Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ATMs & Credit Cards
The most convenient way to get your money is from an ATM. Most banks have a Multibanco ATM, with menus in Eng-
lish (and other languages), that accept Visa, Access, MasterCard, Cirrus and so on. You just need your card and PIN.
Your home bank will usually charge around 1% to 2% per transaction. But it's wise to have a back-up source of money;
sometimes ATMs temporarily stop accepting a certain type of card, usually a hiatus lasting a day or so.
Credit cards are accepted at smarter hotels and restaurants and in larger towns, but won't be any use to pay for things
in the budget arena or in rural outposts.
Travellers Cheques
Travellers cheques are a safe way to carry money, as they will be replaced if lost or stolen, but are less convenient than
the card-in-machine method. Amex, Thomas Cook and Visa are most widely recognised. It's best to get cheques in
euros, and keep a record of the ones you've cashed in case you do mislay them. However, although travellers cheques
are easily exchanged, with better rates than for cash, they are poor value because commission is so high.
Post
Post offices are called
CTT
(
www.ctt.pt
) .
Correio normal
(ordinary mail) goes in the red letterboxes,
correio azul
(air-
mail) goes in the blue boxes. Automated red postal stands dispense stamps, saving you the hassle of waiting in line at
the post office. Post to Europe takes up to five working days, and the rest of the world up to seven. Economy mail (or
surface airlift) is about a third cheaper, but takes a week or so longer.
