Aerofoil
It depends on which runway they have in use, whether there is IFR traffic and your experience and aircraft.
In a twin I have rarely been asked to join OH and usually manouvre to get a straight in or down wind.
Contact them well out with what you would like and they will usually ask you to report again at 5 miles.
Once on the ground and taxying if your not familiar with the airfield have a good chart at hand as taxying can be quite complicated.
Pace