International Travel

International Travel Tips

• Currency

  Credit cards are accepted by most businesses, but it’s a good idea to carry some U.S. Dollars as well. Banks which offer fair rates on currency exchange are available throughout the state. ATMs are also widely available. There are currency exchange counters at Salt Lake International Airport and McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas.

• Emergency Information

  In an emergency situation, contact the local police, ambulance service or fire department by dialling 911, which is free from any telephone.

• Liquor Laws

  The legal age for the purchase and consumption of alcoholic beverages is 21 years old. Photographic proof of age is required, regardless of age appearance – for international travelers this must be your passport. Liquor stores sell packaged alcohol between Monday and Saturday, with hours varying by location. Supermarkets are only licensed to sell packaged alcohol up to 5% ABV. Most restaurants, bars and nightclubs are licensed to serve a full line of beverages during working hours; some have permits to sell beer and wine only. Due to local Tribal Laws, alcohol cannot be sold on some Reservations, such as the Navajo Reservation at Monument Valley.

• Smoking Rules

  By law, you must be 19 or older to purchase tobacco products in the state of Utah. As part of the Utah Indoor Clean Air Act, smoking is prohibited in all enclosed indoor places of public access and publicly owned buildings and offices, with a few exceptions.

• Taxes and Tipping

  Sales tax around Utah is typically between 6.5% and 8% with some exceptions. Salt Lake County sales tax is 7.25% and the statewide food tax is 3.0%. Tax is added to your bill in restaurants and at shop counters. In the USA it is customary to tip for all services, this includes serving staff in restaurants, bar tenders, hotel staff, local guides and taxi, Uber or Lyft drivers. A guideline is to tip between 15% and 20% in restaurants, a dollar per drink at a bar, guides between 10% and 20%, taxi drivers between 15% and 20% and a few dollars for an Uber or Lyft driver.

• Time Zone

  Utah is in the Mountain Time Zone (Greenwich Mean Time minus seven hours). The state observes daylight saving from early March to early November.

• Visa Requirements and Restrictions

  All international visitors to Utah and the USA must apply for a visa or obtain an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) visa waiver. Find out whether you are eligible under the visa waiver program. An ESTA application takes approximately 72 hours to process, costs $21 and is valid for two years.

• Weather

  On average, Utah weather is quite temperate. Utah is a semiarid state with dry, high country air and plenty of sunshine. There is more than 3,350 meters of elevation variation across Utah so the weather varies depending on where you are, from the unique desert climate of the American Southwest to whiteout snow conditions on high Rocky Mountain roads. Utah is best experienced with an extra bottle of water, some sunscreen and a hat to provide some shade. It is also important to stay hydrated and avoid altitude sickness.