United States

SAFETY: fair
The whole country is generally considered safe, apart from episodes of petty crime, which are particularly frequent in the outskirts of the big cities (Los Angeles, New York...), but also in other smaller, run-down suburbs. In the Caribbean area, the risk of hurricanes of varying intensity runs from June to November.

TRANSPORT: excellent
A comprehensive, modern transport system covering the whole country (air, rail, bus, metro, tram, taxi, ferries) makes it possible to reach any destination. The domestic air service is widely used and efficient. Hiring cars, motorbikes, campervans, bikes and boats is easy and convenient. The country is very well connected to Italy and the rest of the world.
Main airports: there are a great many international and domestic airports across the country. Direct scheduled flights from Italy currently land at the following airports: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, New York (JFK and Newark), Philadelphia, Washington.
Main ports: Corpus Christi, Duluth, Hampton Roads, Houston, Long Beach, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Tampa, Texas City, South Louisiana Ports (13 ports north of New Orleans, on the Mississippi River).

ACCOMMODATION: excellent
The country has a huge choice of accommodation of various kinds, categories and prices. The international hotel classification applies (one to five stars), and there are also motels, farm stays, B&Bs, guesthouses, hostels, campsites, mountain lodges, spa and wellness centres. The choice of restaurants is varied, especially in the major cities.

COUNTRY FACTS: Full name: United States of America – Time zone: UTC -5/-8; the difference from Italy ranges from -6 on the east coast to -9 on the west coast. Almost all states observe daylight saving time. Alaska and Hawaii have their own time zones: Alaska UTC -9 (10 hours behind Italy), Hawaii UTC -10 (11 hours behind Italy) – Area: 9,373,000 sq km – Capital: Washington – Religion: Protestant 52%, Catholic 24%, Mormon 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 1%, other faiths 10%, atheist 10% – Languages: American English; Spanish is very widely spoken.

CURRENCY: US dollar (USD). It is advisable to declare at customs any imported sums over 2,500 euros, to avoid possible disputes when leaving the country – Credit cards: the major cards are generally accepted – Exchange: bring euros, easy to exchange.

ELECTRICITY: 120 V and 60 Hz – Sockets: flat-pin type (bring an adapter).

MEASURES: the metric system is in use, but so is the imperial system.

DOCUMENTS: passport with remaining validity beyond the return date, and visa.
Since 12 January 2009 it has been compulsory to obtain ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) authorisation in order to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. The authorisation must be obtained before boarding the aircraft or ship bound for the United States. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) advises that, from 8 September 2010, travellers from Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries must pay a fee of $14 when applying for ESTA authorisation. This payment must be made by credit card at the time of application on the website https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov. To complement the ESTA security programme, a further procedure came into force on 6 September 2010 (the Secure Flight Program), under which body scanners, accurate low-emission X-ray electronic screening systems, have been introduced for passenger checks at the major US airports. In addition, since 26 June 2012 all travelling minors must hold an individual passport. Minors with a passport are also eligible for the Visa Waiver Program.
The Visa Waiver Program is available to holders of one of the following documents: an electronic passport issued on or after 26 October 2006; a machine-readable passport issued or renewed before 26 October 2005; a passport with a digital photograph issued between 26 October 2005 and 26 October 2006. To use the programme you must: be travelling exclusively for business and/or tourism; stay in the United States for no more than 90 days; hold a return ticket. If any one of these requirements is not met, a visa must be applied for. For longer stays and/or other types of travel a visa is required, so contact the US diplomatic and consular authorities in Italy. For further information see www.usembassy.it/visa.

Driving: international driving permit under the 1949 Geneva Convention – Car: insurance to be taken out locally with American International Underwriters (www.aiu.com).

COMMUNICATIONS AND TELEPHONES: International dialling code: 001 – Code for Italy: 011 39 – GSM: extensive network covering the whole country. Standard: GSM 850/1900 and 3G 850/1900. There are numerous local operators, some of which have roaming agreements with Italian companies – Internet: very widespread and of good average quality – Web domain: .us – Emergency numbers: police/ambulance/fire brigade 911; roadside assistance AAA HELP tel. 800 222 4357.

RULES, LAWS AND CUSTOMS: drug possession is severely punished with imprisonment and fines. Sexual abuse and violence against minors are also severely punished. Homosexuality is legal, and some states recognise same-sex unions. San Francisco is home to one of the largest gay communities in the world. When driving in the country, remember that the rules are very strict and rigorously enforced; blood alcohol limits are low (0.08%), as are speed limits, and penalties for offenders are far harsher than in Italy and Europe generally (up to and including imprisonment).

HEALTH: no compulsory vaccinations are required. The country presents no particular health risks, nor any difficulties in the event of emergency repatriation. Local medical and hospital facilities are of an excellent standard but very expensive. Pharmacies are widespread and well stocked.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS: 1 January, New Year's Day; 3rd Monday in January, Martin Luther King Day; 3rd Monday in February, Washington's Birthday; last Monday in May, Memorial Day; 4 July, Independence Day; 1st Monday in September, Labor Day; 2nd Monday in October, Columbus Day; 11 November, Veterans Day; last Thursday in November, Thanksgiving; 25 December, Christmas Day.

OPENING HOURS: Post offices: Mon-Fri 9.00-17.00/18.00, Sat 9.00-12.00 – Banks: Mon-Fri 10.00-15.00, Thu-Fri until 18.00 – Shops: varies – Closing day: Sunday.

CLIMATE: variable. The climate is continental in New England, from Maine to Connecticut, and milder further south. It is tropical on the south-eastern coast facing the Gulf of Mexico, from South Carolina to Louisiana. The northern Pacific coast has a mild climate all year round but also the highest rainfall. New York and the north Atlantic coast have muggy, humid summers and harsh winters. Florida enjoys an almost subtropical microclimate. Texas has mild winters and scorching summers. The climate is continental in Texas and in the Great Plains from North Dakota to Oklahoma, with sharp temperature swings between winter and summer. Hawaii has a tropical climate and Alaska an Arctic one.

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USEFUL ADDRESSES IN ITALY

Embassy and Consulate of the United States of America
Palazzo Margherita – Via Vittorio Veneto 119/121 – 00187 Rome
Tel. 06 46741 – Fax 06 46742217 (consular section: 06 4882672)
Web: www.usis.it – www.usembassy.it

Consulates General
Via Principe Amedeo 2/10 – 20121 Milan – Tel. 02 290351 – Fax 02 29001165 – Web: milan.usconsulate.gov
Lungarno Vespucci 38 – 50123 Florence – Tel. 055 266951 – Fax 055 284088 – Web: florence.usconsulate.gov
Piazza della Repubblica – 80122 Naples – Tel. 081 5838111 – Fax 081 7611869 – Web: naples.usconsulate.gov

USEFUL ADDRESSES IN THE UNITED STATES

Embassy of Italy
3000 Whitehaven Street – NW – Washington, DC 20008
Tel. 001 2026124400 – Fax 001 202 5182154
Web: www.ambwashingtondc.esteri.it – E-mail: stampa.washington@esteri.it

Consulate General of Italy in Boston 
600 Atlantic Ave. – Boston, MA 02210
Tel. (617) 7229201/02/03 – Fax (617) 7229407
E-mail: archivio.boston@esteri.it

Consulate General of Italy in Chicago
500 North Michigan Ave., Suite 1850 – Chicago, IL 60611
Tel. (312) 4671550 – Fax (312) 4671335
E-mail: italcons.chicago@esteri.it

Consulate of Italy in Detroit
Buhl Building – 535 Griswold, Suite 1840 – Detroit, MI 48226
Tel. (313) 9638560 – Fax (313) 9638180
E-mail: inform.detroit@esteri.it

Consulate General of Italy in Philadelphia
150 S. Independence Mall West, Suite 1026 – Philadelphia, PA 19106-3410
Tel.(215) 5927329 – Fax (215) 5929808
Public relations office e-mail: urp.filadelfia@esteri.it
Citizenship e-mail: cittadinanza.filadelfia@esteri.it 

Consulate General of Italy in Houston
1300 Post Oak Blvd., Suite 660 – Houston, TX 77056
Tel. (713) 8507520 – Fax (713) 8509113
E-mail: italcons.houston@esteri.it

Consulate General of Italy in Los Angeles
12400 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 300
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Tel. (310) 8200622 – Tel. (310) 8266207 – Fax (310) 8200727
E-mail: consolato.losangeles@esteri.it

Consulate General of Italy in Miami
4000 Ponce de León Blvd., Suite 590 – Coral Gables, FL 33146
Tel.(305) 3746322 main number – Fax (305) 3747945
E-mail: italconsulmiami@gmail.com

Consulate of Italy in Newark
One Gateway Center, Suite 100 – Newark, NJ 07102
Tel. (973) 643-1448 – Fax (973) 643-3043
E-mail: consolato.newark@esteri.it

Consulate General of Italy in New York
690 Park Ave., New York, NY 10065
Tel. (212) 7379100 – Fax (212) 2494945
E-mail: info.newyork@esteri.it

Consulate General of Italy in San Francisco
2590 Webster St. – San Francisco, CA 94115
Tel. (415) 2929200 – Fax (415) 9317205
E-mail: it.sanfrancisco@esteri.it