Information for international visitors

Information for International Visitors

ICPS 2006 attendees who have never visited the USA may be interested in some basic information prior to visiting. This information is provided as suggestions only, and those coming to the US are urged to double check important information.

Travel Arrangements: For travel requirements (for example, passport, visas), please see the websites of your own country’s foreign service as well as the US State Department. Once you registered online, you may use the registration information for you to apply for your passport and visa. Contact us, if you need assistance. Also, for vendors seeking to sell plants and seeds, please be sure to check the regulations of the US Department of Agriculture. APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/), a part of the US Department of Agriculture, is the most relevant agency to check, and also please check the rules for the State of Maryland on its website.

A range of US-based and non-US based airlines fly into the airports which are most convenient for the ICPS 2006 meeting. Some travelers may find the security lines longer and stricter than in their home countries. In particular, do not make any jokes when dealing with the inspectors as they are required by law to take any comment seriously. In general, they are friendly and helpful and want to make your stay a pleasant one.

Public transportation in the US is not commonly or heavily used outside large cities. All of the airports suggested for ICPS 2006 have trains/subway connections. If you are familiar with Amtrak, you may take a train to Cumberland, and then take public bus for 10 miles to Frostburg. However, there may be only one shift each day from your direction and it is possibly slower than trains in many countries. So, you may better take the FSU shuttle (for further information, please check http://www.frostburg.edu/6thICPS/Transportation.htm).

The official airline for the ICPS 2006 meeting is American Airlines, and the discount code (5% off many airfares, but not some which are already discounted) is A2156AA. In the US and Canada, call 1-800-433-1790 to make a reservation using this code, which cannot be used online. Flights can be checked at www.aa.com. For those making reservations outside the US, there are two options: 1) call your country’s office of American Airlines or 2) make a reservation through an OneWorld Alliance carrier which flies to the US from your country. American Airlines is a member of the OneWorld Alliance, and the discount code is good for all other members of the Alliance—please see www.aa.com for more details on which other airlines are included.

Currency: The US uses coins in the following denominations: penny ($0.01, copper), nickel ($0.05, silver colored), dime ($0.10, silver colored), quarter ($0.25, silver colored), half dollar ($0.50, silver colored, rarely used), and dollar ($1.00, silver or gold colored, rarely used but available at post offices). Paper currency includes denominations of $1, $2 (rarely seen), $5, $10, $20, $50, $100, and higher. Many small stores may not take $50 or $100 bills, especially late at night, but these are not commonly used and not distributed by most ATM machines. For $20 and greater denominations, older bills are mostly green like the $1 and $5 bills, but newer issues include other colors.

Sales Tax: The US has no national sales tax/VAT/GST, but each state can have its own sales tax (e.g., 5% at Maryland) which is added to some purchases, depending on the nature of what is purchased. For example, some states tax clothing sales but not food sales, and a few states do not have sales tax (Delaware, with lots of nice cp’s, next to Maryland, is one such state).

Tipping: It is customary in the US to tip for a variety of services, especially since the people working in these areas (typically in restaurants and hotels) receive a lower wage with the understanding that they will receive extra pay in the form of tips. This custom allows the buyer/restaurant patron to comment directly on service.

In general, if you go to a restaurant where you sit and are served by the staff, a tip of 15% (less for poor service, more for better service) should be left on the table for the server, and tip at least $1 of 15% is less than that. Most restaurants in the US do not include any extra charge for the server. There is no need to tip in a fast-food restaurant in which you carry your own food to the table (in fact, a tip there would be surprising).

In taxis, tip 20% of the fare, at least US$2. If someone at a hotel or in a restaurant carries your bags for you, tip US$1 per bag.

Cars and Parking: There are a number of rental car agencies in the US, such as Avis (official rental agency for ICPS 2006, with a 10% discount—see American Airlines information above; www.avis.com), Hertz, Budget, Enterprise, Alamo, and others (check airport websites for lists of these). Please check the companies’ websites for information on requirements for insurance, and check Maryland or other states government websites to see if your home driver’s license is sufficient in the US.

In general, when renting a car, it is cheaper to decline the fuel option (that is, to buy the fuel at the inflated rate which the rental company charges if the car is returned without the tank completely refilled). All airports have gasoline stations nearby for filling the tank before returning cars.

Weather: Maryland is one of the Middle Atlantic States, with temperatures ranging from -20F (-C) on the coldest winter nights in the mountains of western Maryland to 10F on the coldest nights near Ocean City on the Atlantic coast. During the meeting, the typical weather is very pleasantly mild. For example, between 6/1/2004-6/9/2004, the temperature was between 50F (night) and 77F (day) that is between 10 – 25C. However, occasionally it could turned to a few degrees colder or warmer (please see http://faculty.frostburg.edu/phys/latta/weather/). Many homes here do not have air conditioners, since the temperature is pretty cool in summer. So, you may wear long sleeve shirts in the morning and short T-shirts in the afternoon.

ATM’s/Traveller’s Checks: ATM’s (automatic teller machines, cash machines) are commonly available in the US, even in small stores and many gasoline stations. Fees apply as everywhere. Please check with your home bank to determine if your ATM network, and thus your account, will be available in the US.

Directness: Americans are generally more direct in asking questions than people from many other countries—this should not be taken as a sign of disrespect, rather just a part of local custom. Please feel free to be direct in return. Stereotypes of the US as a lawless place with constant gunfire are wildly exaggerated. Almost all Americans, when they meet someone from outside the US, are delighted and have many questions about where you are from, as a sign of welcome. Frostburg is a very peaceful place, and local people frequently say “Hi” to visitors.

Maps: For maps and driving directions in the US are generally quite good and available online (www.mapquest.com or www.msn.com) for almost any address. The new free service even includes satellite photos available at http://maps.google.com/ so that you can clearly where you can park your car and the nearby roads on the real topographic photos shows each car clearly. Maps of airports and nearby roads are usually available from airport websites (see elsewhere on the ICPS 2006 website, e.g., http://mirror.frostburg.edu/6thICPS/FieldTrips.htm), and road maps can be purchased at most convenience stores and gasoline stations.

Frostburg and the three airports (blue arrows) in Washington-Baltimore area.

Frostburg on the satellite map at http://maps.google.com/


	Information for International Visitors ICPS 2006 attendees who have never visited the USA may be interested in some basic information prior to visiting. This information is provided as suggestions only, and those coming to the US are urged to double check important information. Travel Arrangements: For travel requirements (for example, passport, visas), please see the websites of your own country’s foreign service as well as the US State Department. Once you registered online, you may use the registration information for you to apply for your passport and visa. Contact us, if you need assistance. Also, for vendors seeking to sell plants and seeds, please be sure to check the regulations of the US Department of Agriculture. APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/), a part of the US Department of Agriculture, is the most relevant agency to check, and also please check the rules for the State of Maryland on its website. A range of US-based and non-US based airlines fly into the airports which are most convenient for the ICPS 2006 meeting. Some travelers may find the security lines longer and stricter than in their home countries. In particular, do not make any jokes when dealing with the inspectors as they are required by law to take any comment seriously. In general, they are friendly and helpful and want to make your stay a pleasant one. Public transportation in the US is not commonly or heavily used outside large cities. All of the airports suggested for ICPS 2006 have trains/subway connections. If you are familiar with Amtrak, you may take a train to Cumberland, and then take public bus for 10 miles to Frostburg. However, there may be only one shift each day from your direction and it is possibly slower than trains in many countries. So, you may better take the FSU shuttle (for further information, please check http://www.frostburg.edu/6thICPS/Transportation.htm). The official airline for the ICPS 2006 meeting is *American Airlines, and the discount code (5% off many airfares, but not some which are already discounted) is A2156AA. In the US and Canada, call 1-800-433-1790 to make a reservation using this code, which cannot be used online. Flights can be checked at www.aa.com. For those making reservations outside the US, there are two options: 1) call your country’s office of American Airlines* or 2) make a reservation through an OneWorld Alliance carrier which flies to the US from your country. American Airlines is a member of the OneWorld Alliance, and the discount code is good for all other members of the Alliance—please see www.aa.com for more details on which other airlines are included. Currency: The US uses coins in the following denominations: penny ($0.01, copper), nickel ($0.05, silver colored), dime ($0.10, silver colored), quarter ($0.25, silver colored), half dollar ($0.50, silver colored, rarely used), and dollar ($1.00, silver or gold colored, rarely used but available at post offices). Paper currency includes denominations of $1, $2 (rarely seen), $5, $10, $20, $50, $100, and higher. Many small stores may not take $50 or $100 bills, especially late at night, but these are not commonly used and not distributed by most ATM machines. For $20 and greater denominations, older bills are mostly green like the $1 and $5 bills, but newer issues include other colors. Sales Tax: The US has no national sales tax/VAT/GST, but each state can have its own sales tax (e.g., 5% at Maryland) which is added to some purchases, depending on the nature of what is purchased. For example, some states tax clothing sales but not food sales, and a few states do not have sales tax (Delaware, with lots of nice cp’s, next to Maryland, is one such state). Tipping: It is customary in the US to tip for a variety of services, especially since the people working in these areas (typically in restaurants and hotels) receive a lower wage with the understanding that they will receive extra pay in the form of tips. This custom allows the buyer/restaurant patron to comment directly on service. In general, if you go to a restaurant where you sit and are served by the staff, a tip of 15% (less for poor service, more for better service) should be left on the table for the server, and tip at least $1 of 15% is less than that. Most restaurants in the US do not include any extra charge for the server. There is no need to tip in a fast-food restaurant in which you carry your own food to the table (in fact, a tip there would be surprising). In taxis, tip 20% of the fare, at least US$2. If someone at a hotel or in a restaurant carries your bags for you, tip US$1 per bag. Cars and Parking: There are a number of rental car agencies in the US, such as Avis (official rental agency for ICPS 2006, with a 10% discount—see American Airlines information above; www.avis.com), Hertz, Budget, Enterprise, Alamo, and others (check airport websites for lists of these). Please check the companies’ websites for information on requirements for insurance, and check Maryland or other states government websites to see if your home driver’s license is sufficient in the US. In general, when renting a car, it is cheaper to decline the fuel option (that is, to buy the fuel at the inflated rate which the rental company charges if the car is returned without the tank completely refilled). All airports have gasoline stations nearby for filling the tank before returning cars. Weather: Maryland is one of the Middle Atlantic States, with temperatures ranging from -20F (-C) on the coldest winter nights in the mountains of western Maryland to 10F on the coldest nights near Ocean City on the Atlantic coast. During the meeting, the typical weather is very pleasantly mild. For example, between 6/1/2004-6/9/2004, the temperature was between 50F (night) and 77F (day) that is between 10 – 25C. However, occasionally it could turned to a few degrees colder or warmer (please see http://faculty.frostburg.edu/phys/latta/weather/). Many homes here do not have air conditioners, since the temperature is pretty cool in summer. So, you may wear long sleeve shirts in the morning and short T-shirts in the afternoon. ATM’s/Traveller’s Checks: ATM’s (automatic teller machines, cash machines) are commonly available in the US, even in small stores and many gasoline stations. Fees apply as everywhere. Please check with your home bank to determine if your ATM network, and thus your account, will be available in the US. Directness: Americans are generally more direct in asking questions than people from many other countries—this should not be taken as a sign of disrespect, rather just a part of local custom. Please feel free to be direct in return. Stereotypes of the US as a lawless place with constant gunfire are wildly exaggerated. Almost all Americans, when they meet someone from outside the US, are delighted and have many questions about where you are from, as a sign of welcome. Frostburg is a very peaceful place, and local people frequently say “Hi” to visitors. Maps: For maps and driving directions in the US are generally quite good and available online (www.mapquest.com or www.msn.com) for almost any address. The new free service even includes satellite photos available at http://maps.google.com/ so that you can clearly where you can park your car and the nearby roads on the real topographic photos shows each car clearly. Maps of airports and nearby roads are usually available from airport websites (see elsewhere on the ICPS 2006 website, e.g., http://mirror.frostburg.edu/6thICPS/FieldTrips.htm), and road maps can be purchased at most convenience stores and gasoline stations. Frostburg and the three airports (blue arrows) in Washington-Baltimore area. Frostburg on the satellite map at http://maps.google.com/ IAD - Washington Dulles International Airport (Above) IAD - Washington Dulles International Airport (Above) DCA - Ronald Reagan National Airport (Above) BWI - Baltimore Washington International Airport (Above) Pittsburgh (blue arrow) and Frostburg (red arrow) Pittsburgh Intentional Airport (Above)










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