At our hotel in Zante. The safes were all in one block like a wardrobe in the reception! A couple of blokes could have thrown the lot into a truck anytime as it wasnt manned half the time. Suffice to say i didnt use the safe there!
There seems to be some confusion here..I was trying to make the point that banks charge you for every transaction you make at an ATM..ALL banks, except Nationwide. Mine, (Lloyds) clearly states on the reverse of their monthly statements, that the minimum charge for withdrawals from ATM's abroad, is £4.50 per transaction, using debit or credit card. Using a cashpoint card, the charge is £1.50 per transaction. Thus, if you spend £1000, you pay the bank a minimum of £22.50 or a maximum of £45 using your debit or credit card!! I dont know about any of you..but I'm certainly not chucking my money at the bank! Hence...traveller's cheques.
or get a Classic Visa from Nationwide.
Having just returned this week from Algarve, I have just checked bank charges for using debit card. Only had to use it twice and was charged £1 for each transaction.
This is the first time I haven't taken travellers cheques and just took euros. A lot better than looking somewhere to find the cheapest rate for cashing cheques.
The only thing I did find a pain was having to change 100 euro notes, so next time I get them from the bank I will ensure I have a lot more smaller notes. [our fault really as I should have asked for them in the first place.]
This is the first time I haven't taken travellers cheques and just took euros. A lot better than looking somewhere to find the cheapest rate for cashing cheques.
The only thing I did find a pain was having to change 100 euro notes, so next time I get them from the bank I will ensure I have a lot more smaller notes. [our fault really as I should have asked for them in the first place.]
sue27,
Next time you go, try drinking more- the bar bill will be bigger and the 100 euro note will be easier for them to change; just a thought!
Next time you go, try drinking more- the bar bill will be bigger and the 100 euro note will be easier for them to change; just a thought!
TIP: Do not bring €100 notes with you on holidays because most Shops in the countries in the € Zone do not accept. As Sue 27 said you have to go to the banks to change them. The reason is there are lots of forgeries out there. Insist on smaller notes from the banks when you change your money for holidays.
Dlite - What shops are you talking about? I can understand mini mercados not accepting them but most others will.
Sagres
Thanks for the tip lol. Although I did get through a variety of cocktails every night- Don't worry every time husband gave me a 100 euro note to change, I hit the perfume shop so came home with about 4 bottles- they don't mind changing 100 notes lol
Thanks for the tip lol. Although I did get through a variety of cocktails every night- Don't worry every time husband gave me a 100 euro note to change, I hit the perfume shop so came home with about 4 bottles- they don't mind changing 100 notes lol
Seems a bit of a waste to me when you could have spent it on more booze! 
Hi,
Never had a problem offloading a 100 note. Like the idea though Sagres, a man after my own heart
Lummie
Never had a problem offloading a 100 note. Like the idea though Sagres, a man after my own heart
Lummie
Just trying to help a fellow holidaymaker and the Portuguese economy!
Which hotels are good (and cheap preferably) in Praia de Rocha then? Been looking at Plaza Real apartments but apparently 20 min walk to the bars etc, dont fancy that.
Well, We stayed in Praia da Vau [ Vau Costa apartment] about 15min walk into resort. Husband moaned about the walk but I enjoyed it. We used to walk past the Jardin da Rocha apartments which looked very nice too. [aprox 10 min walk to resort.]
My brother on the same holiday stayed at Club Amarilis which was just a street away from the main resort. [5 min walk]
We visited a couple of times and it was very nice. the rooms were very spacious, with lots of gadgets in the room such as a microwave etc.
The pool and garden was really nice too.
The only downside he says is that they didn't have air conditioning, but I don't know whether that applied to all apartments or just a few.
My brother on the same holiday stayed at Club Amarilis which was just a street away from the main resort. [5 min walk]
We visited a couple of times and it was very nice. the rooms were very spacious, with lots of gadgets in the room such as a microwave etc.
The pool and garden was really nice too.
The only downside he says is that they didn't have air conditioning, but I don't know whether that applied to all apartments or just a few.
Yes, Multibanco machines accept visa electron debit cards. To see where these are, look at Vanlaywan's post in second place at the top of this topic.
Hi there.
I'm off to Albufeira next week and am just about to get my money changed into Euro's. However, i've heard that Sterling Travellers cheques incur a charge of 4% every time they are cashed in Portugal. I tend to take Sterling cheques as i like to know exactly how much i am spending. So i'm basically enquiring whether, or not, anyone who has been to Portugal before has been aware of such charges.
On a similar note, is it pretty easy to convert travellers cheques? I'd imagine it will be as it's a tourist area, but it doesn't hurt asking!
Thanks in advance.
I'm off to Albufeira next week and am just about to get my money changed into Euro's. However, i've heard that Sterling Travellers cheques incur a charge of 4% every time they are cashed in Portugal. I tend to take Sterling cheques as i like to know exactly how much i am spending. So i'm basically enquiring whether, or not, anyone who has been to Portugal before has been aware of such charges.
On a similar note, is it pretty easy to convert travellers cheques? I'd imagine it will be as it's a tourist area, but it doesn't hurt asking!
Thanks in advance.
I have just returned from the Algarve.
I took mostly cash since the hotel had a safe in the room and then used my cashpoint card/credit card if the need arose. Obviously, you need to check that where you are staying offers a safe/safety deposit box.
Travellers Cheques are very awkward and inconvenient and you are subject to local exchange rates, which are not always competitive.
I took mostly cash since the hotel had a safe in the room and then used my cashpoint card/credit card if the need arose. Obviously, you need to check that where you are staying offers a safe/safety deposit box.
Travellers Cheques are very awkward and inconvenient and you are subject to local exchange rates, which are not always competitive.
Travellers cheques are very outdate and not the best value for travelling to euro countries.
Recommend taking cash with you and then withdrawing cash from your cash card during your stay (most cards are now maestro or cirrus)
Recommend taking cash with you and then withdrawing cash from your cash card during your stay (most cards are now maestro or cirrus)
We got a Nationwide Flexaccount last year so we could use their debit card in ATMs abroad and not get charged. Works great and has saved us a few quid. You don't have to have your salary paid in. We leave a few pounds in the account to keep it open. When we go on holiday, we transfer across what we think we'll need and draw it out as and when we need it.
You can apply for the account online:-
http://www.nationwide.co.uk/banking/current-account/default.htm
You can apply for the account online:-
http://www.nationwide.co.uk/banking/current-account/default.htm
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