Baltimore

Baltimore's dedicated passenger terminal at South Locust Point stands only minutes from the well-known Inner Harbor and immediately off I-95. BWI Airport is a ten-minute drive away, while both Washington and Annapolis can be reached by car in under an hour.

Private cars and taxis have straightforward access to the Port of Baltimore's South Locust Point Marine Terminal.

The terminal is 3 miles from the city centre, with waiting taxis charging about $5 each way.

Secure long-term parking within easy walking distance of Cruise Maryland Terminal costs $15 per day, and does not require advance booking.

BWI Airport lies 10 miles south of central Baltimore and 10.5 miles from Maryland's South Locust Point cruise terminal. The state-set taxi price is 35$ per vehicle.

Baltimore has sights and activities around almost every corner. Museum choices include Baltimore Aquarium, Maryland Science Center, B&O Railroad Museum, The National Great Blacks In Wax Museum and The Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History. The city's rich cultural past is also explored at historic places such as Fort McHenry, home of the National Anthem, which provides a fresh perspective on Baltimore.

Inner Harbor combines numerous restaurants with distinctive shopping, celebrated museums, live performances and local taverns and pubs.

In Baltimore, almost everything feels only two feet away. Many hotels, restaurants, attractions and nightlife venues sit within a comfortable walk of one another. The walking-radius tool on the Baltimore Map shows what can be reached on foot from your accommodation.

A journey aboard Baltimore Water Taxi is an attraction itself, calling at Harborplace, National Aquarium, Maryland Science Center, Little Italy, Fell's Point, Canton Waterfront Park and Fort McHenry.

A single journey by bus, light rail or subway costs $1.80. A $4.20 day ticket provides unlimited travel on all three and is sold by any bus driver or at vending machines in subway and light-rail stations.

Charm City Circulator is operated by the city and, unlike the three services above, costs nothing. Parking taxes fund the network, which now includes several routes:

Smaller and quieter than MTA trains, the buses are also more stylish and enjoyable. They offer people based downtown a very inexpensive route towards Fells Point, Federal Hill, Mount Vernon and other districts that the MTA serves less well.

• Orange Route travels east-west between Harbor East and Hollins Market.
• Purple Route links Penn Station and Federal Hill on a north-south alignment.
• Green Route operates mainly east of the city centre, serving Power Plant Live, Fells Point and the Johns Hopkins medical complex.
• Banner Route connects Inner Harbor with Fort McHenry.

The appealing historic city of Annapolis, only 45 minutes from Baltimore, was once the American capital. Set just off Chesapeake Bay, it retains a strong colonial atmosphere. Annapolis State House, completed in 1772, is the oldest continuously operating state capitol in the U.S. At the U.S. Naval Academy, founded in 1845, the chapel contains elaborate stained glass, including a Tiffany design, and the tomb of naval figure John Paul Jones. Dining ranges from rough taverns to stylish cafés, alongside boutique shopping. A car is required for the visit...

Washington D.C., the national capital, is roughly an hour away by road or rail. Amtrak and Maryland's MARC regional railway both connect the cities. Major sights include the Washington Monument, Smithsonian Institution, White House, Georgetown and U.S. Capitol.

The United States dollar, represented by $, is the official U.S. currency, and ATMs are found everywhere.

Visa, MasterCard and other leading credit cards are accepted widely, even for purchases worth only a few dollars; sometimes a card may be the sole payment option. Overseas visitors should remember that displayed prices can appear lower than the final amount because tax and tips are rarely included.

Most states charge sales tax of between 2.9% and nearly 10% of the purchase price, with 4-6% being usual. Except for petrol and, in most states, alcoholic drinks consumed on the premises, posted prices almost never include this tax; it is calculated and added at payment.

Tipping is common and expected across America. Although Americans themselves discuss the appropriate amount and who should receive it, the following rates are generally accepted:

• At full-service restaurants, leave 15-20%. This is often the waiter's or waitress's only income. Add it to the card slip or leave cash. Few restaurants apply an automatic service fee; where one appears, any extra amount is your choice, so inspect the bill.
• Taxi drivers, hairdressers and other personal-service workers generally receive 10-15%.
• For bartenders, allow $1 for an inexpensive drink or 15% of the full bill.
• Bellhops normally receive $1-2 for each bag, with a $3-5 minimum regardless of quantity.
• Give a hotel doorman $1 per bag when they help, or $1 for arranging a taxi.
• A guide's tip depends on the duration, group size and overall standard: allow $5-10 per person for a half-day tour or shorter, and $10-20 each for a longer one.
• Private-car and limousine drivers are usually tipped 15-20%.
• For a long hotel stay, optional housekeeping tips are $1-2 per day; for a very short visit, the minimum is $5.
• Food delivery, including pizza, normally attracts $2-5, potentially more for an especially large order.

The U.S. has no federally designated official language, though English overwhelmingly dominates daily life and several states have adopted it officially. New Mexico also recognises widely spoken Spanish; Louisiana gives official status to French, and Hawaii to the Hawaiian language. The latter two do not approach English usage and hold their status mainly for historical reasons.

Call 911 in an emergency.

In major cities such as Los Angeles and New York, many supermarkets and chemists routinely trade 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Department stores, shopping centres and other major retailers more often open Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., with shorter Sunday hours, generally 11 a.m. or noon until 5 or 6 p.m. Businesses tend to stay open on public holidays, apart from major occasions such as Christmas Day and Thanksgiving Day, when shops generally close.