U.S. coins and currency
The main currency in the US is dollar, equal to 100 cents. The coins are usually called: one cent = penny; five cents = nickel; ten cents = dime; 25 cents = quarter. Gold dollar coins today are infrequently used and some stores and restaurants do not accept them. Try not to count your money in open/public areas and try to keep $50 and $100 bills completely out of sight. Banks in New York are open weekdays from 9 a. m. to 4 p. m., and some branches are usually open on Saturday and Sunday.
Taxes
In spite of the fact that there is no value-added tax (VAT) or other similar national level tax, each state, county, and city has the right to tax all purchases, including hotel and restaurant checks, airline tickets, and so on. New York City has some of the highest local taxes in the country. The sales tax is 8.625%, the hotel tax is 13.25% plus $2 per room per night, and the parking garage tax is 18.25%. Sales tax is usually not included in the price tags on merchandise but is added at the cash register.
Electricity
If your small appliances use 220 to 240 volts, you'll need a 110-volt transformer and a plug adapter in the United States, as the US and Canada use 110 to 120 volts AC (60 cycles). The best decision is to bring a transformer and a plug adapter with you.
Business Hours
Most stores are open between 9 and 10 a. m., close around 7pm, and work seven days a week. Please note that most stores are open on Sundays! Some restaurants, pharmacies and so on are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Drinking Laws
Note that the legal age for purchase and consumption of alcoholic beverages in New York is 21. If you want to purchase alcohol at bars, nightclubs, restaurants and stores, expect that you can be required to show proof of age. Also, be aware that carrying an open container with alcohol in public places is illegal.
Holidays
Government offices, post offices, museums and many stores will be closed in New York on the following national holidays:
January 1 (New Year's Day)
Third Monday in January (Martin Luther King Jr. Day)
Third Monday in February (Presidents' Day, Washington's Birthday)
Last Monday in May (Memorial Day)
July 4 (Independence Day)
First Monday in September (Labor Day)
Second Monday in October (Columbus Day)
November 11 (Veterans' Day/Armistice Day)
Fourth Thursday in November (Thanksgiving Day) December 25 (Christmas)
Time Zone
New York City occupies the zone of Eastern Standard Time (EST), which is 5 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
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