General Information: Visiting Washington, DC
Some information we hope may be useful for our participants
Currency
- The official currency is the United States Dollar (USD$)
- Money exchange is available in most banks.
- Most major stores accept Master Card, Visa, and American Express.
- ATMs are located throughout the city and in most major hotels.
- Currency Exchanges Rates by Yahoo!
Medical Emergency
The general emergency number is 911. If there is a medical emergency, dial 911 or direct a hotel employee to call for emergency help. Do Not Delay - In any medical emergency, time may be of the essence.
911
The Renaissance Washington, DC Hotel has a doctor on-call 24 hours per day. Dial 0 (zero) from your hotel phone or ask a hotel employee to assist you if you need a doctor.
The nearest emergency treatment facility is the George Washington University Hospital, 900 23rd St., NW, Washington, DC 20037.
Transportation
Rental cars are available at the airports and other locations throughout the city.
However, driving and parking may be difficult for visitors. We recommend you consider public transportation. Washington, DC, has extensive public transportation, including the Metro (subway), and buses. Public transportation in DC is clean, safe, efficient, and reasonably priced.
Taxis may be found on the streets of DC throughout the day. For your safety, use only licensed taxis, usually indicated by the "TAXI" light outside the car on the roof.
Tipping
Tipping is customary, but not required, in the United States for various services. Examples here are based on good service; feel free to adjust up or down for examplary or lesser service:
- Restaurants - 15% - 20% for table service
- Bellmen and Skycap - $1.00 per bag
Weather
DC Averages for the month of May.
- Average Low Temperature - 56° F / 13° C
- Average High Temperature - 75°F / 24° C
- Rainfall - 3.8" / 97 mm
- Humidity - 52% at 1:00 PM
Taxes
General Consumer Sales tax in the District of Columbia is 5.75 percent.
However, Washington, D.C., levies five different sales tax rates:
- 5.75 percent for tangible personal property
- 9 percent for alcohol sold for off-premises consumption
- 10 percent for restaurant meals, take-out food, rental cars and telephone calling cards
- 12 percent for commercial parking
- 14.5 percent for hotel and motel rooms.
Items exempt from the District of Columbia sales tax include groceries, prescription and nonprescription medicines, and residential utility services.
Virginia Sales Tax is 5 percent, 2.5 percent for food.
Maryland Sales Tax is 5 percent; no tax on groceries.
Note: The state sales tax is not a value-added tax (VAT). Unlike a VAT, state sales taxes are levied by individual states, not the US federal government. The United States does not have a VAT. The US federal government does not refund state sales taxes.