Portugal

national bus company, Rodoviária Nacional
(& 969/50-20-50; www.rede-expressos.
pt), has been privatized but essentially
offers the same service as before. In addition,
there are local and private regional
bus links.
Portugal is no longer the bargain basement
of Europe that it was in the ’60s and ’70s.
Prices more and more have moved into
alignment with the other European Union
countries, but it‘s cheaper than neighboring
Spain and much less expensive than
the countries of the north, especially Scandinavia.
There are no limits on foreign currency
brought into Portugal, but visitors are
advised to declare the amount carried.
4 MONEY & COSTS
The Value of the Euro vs. Other Popular Currencies
Express coaches between major cities
are called expressos. Once in most cities and
towns, you can take cheap bus rides to
nearby villages or sights. Of course, in
many towns and all cities, you can take
buses to get around within the city.
That proves to the Portuguese Customs
Office that the currency came from outside
the country, and it allows you to take
out the same amount or less.
EURO CURRENCY
The euro, the new single European currency,
became the official currency of
Portugal and 11 other countries on January
1, 1999, but not in the form of cash.
On January 1, 2002, euro bank notes and
Euro (€) US$ UK£ CD$ AUS$ NZ$
1 1.30 0.90 1.60 1.90 2.50
2 2.60 1.80 3.20 3.80 5.00
3 3.90 2.70 4.80 5.70 7.50
4 5.20 3.60 6.40 7.60 10.00
5 6.50 4.50 8.00 9.50 12.50
10 13.00 9.00 16.00 19.00 25.00
15 19.50 13.50 24.00 28.50 37.50
20 26.00 18.00 32.00 38.00 50.00
50 65.00 45.00 80.00 95.00 125.00
100 130.00 90.00 160.00 190.00 250.00
150 195.00 135.00 240.00 285.00 375.00
200 260.00 180.00 320.00 380.00 500.00
250 325.00 225.00 400.00 475.00 625.00
300 390.00 270.00 480.00 570.00 750.00
350 455.00 315.00 560.00 665.00 875.00
400 520.00 360.00 640.00 760.00 1,000.00
500 650.00 450.00 800.00 950.00 1,250.00
1,000 1,300.00 900.00 1,600.00 1,900.00 2,500.00
45
PLANNING YOUR TRIP TO PORTUGAL 3
MONEY & COSTS