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WorldWise Tourist Encyclopedia
The World's Most Complete Travel Reference
Today's Top Stories
Essential Guides for Every International Traveller
The Complete International
Traveller's Bible
From landing at Rome's Fiumicino to navigating Tokyo's subway — WorldWise gives you every hotspot, emergency number, currency exchange tip, government rule, and hidden gem you need. No fluff. Just facts. Every country. Every detail.
✍️ Compiled by WorldWise Editorial Team · 500+ verified tips · Updated April 2025
Where to Exchange Money Abroad
Airport kiosks charge up to 10% fees. We reveal the best rate spots in every country — banks, ATMs, licensed bureaux.
What NOT to Do in Each Country
From chewing gum in Singapore to photographing police in UAE — a frank guide to the rules tourists get wrong.
Best SIM Cards & Free WiFi Spots
Which SIM to buy at each airport, best eSIM apps, and where to find free reliable WiFi — cafรฉs, libraries, metro stations.
Emergency Numbers for Every Country
Police, ambulance, embassy hotlines, tourist police, and poison control for every destination we cover.
Essential Rules & Laws for USA Tourists
๐ Government Rulebook Highlights
The TSA (Transportation Security Administration) screens all domestic/international flights. Remove shoes, laptops, and liquids at security. Liquids must be under 100ml in a clear bag. Arrive 2 hours early for domestic, 3 hours for international flights.
US Customs Declaration Form (CBP Form 6059B) must be completed on international arrivals. Declare all food, plants, and goods over $800 value. Failure to declare is a federal offence.
Must-Visit Places in the USA
⚠️ Do NOT visit: Area 51 boundary (Groom Lake Rd) — military zone, trespassing = arrest. Avoid Times Square at midnight on foot alone. Do not enter national park backcountry without permit and map.
Currency & Money Guide — USA
❌ Avoid: Travelex at airports (7–10% markup), hotel exchange desks (worst rates), Thomas Cook counters.
๐ฆ Top Banks for Tourists: Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citibank — all have ATMs in airports and major malls.
- 1Most places prefer card. Carry $50–100 cash for emergencies, tips, and small vendors.
- 2Sales tax (5–10%) is ADDED at checkout — not included in marked prices. Budget accordingly.
- 3Walmart Money Center offers among the cheapest wire transfers and currency services.
- 4Use Zelle, Venmo, or Cash App if staying longer — widely accepted for splitting bills.
- 5Airports: Use ATMs inside the terminal (better rate than forex kiosks near arrivals).
Getting Around the USA
| City | Best Option | Cost | App/Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | Subway (MTA) | $2.90/ride | MTA app, OMNY tap card |
| Los Angeles | Uber/Lyft + Metro | $15–40 Uber | Uber, TAP card for Metro |
| Chicago | CTA 'L' Train | $2.50/ride | Ventra app, Ventra card |
| San Francisco | BART + MUNI | $2–10 | MuniMobile app |
| Miami | Brightline + Uber | $10–30 | Brightline app |
| Washington D.C. | Metro | $2–6 | SmarTrip card |
| National | Amtrak Train | $30–200 | Amtrak.com |
| National | Domestic Flight | $50–300 | Google Flights, Kayak |
Food, Cafรฉs & Free WiFi
- 1Starbucks — Free WiFi with any purchase. Every city. Comfortable seating for hours.
- 2McDonald's — Free WiFi nationwide. Also has charging points in many locations.
- 3Public Libraries — Free WiFi + computers. Open to all. No card needed in most states.
- 4NYC LinkNYC — Free outdoor kiosks with gigabit WiFi throughout New York City streets.
- 5Airports — Most have free WiFi (JFK, LAX, ORD, SFO, MIA all confirmed free).
- 6Food tips — Grocery stores (Trader Joe's, Whole Foods) for cheap prepared food $5–10.
- 7Diners — American diners serve all-day breakfast from $8–15. Culturally iconic.
๐ Emergency Numbers — USA
- Police / Fire / Ambulance911
- Non-Emergency Police311
- Poison Control1-800-222-1222
- Tourist Hotline1-800-USA-HELP
- Coast Guard1-800-424-8802
- Domestic Violence1-800-799-7233
๐️ Embassies in USA (DC)
- India Embassy 202-939-7000
- UK Embassy 202-588-7800
- Canada Embassy 202-682-1740
- Australia Embassy 202-797-3000
- Germany Embassy 202-298-4000
- France Embassy 202-944-6000
๐ฎ Post Offices & Services
- USPS usps.com
- FedEx fedex.com
- UPS ups.com
- DHL dhl.com
⚡ Quick Facts
- Voltage 120V / 60Hz
- Plug Type Type A/B
- Driving Side Right
- Language English
- Tipping 15–20% req.
- Water Tap OK
❌ Avoid: Travelex (9% markup), hotel desks, corner newsagent exchange shops.
| Route | Option | Cost | Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| London Tube | TfL Underground | £2.80–6.50 | Contactless card or Oyster |
| London Bus | TfL Bus | £1.75 flat | No cash on buses — card only |
| Intercity | National Rail | £20–80 | Trainline app, railcard saves 33% |
| Budget flights | EasyJet / Ryanair | £15–80 | Skyscanner for deals |
| Heathrow→London | Elizabeth Line | £10.80 | Fastest: 30 min to Paddington |
๐ Emergency Numbers — UK
- Police/Fire/Ambulance999
- Non-Emergency Police101
- NHS Helpline111
- Crimestoppers0800-555-111
- Samaritans116 123
⚡ Quick Facts — UK
- Voltage 230V / 50Hz
- Plug Type Type G (3-pin)
- Driving Side LEFT
- Language English
- Tipping 10–12.5%
- Pub Culture Buy rounds!
France: Beyond Paris
The French Riviera, Loire Valley chรขteaux, Mont Saint-Michel — discover the France most tourists miss. Plus: how to avoid the tourist tax zones.
India: The Backpacker's Bible
Navigate India's train network, find the best street food safely, understand local customs, and avoid common tourist scams across 10 major cities.
Japan: Rules & Etiquette
Bow correctly, never tip, understand the train code. Japan has unwritten rules that can make or break your trip — we list them all.
๐ฆ Currency exchange shops near tourist sites: Avoid (8–12% markup). Look for "Cambio" banks instead.
๐ณ Card payments: Widely accepted but carry €20–50 cash for small trattorias and markets.
๐ Emergency Numbers — Italy
- General Emergency112
- Police (Carabinieri)112
- Ambulance118
- Fire Brigade115
- Tourist Police Rome+39 06 46861
- Coast Guard1530
⚡ Quick Facts — Italy
- Voltage 230V / 50Hz
- Plug Type Type F/L
- Driving Side Right
- Tipping €1–2 optional
- Language Italian mainly
- Water Tap safe
⚠️ Restricted zones: Inner Line Permit (ILP) required for Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Sikkim. Certain border areas near China/Pakistan are restricted. Always check Ministry of External Affairs.
๐ฐ Haggling culture: Markets, autos, and small shops — negotiate! Quoted price often 2–3x actual price for tourists.
๐ฒ UPI apps: If you have an Indian bank account or international UPI (NRI-ready): use PhonePe or Google Pay. Universal acceptance.
- 1Water safety: Drink only bottled or filtered water. Bisleri, Kinley, Bailley are trusted brands. Never tap water.
- 2Street food: Generally safe if freshly cooked and hot. Avoid cut fruit, salads, and raw chutneys from unknown vendors.
- 3Vegetarian India: 40% of India is vegetarian. Most restaurants have extensive veg menus. "Pure Veg" restaurants are safest for dietary concerns.
- 4Best cafรฉ chains: Cafe Coffee Day, Starbucks (tier-1 cities), Blue Tokai (premium), Third Wave Coffee — all have WiFi.
- 5Spice warning: Indian food is spicy. Ask for "less spicy" or "mild" (phek mat). Many places adapt for foreigners.
- 6Budget eating: Thali meals ₹80–150 for full meal. Darshinis/Udupi restaurants are cleanest cheap options.
๐ Emergency Numbers — India
- National Emergency112
- Police100
- Ambulance102 / 108
- Fire101
- Tourist Helpline1800-111-363
- Women Helpline1091
- Railway Police139
๐️ Embassies in New Delhi
- US Embassy 011-2419-8000
- UK HC 011-2419-2100
- Australia HC 011-4139-9900
- Canada HC 011-4178-2000
- Germany Embassy 011-4419-9199
⚡ Quick Facts — India
- Voltage 230V / 50Hz
- Plug Type Type D/M
- Driving Side LEFT
- Language Hindi + English
- Tipping ₹50–100 ok
- Water Bottled only
๐ Emergency Numbers — Japan
- Police110
- Fire / Ambulance119
- Tourist Hotline (en)050-3816-2787
- JNTO 24hr Helpline+81-3-3201-3331
⚡ Quick Facts — Japan
- Voltage 100V / 50-60Hz
- Plug Type Type A (2-pin)
- Driving Side LEFT
- Language Japanese mainly
- Tipping NEVER tip
- Water Tap perfectly safe
Complete Coverage
More Countries at a Glance
๐จ๐ฆ Canada
- Currency CAD — ATMs best
- SIM Fizz / Fido / Public
- Taxi Uber / Lyft
- Emergency 911
- Visa eTA ($7 CAD)
- Hotels $60–120/night
๐️ Must visit: Banff, Niagara Falls, Old Quebec, CN Tower. ⚠️ Do not enter national parks without paying day-use fee. Jaywalking fined in some provinces.
๐ซ๐ท France
- Currency EUR — Wise card best
- SIM Orange / Free Mobile
- Taxi G7 / Uber
- Emergency 112 / 15 SAMU
- Visa Schengen
- Hotels €60–130/night
๐ผ Must visit: Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Loire Valley, Cรดte d'Azur. ⚠️ Speak French first (even badly). No photos inside Sacrรฉ-Cลur. Restaurants closed 2–7pm.
๐ช๐ธ Spain
- Currency EUR — Revolut card
- SIM Movistar / Orange
- Taxi Cabify / MyTaxi
- Emergency 112
- Visa Schengen
- Hotels €50–100/night
๐️ Must visit: Sagrada Famรญlia, Alhambra, Camino de Santiago, San Sebastiรกn. ⚠️ Siesta real: 2–5pm many shops closed. No loud noise after 11pm (noise ordinances strict).
๐ฉ๐ช Germany
- Currency EUR — EC Maestro card
- SIM Aldi Talk / Telekom
- Taxi Uber / FreeNow
- Emergency 110 police / 112
- Visa Schengen
- Hotels €60–120/night
๐ฐ Must visit: Neuschwanstein Castle, Berlin Wall, Black Forest, Cologne Cathedral. ⚠️ Jaywalking fined. Shops closed Sundays. Recycling laws very strict (Pfand deposits on bottles).
๐จ๐ณ China
- Currency CNY Yuan — UnionPay
- SIM China Mobile tourist
- Taxi DiDi (Didi Chuxing)
- Emergency 110 police / 120
- Visa L-Visa required (most)
- Hotels ¥150–400/night
๐ฏ Must visit: Great Wall, Forbidden City, West Lake Hangzhou, Li River. ⚠️ VPN needed for Google/WhatsApp/FB — download BEFORE arrival. WeChat Pay / AliPay essential. Register at local police within 24hrs of arrival.
๐ง๐ท Brazil
- Currency BRL Real — Nubank card
- SIM Claro / Vivo / Tim
- Taxi Uber (best/safest)
- Emergency 190 police / 192
- Visa Visa-free for US/EU/UK
- Hotels R$100–300/night
๐ด Must visit: Cristo Redentor, Iguaรงu Falls, Amazon, Copacabana Beach. ⚠️ Do not walk with expensive items visible. Avoid empty streets at night. Keep bags in front. Always use Uber over street taxis.
๐ฒ๐ฝ Mexico
- Currency MXN Peso — OXXO ATMs
- SIM Telcel / AT&T Mexico
- Taxi inDrive / Uber
- Emergency 911
- Visa FMM tourist card
- Hotels $30–90 USD/night
๐ฎ Must visit: Chichen Itza, Teotihuacan, Tulum, Mexico City Historic Centre, Oaxaca. ⚠️ Drink bottled water only. Use official airport taxis only (pre-paid). Check travel advisories for specific states.
๐ฆ๐บ Australia
- Currency AUD — ANZ ATMs
- SIM Optus / Vodafone / Telstra
- Taxi Uber / DiDi
- Emergency 000
- Visa ETA / eVisitor
- Hotels $80–150 AUD/night
๐ฆ Must visit: Sydney Opera House, Great Barrier Reef, Uluru, Great Ocean Road. ⚠️ Declare ALL food at biosecurity — huge fines. Strong UV: sunscreen mandatory. Do NOT touch wildlife without guide presence.
๐ฆ๐ช UAE (Dubai/Abu Dhabi)
- Currency AED Dirham — ENBD ATMs
- SIM du / Etisalat (e&)
- Taxi Careem / Dubai Taxi
- Emergency 999 police / 998
- Visa Visa-on-arrival (most)
- Hotels AED 200–600/night
๐ Must visit: Burj Khalifa, Palm Jumeirah, Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Dubai Mall. ⚠️ No public displays of affection (fine/deportation). Dress modestly in malls/public. Ramadan: no eating in public during daylight. VoIP calls (WhatsApp calls) may be restricted.
๐น๐ญ Thailand
- Currency THB Baht — Bangkok Bank
- SIM AIS / DTAC / True Move
- Taxi Grab / Bolt
- Emergency 191 police / 1669
- Visa 60-day visa-free (many)
- Hotels ฿500–2000/night
๐️ Must visit: Phi Phi Islands, Grand Palace Bangkok, Chiang Mai temples, Pai. ⚠️ Never disrespect the monarchy — criminal offence (lรจse-majestรฉ). Cover up at all temples. Do not touch monks. Scam alert: "closed for holiday" gem shop scams in Bangkok.
Global Quick Reference Table
Emergency numbers, voltage, driving side, and tipping guide for every country
| Country | Emergency | Voltage | Driving | Tipping | Water | Language (tourist) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ๐บ๐ธ USA | 911 | 120V/60Hz | Right | 15–20% req. | ✅ Tap safe | English |
| ๐ฌ๐ง UK | 999 | 230V/50Hz | Left | 10–12.5% | ✅ Tap safe | English |
| ๐จ๐ฆ Canada | 911 | 120V/60Hz | Right | 15–20% | ✅ Tap safe | English/French |
| ๐ซ๐ท France | 112 | 230V/50Hz | Right | Optional | ✅ Tap safe | French (basic) |
| ๐ฎ๐น Italy | 112 | 230V/50Hz | Right | €1–2 optional | ✅ Tap safe | Italian/English |
| ๐ช๐ธ Spain | 112 | 230V/50Hz | Right | 5–10% optional | ✅ Tap safe | Spanish/English |
| ๐ฉ๐ช Germany | 110/112 | 230V/50Hz | Right | Round up | ✅ Tap safe | German/English |
| ๐ฎ๐ณ India | 112 | 230V/50Hz | Left | ₹50–100 | ❌ Bottled only | Hindi/English |
| ๐จ๐ณ China | 110/120 | 220V/50Hz | Right | Not common | ❌ Bottled only | Mandarin (Google Translate!) |
| ๐ฏ๐ต Japan | 110/119 | 100V/50-60Hz | Left | ❌ NEVER tip | ✅ Tap safe | Japanese/English signs |
| ๐ง๐ท Brazil | 190/192 | 127/220V | Right | 10% service fee | ⚠️ Filtered only | Portuguese |
| ๐ฒ๐ฝ Mexico | 911 | 127V/60Hz | Right | 10–15% | ❌ Bottled only | Spanish/English (tourist areas) |
| ๐ฆ๐บ Australia | 000 | 230V/50Hz | Left | Not expected | ✅ Tap safe | English |
| ๐ฆ๐ช UAE | 999/998 | 220V/50Hz | Right | 10% optional | ✅ Tap safe | Arabic/English |
| ๐น๐ญ Thailand | 191/1669 | 220V/50Hz | Left | 20–50 THB optional | ❌ Bottled only | Thai/English (tourist areas) |
Universal Travel Commandments
Rules that apply wherever in the world you land
Document Everything
Scan passport, visa, insurance, hotel booking. Email to yourself. Use Google Photos backup. Keep physical copies in separate bag from originals.
Use Wise or Revolut
Best exchange rates worldwide. No foreign transaction fees. Freeze/unfreeze instantly. Works in 150+ countries. Better than any airport exchange.
Download Offline Maps
Google Maps and Maps.me work offline. Download the country map before you leave WiFi. Also download Google Translate languages for offline use.
Travel Insurance Is Mandatory
Medical emergency abroad can cost $50,000+. World Nomads, SafetyWing, or AXA are recommended. Includes trip cancellation and lost luggage.
Register with Embassy
US citizens: STEP program (step.state.gov). UK: FCDO travel registration. Australia: Smartraveller. Get emergency alerts for your destination country.
Universal Adapter + Power Bank
Get a universal travel adapter covering all plug types. Carry a 20,000mAh power bank. Most countries differ — UK, India, Europe, US all different.
Water Rule: When in Doubt
India, Mexico, China, Brazil, Thailand, Egypt — bottled water only. Even brushing teeth. USA, Europe, Japan, Australia, Canada — tap water perfectly safe.
Post Office Services
USPS (US), Royal Mail (UK), La Poste (France), Deutsche Post (Germany), India Post, Japan Post — all offer tourist-friendly postal and courier services.