Detroit Life and Visitor Travel Tips

(Detroit, Michigan - MI, USA)

The Motor City is the Midwest's oldest urban center and has a fascinating historical legacy that includes Henry Ford's assembly line production method and Detroit's consequent economic boom. Detroit saw a decline in later years and much of downtown is still rather dilapidated and spooky, but it is once again on the track to prosperity with an ongoing urban revival program that has seen the revamping of many historical areas and the strengthening of the city's spirit.

However, don't be quick to assume that automobiles are all Detroit has to offer, as the city is loaded with historical and cultural attractions and is fast making a return to being one of the Midwest's major urban arteries.

Tourism and Tourist Information

Detroit is an eclectic and interesting mix of motor cars, music, ethnic currents and modern chic. Be careful when traveling around downtown at night as the central city region can be vacant and somewhat dangerous after dark. The best approach to exploring Detroit is in fact to hire a car. This allows you to travel around the extensive downtown area and its surrounding suburbs safely and easily. The Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau is the main tourist information center in Detroit.

Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau
Address: 211 West Fort Street, Suite 1000, Detroit, Michigan (MI), 48226, USA
Tel: +1 313 202 1800
Open hours: daily

Language

Over 300 languages are spoken in the USA, including over 170 that are indigenous to the area, with the most commonly spoken language in Detroit, Michigan being English. Many different ethnicities and nationalities are well represented in Detroit and other languages in addition to English are available for study in many of Detroit's schools.

Visas

For details on whether you will require a visa for travel to Detroit and the USA it is best to check with your nearest consulate or embassy for information specific to your country. There are a number of different types of visa available, with tourists visiting Detroit normally being required to obtain a non-immigrant visa that permits temporary stay. Citizens from Visa Waiver Program countries are allowed to enter Detroit and the USA without a visa if they can meet certain requirements.

Working

There are several categories of non-immigrant visas available to those wishing to work in Detroit on a temporary basis. Working without a visa is strictly forbidden in Detroit and throughout America, with harsh penalties for those who are caught in breach of this law. Persons wishing to work in the US must apply for the relevant visa in their home country and usually require a letter from their prospective employer in the US and other documentation.

Tipping

Tipping is common in Detroit, when you consider service to have been satisfactory or more. When dining out at Detroit's numerous restaurants and eateries, a 15 percent tip is standard, although always check whether a service charge has already been included in your bill.

Taxes and Refunds

Most states in the US have a sales tax of between seven and eight percent on goods and services, although some states have no tax at all. Sales tax is not reclaimable by tourists upon leaving Detroit, unless they hold the relevant working visa.

Smoking

Not so long ago Americans in Detroit happily accepted smoking in public places without much fuss, although these days things are quite different, with several states having laws restricting the public areas in which people are allowed to smoke. Cigarette advertising is banned from TV and radio in Detroit, with most restaurants containing a non-smoking section. Airplanes, trains and buses all prohibit smoking in Detroit.