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Fast Facts

American Express -- The main Amex office is at Level 3, 130 Pitt St., near Martin Place (tel. 02/9236 4200). It cashes traveler's checks and acts as a travel-booking service. It's open Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 5pm and Saturday from 9am to noon. Another foreign exchange office is on the walkway leading up to the Sydney Opera House (tel. 02/9251 1970). If you've lost your traveler's checks, go to the head office, 175 Liverpool St. (tel. 02/9271 1111). It's a locked security building so you'll need to call ahead.

Babysitters -- Dial an Angel (tel. 02/9416 7511 or 02/9362 4225) is a well-regarded babysitting service.

Business Hours -- General office and banking hours are Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm. Many banks, especially in the city center, are open from around 9:30am to 12:30pm on Saturday. Shopping hours are usually from 8:30am to 5:30pm daily (9am-5pm Sat), and most stores stay open until 9pm on Thursday. Most city-center stores are open from around 10am to 4pm on Sunday.

Currency Exchange -- Most major bank branches offer currency exchange services. Small foreign-currency exchange offices are clustered at the airport and around Circular Quay and Kings Cross. Thomas Cook has offices at the airport; at 175 Pitt St. (tel. 02/9231 2877), open Monday through Friday from 6:45am to 5:15pm and Saturday from 10am to 2pm; and on the lower ground floor of the QVB (tel. 02/9264 1133), open Monday through Friday from 9am to 6pm (until 9pm Fri), Saturday from 9am to 6pm, and Sunday from 11am to 5pm.

Dentist -- A well-respected office in the city is City Dental Practice, Level 2, 229 Macquarie St., near Martin Place (tel. 02/9221 3300). For dental problems after-hours, call Dental Emergency Information (tel. 02/9369 7050).

Doctor -- The Park Medical Centre, Shop 4, 27 Park St. (tel. 02/9264 4488), in the city center near Town Hall, is open Monday through Friday from 8am to 6pm; consultations cost A$40 (US$32/UK£16) for 15 minutes. (Note: If you plan to take a dive course in Australia, get your medical exam done here. It costs A$70/US$56/UK£28, about the cheapest in Australia.) The Kings Cross Travellers' Clinic, Suite 1, 13 Springfield Ave., Kings Cross, just off Darlinghurst Road (tel. 1300/369 359 in Australia, or 02/9358 3066), is great for travel medicines and emergency contraception pills, among other things. Hotel visits in the Kings Cross area cost A$80 (US$64/UK£32); consultations cost A$40 (US$32/UK£16). The Travellers' Medical & Vaccination Centre, Level 7, 428 George St., in the city center (tel. 02/9221 7133), stocks and administers travel-related vaccinations and medications.