Survival Guide - Discover Switzerland: Experience the Best of Switzerland - page 633

Money
A guide to costs and exchange rates can be found on Click here .
ATMS
Automated teller machines (ATMs) - called Bancomats in banks and Postomats in post of-
fices - are common and accessible 24 hours. They accept most international bank or credit
cards and they have multilingual instructions. Your bank or credit-card company will usu-
ally charge a 1% to 2.5% fee, and there may also be a small charge at the ATM end.
CASH
Swiss francs are divided into 100 centimes ( Rappen in German-speaking Switzerland).
There are notes for 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 1000 francs, and coins for 5, 10, 20 and 50
centimes, as well as for one, two and five francs.
Businesses throughout Switzerland, including most hotels and some restaurants and
souvenir shops, will accept payment in euros. Change will be given in Swiss francs at the
rate of exchange calculated on the day.
CREDIT CARDS
The use of credit cards is slightly less widespread than in the UK or USA and not all shops,
hotels or restaurants accept them. MasterCard and Visa are the most popular.
MONEYCHANGERS
Change money at banks, airports and nearly every train station until late into the evening.
Banks tend to charge about 5% commission; some money-exchange bureaux don't charge
commission at all.
TIPPING
» Tipping is not necessary, given that hotels, restaurants, bars and even some taxis are leg-
ally required to include a 15% service charge in bills.
» You can round up the bill after a meal for good service, as locals do.
» Hotel and railway porters expect a franc or two per bag.