links at our "About the USA" > Arts & Leisure.

How can I get tickets to a cultural or sports event?
Check with your local ticket office (some do offer international ticket sales), or contact one of the ticket offices found on Yahoo!: Tickets
, such as Ticketmaster or check our links on Arts & Leisure and Sports.
In many cases you may also reserve tickets through the theater, opera house etc. or through the organizers of a sports event.

Disabled Travelers

Where do I get information for disabled travelers?
For information on barrier-free vacations, accessible air travel, transportation and destinations start with the Disability Travel and Recreation Resources on the Internet.

Where to I get information on how to pass through the security checkpoint as a person with disabilities or medical concerns?
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) provides detailed information on passing throught the security checkpoint if you have a mobility, hearing, visual or hidden disability, or if you a a person with diabetes, a pacemaker, a person with assistive devices and mobility aids canes, walkers, crutches, prosthetic devices, body braces, and other devices or if you travel with assistant animals.

Do I need "Disabled Parking Permits" as a visitor to the U.S.
Requirements for disabled permits for visiting motorists vary from state to state. In some cases an out of state or international permit is sufficient; in others a local, temporary permit is required. Where applicable, it is worth checking with your car hire company or contacting a local tourist office representing your destination.
Many states' Departments of Motor Vehicles now provide information and/or application forms on their internet websites.

Can I take medicines with me to the United States?
Please check our Frequently Asked Questions website on U.S. Customs.

Getting Married in the USA

How can I get married while vacationing in the U.S.?
All information of interest to German citizens can be found in: Merkblatt "Deutsche Heiraten in Nordamerika", published by the Bundesverwaltungsamt, Informationsstelle für Auswanderer und Auslandstätige, Tel: 01 88 83 58-0 (Zentrale), Fax: 01 88 83 58-27 68, E-Mail: bva.eures@dialup.nacamar.de.

For information on legal requirements in the U.S. and the documents you will need, check with the marriage license bureau or the county or city clerk of the place where you would like to get married. For an overview of requirements in the various states look at Marriage License Information on the Internet. MagazineUSA.com offers a good overview over marrying in the United States.