Portugal

The Euro and the New Zealand dollar:
At the time of this writing, 1€ was
worth approximately 2.5 NZD. Inversely
stated, 1 NZD equaled approximately 39
eurocents.
ATMS
The easiest and best way to get cash away
from home is from an ATM, sometimes
referred to as a “cash machine,” or a “cashpoint.”
The Cirrus (& 800/424-7787;
www.mastercard.com) and PLUS (& 800/
843-7587; www.visa.com) networks span
the globe. Go to your bank card’s website
to find ATM locations at your destination.
Be sure you know your Personal Identification
Number (PIN) and your daily
withdrawal limit before you depart. Note:
Many banks impose a fee every time you
use a card at another bank’s ATM, and
that fee can be higher for international
transactions (up to $5 or more) than for
domestic ones (where they’re rarely more
than $2). In addition, the bank from
which you withdraw cash may charge its
own fee. For international withdrawal fees,
ask your bank.
Note: Banks that are members of the
Global ATM Alliance charge no transaction
fees for cash withdrawals at other
Alliance member ATMs; these include
Bank of America, Scotiabank (Canada,
Dear Visa: I’m Off to Portugal!
Caribbean, and Mexico), Barclays (U.K.
and parts of Africa), Deutsche Bank (Germany,
Poland, Spain, and Italy), and BNP
Paribus (France).
ATM cards are plentiful in Portugal,
even in small towns, but especially in Lisbon
and Porto. There is a typical surcharge
of $1 to $5 per withdrawal. Debit cards
function almost like an ATM card.
Throughout Portugal such a card can be
used to withdraw money from associated
banks or scattered ATMs.
It’s always advisable to bring money in
a variety of forms on a vacation: a mix of
cash, credit cards, and traveler’s checks.
You should also exchange enough petty
cash to cover airport incidentals, tipping,
and transportation to your hotel before
you leave home, or withdraw money upon
arrival at an airport ATM.
In many international destinations,
ATMs offer the best exchange rates. Avoid
exchanging money at commercial exchange
bureaus and hotels, which often have the
highest transaction fees.
Frommer’s lists exact prices in the local
currency. The currency conversions quoted
above were correct at press time. However,
rates fluctuate, so before departing consult
a currency exchange website such as www.
oanda.com classic to check up-to-theminute
rates.
Some credit card companies recommend that you notify them of any impending
trip abroad so that they don’t become suspicious when the card is used numerous
times in a foreign destination and block your charges. Even if you don’t call
your credit card company in advance, you can always call the card company if a
charge is refused. Keep in mind that toll-free numbers listed on the back of the
card can’t be dialed from Portugal—a good reason to find out the company’s
standard toll number. Perhaps the most important lesson here is to carry more
than one card with you on your trip; a card might not work for any number of
reasons, so having a backup is the smart way to go.
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PLANNING YOUR TRIP TO PORTUGAL 3
MONEY & COSTS