Santa Barbara CA

Cruise ship tenders arrive at the heart of the Santa Barbara Waterfront, where a hospitality team welcomes visitors. Maps, brochures and community information are readily available on arrival to help plan the day.

Santa Barbara Landing is within walking distance of Santa Barbara Harbor and historic Stearns Wharf, as well as close to downtown. Downtown and waterfront shuttles cost $.50 per ride ($.25 for seniors), and taxis are plentiful.

Take a printable map with you.

Santa Barbara is one of America's best-kept secrets: lush, sun-drenched, relaxed and seductively set between Los Angeles and San Francisco. State Street, the Santa Ynez Mountains, the Channel Islands and wine country frame a place that basks in sunshine, natural bounty, creativity, cultural sophistication and an appreciation for taking life at your own pace.

Take the Santa Barbara Trolley for a unique, fully narrated tour of the enchanting seaside Spanish paradise known as Santa Barbara.

Santa Barbara wine country is just minutes from the city. The beautiful Santa Ynez Valley, with breathtaking vistas, includes notable attractions such as Solvang and the Chumash Reservation.

Good shopping runs along State Street between around 600 State Street and 1400 State Street. It is an easy walk, or electric buses are available for 25 cents.

Browse the Sunday Art fair.

In the U.S., the official currency is the United States dollar (symbol: $); ATM’s are everywhere.

Visa, MasterCard and other major credit cards are broadly used and accepted, even for transactions of just a few dollars; in some cases, they may be the only way to pay. Overseas visitors should note that goods and services can seem cheaper than they truly are, since taxes and gratuities are rarely included.

Sales tax applies in most states, from 2.9% to nearly 10% of the retail price, with 4-6% typical. It is almost never part of a posted price, apart from gasoline and, in most states, alcoholic beverages consumed on-premises; instead, it is calculated and added at payment.

America widely uses and expects tipping. Americans often debate the right amounts and exactly who should receive a tip, but the generally accepted standard rates are:

• Full-service restaurants: 15-20%. The wait(ress) often receives this as their only income. Leave tips in cash or add them to the credit card slip. Note: Few restaurants apply an automatic service charge; if one is added, decide how much extra to tip. Check your bill!
• For taxi drivers, hairdressers and other personal services: 10-15%.
• Bartenders: leave either 15% of the total or $1 for each inexpensive drink.
• Bellhops: $1-2 per bag, subject to a $3-5 minimum regardless.
• Hotel doorman: $1 for each bag when they assist, and $1 for calling a cab.
• Tour guides: Rates depend on the length, size and overall quality of guided tours; allow $5-10 per person for half day tours or less, and $10-20 per person for longer tours.
• Private car & limousine drivers should receive 15-20%.
• Hotel housekeeping: for long stays, leave $1-2 daily; a very short stay has an optional $5 minimum.
• Food deliveries, such as pizza: $2-5, with possibly more for very large orders.

The U.S. has no official language at federal level, although English is overwhelmingly the everyday standard. Several states have declared English their official state language; Spanish is also official and widely spoken in New Mexico, French is official in Louisiana, and Hawaiian is official in Hawaii. French and Hawaiian do not approach English in use, and their official status is primarily historical.

For emergencies, call 911.

In major metropolitan areas such as New York and Los Angeles, drugstores and supermarkets often operate 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Department stores, shopping centers and most other large retailers normally open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday, with shorter Sunday hours, generally 11 a.m. or noon to 5 or 6 p.m. Holidays tend to follow normal opening, apart from the most important ones, such as Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, when stores are generally closed.