Atlanta Life and Visitor Travel Tips

(Atlanta, Georgia - GA, USA)

Atlanta has always enjoyed a popular profile, not only in the state of Georgia but also nationally. Since hosting the Olympic Games in 1996 Atlanta's status as a happening city has been further elevated and as such Atlanta is now considered one of America's premier visitor destinations. Information about the city is readily available from a variety of sources including books, websites and tourist information offices. Here are some handy travel tips about life in Atlanta.

Tourism and Tourist Information

Atlanta has a variety of centers dedicated to welcoming and providing essential information to visitors on subjects such as travel tips and places to stay or visit. Alternatively, visitors to Atlanta can find information on the Internet prior to their arrival or in popular guidebooks.


Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau
Address: 233 Peachtree Street Northeast Suite 1400, Atlanta, Georgia GA, 30303, USA
Tel: +1 404 521 6600
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 09:00 to 17:00

Language

More than 300 languages are spoken in the USA, including over 170 that are indigenous to the area, with the most commonly spoken language in Atlanta being English. Many different nationalities are well represented in Atlanta and Georgia, with other languages available for study in schools and Atlanta language centers.

Visas

There are a number of different types of visa available, with tourists traveling to Atlanta usually requiring a non-immigrant visa that permits temporary stay in Atlanta. Citizens from Visa Waiver Program countries are allowed to enter Atlanta, Georgia and America without a visa if they can meet certain requirements. If you are applying for a visa before your arrival in Atlanta, it is worth applying well in advance as there can be delays on processing applications.

Working

Several categories of non-immigrant visas are available to those wishing to work in Atlanta on a temporary basis. Working without a visa in Atlanta, Georgia and throughout America is against the law and there are harsh penalties for those who are caught breaking this law. People wishing to work in Atlanta must apply for the relevant visa in their home country and usually need a letter from their prospective American employer, together with other documentation.

Tipping

Tipping is common in Atlanta and is only required should you consider service to have been satisfactory. When in Atlanta restaurants, a 15 percent tip is standard, although it is worth noting whether there is a service charge already included in your bill. Bars in Atlanta differ slightly, with a tips tray at the counter where customers are expected to leave a dollar or two upon as they leave.

Taxes and Refunds

Most states in America have a sales tax of between seven and eight percent on goods and services although some states have no tax at all. Sales tax in Atlanta is not generally reclaimable by tourists when leaving Atlanta, unless a work visa is held.

Smoking

Smoking in Atlanta has changed dramatically in recent years and laws now restrict areas where people are permitted to smoke, including all modes of public transportation. Atlanta restaurants are required to have non-smoking areas and cigarette advertising is banned from the television and radio. Sensible advice would be to check with those nearby before smoking in Atlanta, Georgia.