Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Legal Advice
If you are arrested, you have the right to make one phone call to 'a person in your confidence' within Austria, and an-
other to inform legal counsel. If you can't afford legal representation, you can apply to the judge in writing for legal
aid.
As a foreigner, your best bet when encountering legal problems is to contact your national consulate for advice.
Money
Like other members of the European Monetary Union (EMU), Austria's currency is the euro, which is divided into 100
cents. There are coins for one, two, five, 10, 20 and 50 cents, and for €1 and €2. Notes come in denominations of €5,
€10, €20, €50, €100, €200 and €500. See Need to Know ( Click here ) for exchange rates.
ATMs
Bankomaten (ATMs) are extremely common everywhere and accessible till midnight. Some are 24 hours. Most accept
at the very least Maestro debit cards and Visa and MasterCard credit cards. There are English instructions and daily
withdrawal limits of €400 with credit and debit cards. Check with your home bank before travelling for charges for us-
ing a Bankomat ; there's usually no commission to pay at the Austrian end.
Cash & Emergency Transfers
ATMs mean that you don't need to carry large amounts of cash or use money-changing facilities. It is worth keeping a
small amount in a safe place for emergencies. Western Union ( www.westernunion.com ) money offices are available in
larger towns for emergency transfers.
Credit Cards
Visa and MasterCard (EuroCard) are accepted a little more widely than American Express (Amex) and Diners Club, al-
though a surprising number of shops and restaurants refuse to accept any credit cards at all. Upmarket shops, hotels and
restaurants will accept cards, though. Train tickets can be bought by credit card in main stations. Credit cards allow you
to get cash advances at ATMs and over the counter at most banks.
For lost or stolen credit cards:
Amex (
0810 910 940)
Diners Club (
in Vienna 01-501 35 14)
MasterCard (
0800 218 235)
Visa (
0800 200 288, followed by 800 892 8134)
Taxes
Mehrwertsteuer (MWST; value-added tax) in Austria is set at 20% for most goods. Prices are always displayed inclus-
ive of all taxes. Shops with a 'Global Refund Tax Free Shopping' sticker have the paperwork to reclaim about 13% of
this tax on single purchases over €75 by non-EU citizens or residents. See www.globalrefund.com for more informa-
tion. Refund desks are at the department stores Gerngross (
01521 80; Mariahilfer Strasse 38-40) and Steffl (
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