New Jersey

Travel to New Jersey

Climate

The climate in New Jersey tends to be moderate, particularly along the coast in the south and southeast, with relatively mild winters and pleasant summers. August tends to be the hottest month, with temperatures reaching 80ºF (27ºC), and January is the coldest month with temperatures reaching, on average, about 30ºF (-1°C).

In winter, snowfall occurs statewide, with heavier falls at the higher altitudes of the Piedmont Plateau and the northwest mountains. The Piedmont Plateau area also receives a higher annual precipitation than the rest of the state.

Health Notes when travelling to United States of America

There are no specific health risks associated with travel within the USA. Medical facilities are excellent, but expensive. Only emergencies are treated without prior payment and treatment can be refused without evidence of insurance or proof of funds. Good medical insurance is essential.

Safety Notes when travelling to United States of America

Travel within the United States is generally trouble-free, however, travellers should be aware that the US shares with the rest of the world, an increased threat from terrorist incidents. Security has been heightened, particularly at airports. Restrictions on hand luggage apply and travellers are advised to check on the latest situation with airlines in advance. Travellers should also be alert to the dangers of car and street crime in cities and should use common sense and take basic precautions. Hurricanes are common between June and November, putting the southern USA, including the Gulf Coast and the eastern US at risk. There is a risk of wildfires in many dry areas in the US, particularly on the West Coast from March to November.

Customs in United States of America

Laws vary from state to state, including speed limit, fines and punishment. The age at which you may legally buy and consume alcohol is 21 years.

Duty Free in United States of America

Travellers to the United States who are returning residents of the country do not have to pay duty on articles purchased abroad to the value of $800 provided their stay was longer than 48 hours and their duty-free allowance was not used in the 30-day period prior. For passengers arriving from Samoa, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, a duty-free allowance of $1,600 is allowed. The following items are included in this: 50 cigarettes and 10 cigars and 150 millilitres (5 fl. oz.) of alcoholic beverages or 150 millilitres (5 fl. oz.) of perfume containing alcohol. Restrictions may apply to goods from Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Burma (Myanmar), Angola, Liberia and Sudan. It is prohibited to import Cuban cigars from any country.

Travellers to the United States who are non-residents do not have to pay duty on the following items: 50 cigars or 200 cigarettes and gifts to the value of $100 provided their stay in the USA is not less than 72 hours and that the allowance has not been used in the preceding six-month period.

Prohibited items for residents and non-residents include meat or meat products, poultry, narcotics, absinthe, plants, seeds, vegetables, fruits, soil, live insects and other living plants or animal pests. Fish is prohibited unless it carries disease-free certification. Wildlife and animals or their by-products carry restrictions. Dairy products and eggs from specified countries are not allowed. Firearms and ammunition are not allowed without the necessary license and permit.

Doing Business in United States of America

In such a large country, filled with so many diverse groups, business practices may differ according to each state, however rarely to any large degree. The East Coast is traditionally more formal than the West Coast, however in states such as California dress code and conservative appearance are as common as they would be in New York. Punctuality is important throughout the country and it is considered rude to be late for a meeting. Gift-giving is uncommon as it may be construed as bribery. Appropriate titles (Mr, Mrs, Ms) are used upon introduction and until otherwise stated. Americans favour politeness and greetings of 'Hello' and 'How are you?' are often expressed with sincerity. Business hours may vary in each state, but an 8am start and 5pm finish Monday to Friday is the most common with an hour over lunch.

Status and age are not necessarily indicative of seniority, nor do they carry much weight in themselves. Those doing business in the States should be mindful of this fact; never make assumptions about someone's position or rank. Best practice is to be respectful to all parties. That said, the US upholds a hierarchal business structure, in which 'the boss' is the ultimate decision-maker. Senior leaders have the power of the last word, and can go against the grain just as easily as they can follow popular opinion. Concentrate on winning over this individual, even if the greater group seems unsupportive. Americans value a direct style of communication. In this fast-paced, consumer culture 'time is money', and small-talk is viewed as unnecessary and wasteful. Get to the point quickly, speak about issues in a frank and open manner, and don't take offence if someone questions or challenges you outright.

Communication in United States of America

The international country dialling code for the United States is +1. Mobile networks cover most of the country, especially all urban areas, and wifi is widely available.

Tipping in United States of America

A 15 percent tip is expected by taxi drivers, bartenders, hairdressers and waiters, but don't tip in fast-food or self-service restaurants. In expensive restaurants or for large parties, tip 20 percent of the bill. It is normal to tip staff such as valets and porters in hotels; this is discretionary, although a minimum of $5 is expected. Most services are customarily tipped if the service is good.

Passport/Visa Note

It is highly recommended that passports have at least six months validity remaining after your intended date of departure from your travel destination. Visa is required for short visits unless travelers qualify for entry under the Visa Waiver Program.

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) enables citizens of certain countries to travel to the US for a stay of up to 90 days without a visa. Visitors under the VWP need to register online three days before travel and have an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). This allows the US government to screen all visitors before travel. Visitors entering the country under the VWP must have a machine-readable passport (MRP) that has a barcode on the photo page. Travellers under the VWP must have passports that include biometrics if they wish to enter the country without a visa, which means that passports must contain unique personal data such as fingerprints or iris details. All passports must contain a digital photo image in order to travel visa-free. All visitors to the USA have a photograph and two fingerprints taken by an inkless scanner on arrival, including those travelling visa-free under the VWP.

As part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), all travellers travelling between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean region are required to present a passport or other valid travel document to enter or re-enter the United States. If departing from the USA, a valid passport is required by immigration authorities. Immigration officials often apply different rules to those stated by travel agents and official sources.

Entry Requirements

Entry requirements for Canadians:

The most important requirement on entering the U.S. is providing proof of Canadian citizenship. A valid Canadian passport is the best document to prove Canadian citizenship and the right to return to Canada. However, several other documents can serve, depending on the mode of transport. Generally, Canadian citizens do not require visitor, business, transit or other visas to enter the United States from Canada, though there are some exceptions.

Entry requirements for UK nationals:

UK nationals require a passport valid for duration of stay. Most passport holders can get an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) through the Visa Waiver Programme, which allows travel to the US for up to 90 days. The VWP includes tourism, certain types of business visit and transit to another country.

Entry requirements for Australians:

Passports must be valid for the period of intended stay. If visiting the US for fewer than 90 days, Australian nationals may be eligible to apply for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), and enter under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).

Entry requirements for Irish nationals:

Passports must be valid for duration of stay. Irish nationals can get an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) under the Visa Waiver Programme for entry into the United States.

Entry requirements for New Zealanders:

Passports must be valid for duration of stay. New Zealand nationals can get an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) under the Visa Waiver Programme for entry into the United States.

Entry requirements for South Africans:

South Africans must hold a passport valid for duration of stay. A visa is required.

Currency

The official currency is the US Dollar (USD), which is divided into 100 cents. Only major banks exchange foreign currency. ATMs are widespread and credit cards are widely accepted. Banking hours are Monday to Friday 9am to 3pm.

Exchange rate for 1 USD - U.S. Dollar
1.00 BMD Bermudan Dollar	0.90 EUR Euro	0.69 GBP U.K. Pound Sterling	108.90 JPY Japanese Yen	1.31 CAD Canadian Dollar	0.99 CHF Swiss Franc
1.38 AUD Australian Dollar	25.11 UAH Ukrainian Hryvnia	337.71 KZT Kazakhstani Tenge	1,505.84 LBP Lebanese Pound	0.71 LYD Libyan Dinar	6.86 BOB Bolivian Boliviano
107.88 NPR Nepalese Rupee	0.38 OMR Omani Rial	3.64 QAR Qatari Rial	1.38 SGD Singapore Dollar	8.29 SEK Swedish Krona	6.63 TTD Trinidad Tobago Dollar
9.98 VEF Venezuelan Bolivar	45.83 DOP Dominican Peso	6.72 HRK Croatian Kuna	18.63 MXN Mexican Peso	586.30 XOF West African CFA Franc	3.16 PGK Papua New Guinean kina
1.00 BSD Bahamian Dollar	2.11 FJD Fiji Dollar	22.64 HNL Honduran Lempira	110.53 DZD Algerian Dinar	1,191.31 MMK Myanma Kyat	11.19 BWP Botswana Pula
3.37 PEN Peruvian Nuevo Sol	693.53 CLP Chilean Peso	478.10 AMD Armenia Dram	24.17 CZK Czech Koruna	19.98 MDL Moldova Lei	124.29 ISK Icelandic Krona
2,938.75 UZS Uzbekistan Sum	3.85 ILS Israeli New Sheqel	0.71 JOD Jordanian Dinar	0.30 KWD Kuwaiti Dinar	31.35 UYU Uruguayan Peso	35.52 MUR Mauritian Rupee
28.51 NIO Nicaraguan Córdoba	8.34 NOK Norwegian Krone	3.92 PLN Polish Zloty	3.75 SAR Saudi Riyal	146.02 LKR Sri Lanka Rupee	35.62 THB Thai Baht
3.67 AED U.A.E Dirham	3.59 BRL Brazilian Real	4.05 RON Romanian New Leu	7.77 HKD Hong Kong Dollar	587.63 XAF Central African CFA Franc	22,474.70 VND Vietnamese Dong
13.95 ARS Argentine Peso	2.70 XCD East Caribbean Dollar	7.83 GTQ Guatemalan Quetzal	9.77 MAD Moroccan Dirham	0.38 BHD Bahrain Dinar	1.00 PAB Panamanian Balboa
1.50 AZN Azerbaijan Manat	3,117.81 COP Colombian Peso	68.30 KGS Kyrgyzstan Som	279.76 HUF Hungarian Forint	7.87 TJS Tajikistan Ruble	13,683.10 IDR Indonesian Rupiah
8.88 EGP Egyptian Pound	1,191.10 KRW South Korean Won	5,669.42 PYG Paraguayan Guaraní	4.16 MYR Malaysian Ringgit	538.75 CRC Costa Rican Colón	1.47 NZD New Zealand Dollar
104.74 PKR Pakistani Rupee	66.80 RUB Russian Rouble	15.60 ZAR South African Rand	2.12 TND Tunisian Dinar	2.00 BBD Barbadian Dollar	1.75 BGN Bulgarian Lev
2.95 TRY Turkish Lira	46.62 PHP Philippine Peso	32.62 TWD New Taiwan Dollar	196.50 NGN Nigerian Naira	107.15 XPF CFP Franc	3.91 GHS Ghanaian Cedi
124.92 JMD Jamaican Dollar	1.80 ANG Neth. Antillean Guilder	1.38 BND Brunei Dollar	110.56 RSD Serbian Dinar	6.58 CNY Chinese Yuan	19,898.50 BYR Belarussian Ruble
6.65 DKK Danish Krone	3.44 TMT New Turkmenistan Manat	67.26 INR Indian Rupee

Airports in New Jersey

Atlantic City International (ACY)
Atlantic City International Airport
http://www.acairport.com

Location: New Jersey Shore The airport is situated 13 miles (21km) from Atlantic City.

Time: GMT -5 (GMT -4 from March to November).

Contacts: Tel: (609) 645 7895

Getting to the city: A regular Jitney Shuttle connects the airport to various Atlantic City destinations. Taxis are also available.

Car rental: Car rental companies include Avis, Budget, Enterprise, and Hertz, all located in the baggage claim area.

Airport Taxis:

Facilities: The airport has limited facilities. There is a few restaurants and bars. On the lower level, there is an ATM, as well as a gift shop, information desk, and wifi on the second floor.

Parking: A multilevel parking garage and surface parking lot are located next to the terminal. Short-term parking is charged at $2 per hour and $20 per day. Garage parking is $13 per day and there is an economy lot at $10 per day, connected to the terminal by a free shuttle service.

Departure Tax: None.

Newark Liberty International (EWR)
Newark Liberty International Airport
http://www.newarkairport.com

Location: The airport is located two miles (3km) south of Newark, 15 miles (24km) southwest of New York.

Time: GMT -5 (GMT -4 from March to November).

Contacts: Tel: (973) 961 6000

Transfer between terminals: The AirTrain provides a free connection between the three terminals, which are also within easy walking distance.

Getting to the city: Newark Liberty International Airport offers travellers a wide range of ground transportation services. There are taxis, buses, shuttles, and limousines available in front of and beside all three terminals. Information counters, located on the lower baggage claim level of all three terminals, provide information and reservations for buses, shared-ride vans, and limousines. The AirTrain connects to NJ Transit or Amtrak trains, which service New Jersey and New York destinations. New Jersey Transit buses follow a number of routes to destinations in New Jersey and to Penn Station in Newark. Bus 107 provides a daily service to New York City. The Olympic Airport Shuttle leaves regularly for Ocean and Monmouth counties in New Jersey. SuperShuttle Manhattan is a shared minibus service, which goes to all areas of Manhattan, Queens, and Bronx, including hotels. The Newark Liberty Airport Express services New York City.

Car rental: There are several car companies at the airport, including Advantage, Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, FlightCar, Hertz, National, Payless, and Thrifty.

Airport Taxis:

Facilities: All terminals have ATMs and bureaux de change, a wide selection of bars, shops, and restaurants. Business facilities including fax, photocopying, and courier services. Disabled facilities are good and those with special needs should ideally contact their airline or travel agent in advance.

Parking: There is short-term parking next to the terminals. Daily parking is a few minutes away on the free AirTrain and economy parking is 20 minutes from the terminals via a free shuttle bus. There are also a number of privately operated parking lots located near the airport. Valet parking is also available. Signs to the parking facilities are colour-coded to indicate their proximity to the terminals. Short-term parking at Newark liberty International Airport starts at $4 per half hour and up to $39 per day. Long-term parking is $18 per day.

Departure Tax: None.

New Jersey Shore

The Jersey Shore is a 130-mile (209km) stretch of quaint fishing villages, white sandy beaches, and 23 lighthouses. From Sandy Hook in the north to Cape May in the south, it's interspersed with resorts, boardwalks, amusement towns, and tranquil Victorian refuges.

The Sandy Hook Lighthouse overlooking New York Harbour is the oldest operating lighthouse in the US, while miles of sand dunes and untouched nature form the barrier of Island Beach State Park, the ecologically protected environment often enjoyed by swimmers, anglers, and surfers.

Atlantic City is best-known for its boardwalks and casinos, while the Six Flags Great Adventure Theme Park in Jackson provides hours of family entertainment. This includes exciting rollercoaster rides and a safaris attraction.

Doo-Wop architecture, plastic palm trees, and neon lights are the features of Wildwood, an avid party town with boardwalk entertainment galore as well as some of the widest beaches on the Jersey coast.

In contrast, the Cape May Peninsula at the southernmost tip of New Jersey between the Atlantic and Delaware Bay is primarily a nature-lovers paradise. It's ideal for camping, fishing and hiking, while thousands of acres of wetlands make it one of the best birdwatching destinations in North America.

The classic Victorian seaside town of Cape May sits at the very tip. It is a national historic landmark and features rows of colourful, restored Victorian homes and trolley tours, and is one of the oldest vacation spot in the USA.

New Jersey Attractions

Overview

There's a range of tourist attractions in New Jersey, catering to many different tastes. It's quite possibly what makes the state so versatile, with an evening of gambling and parties easily followed by a day of rest and relaxation on the beach.

An eclectic state that is home to an array of people and languages including Spanish, Chinese, Italian, and Portuguese, a visit to New Jersey is a diverse one. Known as the Garden State, New Jersey is home to beautiful cherry blossoms, stunning gardens, and gorgeous lakes.

Along the shore, there are also many vibrant cities that draw in thousands of visitors each year. Situated on the coastline, Cape May is the nation's oldest seaside resort and known for its tranquil beaches, historic sites, and nearby geographic attractions. It is a haven for those looking to take in the sea air.

In contrast, Atlantic City is a night owl's paradise, providing casinos, extravagant nightclubs, and restaurants and bars. Cities like Princeton and New Brunswick offer history and culture for those in search of historical substance. Although one of the smallest states in the country, it is certainly home to many first-rate tourist attractions.

With great public transport, an array of accommodation options, and lots of thrilling nighttime activity, New Jersey makes for an exciting visit.

Atlantic City

Atlantic City had its heyday during the 1920s, as city dwellers flocked in their thousands to enjoy its lovely seaside. Originally the playground of the rich and famous, the holiday spot is one of oldest in the country and boasts the world's first boardwalk, built in 1870 and running along an eight-mile (13km) stretch of beach. Amusement parks and nightclubs line the boardwalk, meaning visitors are always entertained, day or night. New Jersey instituted legal casino gambling in the 1970s, which has resulted in a collection of grand gambling halls and extravagant casino-hotels reminiscent of Las Vegas. Designs range from the Showboat to the onion domes and gigantic elephants of the Trump Taj Mahal. Today Atlantic City is famous as a gambler's paradise with a vibrant nightlife. It also offers amusement rides, souvenir shops, and children's entertainment in a bid to market itself as a family holiday destination and live up to its nickname as the 'The World's Playground'.

Cape May

Situated at the southernmost tip of the New Jersey Cape, the holiday favourite of Cape May is the jewel of the Atlantic Shore and the nation's oldest seaside resort, known for its calm beaches, historic sites and many nearby natural attractions that contrast with the flashier Atlantic City.

With a fairytale collection of authentically restored and beautifully preserved Victorian homes, the entire town of Cape May was designated a National Historic Landmark. It is internationally recognised as one of the best bed and breakfast inn resorts in the country.

The ambience of gingerbread-trim inns, old gas lamps, and colourful stained-glass windows offers visitors a peaceful change of pace from most other holiday resorts along the shore. Huge flocks of birds draw birdwatchers to the Cape May Point State Park during the spring and autumn migrations.

Cape May offers modern as well as historic accommodations, fine dining and shopping, and lots of nature walks, and its easy-going and laidback atmosphere is apparent even at the height of the summer holiday season.

Six Flags Great Adventure Theme Park

Six Flags Great Adventure is the largest theme park in New Jersey, and one of the most popular on the east coast of the US. It has eleven themed areas, with various rides and attractions for all ages, and thirteen rollercoasters. Much of the park is themed with DC superheroes like Superman, Batman, and the Green Lantern. The park has a number of restaurants, cafes, and souvenir shops. The attached Six Flags Wild Safari is a drive-through game park with lions, elephants, giraffes, kangaroos, and bears. Next door is Hurricane Harbour, a waterpark with a wave pool, an adventure river, and more than a dozen speed slides.

Website: http://www.sixflags.com/greatAdventure