Organize your stay Alaska
Money Alaska
The currency is the dollar, coin is called a wedge and currency is called change. The 25 cent coin is called a quarter, the 10 cent dime, the 5 cent nickel and the 1 cent penny. The bills are 1, 2, 5, 10 or 20 US$ for the most common, 50, 100 or 200 US$ for the biggest. You can withdraw dollars everywhere in the United States, ATMs are legion everywhere in the land of capitalism.
Exchange rate: 1 € = 1.05 US$; 1 US$ = 0.95 € (January 2023).
Budget & Tips Alaska
It isdifficult to get below US$ 100 per day, even if you camp and rent a car or sleep in hostels. The hikes when they are marked out can be free. But you have to pay for every excursion or entrance to a national park or museum. The prices are very high.
We will rather opt for 150 to 200 US$ per day and per person to sleep in a modest hotel and to eat in classic restaurants.
And finally, we will aim at 200 US$ per day and per person for an ultra-comfort or luxury stay, in high-end restaurants. Or even more if you want to take air cabs to travel from one city to another, to watch bears, etc.
Passport and visas Alaska
You need a biometric passport to enter the United States. This passport allows you to benefit from the Visa Waiver Program for stays of less than 90 days. To do so, you will have to fill out the ESTA form online at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov (and only on this site!) and pay the administrative fee of US$21. Be careful to fill out the form at least 72 hours beforehand and only through the above-mentioned site. Many fraudulent sites offer to take care of this administrative process for exorbitant costs. To enter, all you need is a valid biometric passport and a non-refundable round-trip ticket to the United States and no intention of extending your stay. Finally, for any stay longer than 90 days, the visitor must have a visa. Several types of visas exist (student, work, etc.), but they are all quite difficult to obtain.
To go to neighboring Canada. Visitors who do not need a visa must fill out an AVE online before their trip (www.canada.ca/fr/immigration- refugies-citoyennete/services/visiter-canada/ ave.html). The AVE costs 7 CAN$ per person.
Driver's license Alaska
For a stay of less than three months: the French driver's license (one or three parts) of more than one year is valid in all states. You must be at least 21 years old (in some cases, 25) to rent a car in the United States.
Health Alaska
No particular precautions to take: the mandatory vaccines are the same as in Europe or Canada and nobody will ask you for them if you come from these countries.
In case of illness. Contact the French consulate. They will help you, accompany you and provide you with a list of French-speaking doctors. In case of a serious problem, they will also inform the family and decide on repatriation. To find out about emergencies and establishments that meet international standards, visit www.diplomatie.gouv.fr and www.pasteur.fr
Time difference Alaska
It is 10 hours with France, for most of Alaska. When it is 5pm in Paris, it is 7am in Anchorage or Juneau. This is true in winter as well as in summer, since the saving time takes place at approximately the same dates in France and in the United States (within one week). Daylight saving time is on the first Sunday in April and winter time on the last Sunday in October. The Western Aleutian Islands are located in the same time zone as Hawaii. They are therefore one hour ahead of the rest of Alaska, i.e. 11 hours ahead of France (in summer) and 12 hours ahead of France (in winter) because this area does not apply daylight saving time.
Spoken languages Alaska
English, and more specifically American English, is spoken everywhere.
Communication Alaska
Cell phone. Given the price of roaming in the United States, do not use your French phone with the data abroad activated, the bill can amount to hundreds of euros in a few minutes! Make sure you deactivate it as soon as you leave the European zone. We advise you to buy a SIM card with prepaid Internet and phone data credit on it and to recharge it. You will find very convenient GCI stores in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, etc. Indispensable if you travel by car, you will need a GPS, and also comfortable to walk around town and find your direction or take a local bus.
Network. The network is good in the cities with 4G, and the wifi is also good in the hotels. On the other hand, there are many white zones on the roads and obviously in the wilderness. There is not much to do except to ask for help on the road, Alaskans are very supportive in case of problems due to the lack of network. On a trip, you have nothing to fear because the organizers take care of everything for you.
Electricity and measurements Alaska
Voltage. In general it is 110/115 volts, 60 periods. You will need an adapter-transformer because the plugs of the electrical outlets are flat. When you buy, make sure that the material will be usable back home, starting with the voltage of the electrical appliances, which operate at 110 volts. DVDs will only be playable if you have a dezoned player. Cell phones do not work on the same standards as in Europe either. Most computer and photographic accessories are fine, but you'll need a plug adapter for power connections.
Capacities. 1 gallon = 3.785 l; 1 quart = 0.946 l; 1 pint = 0.473 l.
Distances. 1 mile = 1.609 km; 1 foot = 30.48 cm; and conversely, 1 km = 0.62 mile; 1 m = 3.28 feet. To mentally convert distances and speeds (in miles per hour), add 50% and then 10% to the given number. The good old metric system is almost never used. Along a few rare highways, distances are mysteriously indicated in kilometers. Otherwise, everything is given in miles or feet for short distances; roughly, 1/2 mile = 800 m; 1/4 mile = 400 m; 100 feet = 30 m.
Lengths. 1 yard = 0.918 m (not often used, except in golf or American soccer); 1 foot = 30.48 cm; 1 inch = 2.54 cm; and conversely, 1 cm = 0.39 inch. But as Americans are not very used to the decimal system, no one will say that he measures 5.74 feet (for 1.75 m). So we combine feet and inches: 1.75 m = 5 feet 9 inches (which is written 5' 9'').
Weight. 1 pound (lb) = 0.4536 kg; 1 ounce (oz) = 28.35 g.
Temperatures. The conversion between degrees Fahrenheit (°F), used in the United States, and degrees Celsius (°C) is more difficult to do off the top of your head. The exact calculation is to take 32 off the number shown, multiply by 5 and then divide by 9. Easier, but a little less accurate, is to subtract 30 from the Fahrenheit, divide by 2 and add 10%. To be able to read the weather or the body temperature...
Luggage Alaska
Summers can be hot, but in general temperatures are much cooler than in Europe and you will be more likely to be in long-sleeved pants and sweater than shorts and a t-shirt. Bring a fleece and a windproof and waterproof jacket for excursions at sea or near glaciers with a hat, glove and scarf. A ski jacket is not recommended as it is too warm. Don't forget a bathing suit for a possible Jacuzzi, a backpack for hiking and a mosquito repellent.
In the spring and fall, add a raincoat to the list and a fleece becomes essential. The snows are still present, so think of waterproof and warm shoes with good socks.
In winter, you should have three layers of clothing: a close-fitting Thermolactyl, followed by a thick fleece and a warm, waterproof jacket. To this you can add a cold weather outfit consisting of a very large ski suit (top and bottom), a hat and gloves (or chapka and mittens). The boots are rigid, with a very large lining (sometimes in glass wool!). Banish cotton from your suitcases!
