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Orlando’s recent growth has created a problem for telephone companies. Local numbers are a 10- digit number – the area code (Central Florida’s is 407), plus the seven digit number. If calling a number with a different area (or toll-free) code, dial 1 before the code and phone number. To make calls overseas, consider buying a phone card.

Internet cafes (see Useful Addresses) offer email and internet services for varying prices. Public libraries offer free access to the internet.

Disney, Universal, and larger hotels have multilingual staff who speak Spanish, French, German, and, in some cases, Dutch, Japanese, and other languages. They also have information printed in these languages. The Orlando/ Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau and USA Tourist have multilingual websites.

The United States Postal Service (USPS) has five post offices in the Orlando area. Opening hours vary, but they are usually 9am to 5pm week-days, although some open Saturday mornings as well. Drugstores and hotels often sell stamps, but they are slightly more expensive than those sold at post offices. Mailboxes, which are blue, are on most main streets and in hotels. Most major hotels also have daily collection services.

Most hotels, restaurants, attractions, and shops accept American Express, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa credit cards. Some also take Carte Blanche and JCB cards. US dollar denominations of American Express, Thomas Cook, and Visa traveler’s checks are widely accepted with ID.

Dollar notes come in $1, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100 bills. Coins in circulation are of 1 cent, 5 cents (a nickel), 10 cents (a dime), and 25 cents (a quarter) value. One-dollar and 50 cent coins exist but are very rare. Currency exchanges are based at all the airports, major branches of banks, and near guest services or guest relations in all major theme parks.

Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) are located at almost all bank branches, in all major theme parks, major shopping malls, some hotels, and at airports. Most also accept withdrawals on American Express, MasterCard, and Visa credit cards. There is a $1.50 to $3 advance charge for cards not affiliated to that particular bank. It’s often cheaper to use a debit card, but not all debit systems are supported by US banks; check the symbols on the ATM to see if yours is one that is accepted.

Most Central Florida banks are open 9am to 4pm weekdays (to 6pm on Friday). A few branches also open Saturday mornings. Most have ATMs with 24-hour access.

International money transfers can be sent to more than 101,000 Western Union agents and offices in 187 countries. They can also arrange international telegrams.

The USA doesn’t have a national sales tax. Instead, individual states and counties set the rate of sales tax. Florida levies a six per cent state, or state and local tax, on everything except groceries and certain medicines. Hotels also add an extra three to five per cent bed tax (see Bed & Sales Taxes).