Thank you so much for your swift response - really appreciate it

Hi,

There's one in the Modela supermarket (opposite McDonalds) and a couple in the Old Town just off the square.

There are plenty around, as the others have pointed out they are on every street corner!

KristaWilde wrote:

I'd appreciate it if anyone can tell me about the availability of ATM machines both in Albufiera town and in Acoteias - Many Thanks

Albufeira has a good number of ATM's at supermakets etc, not sure about Acoteias, sorry. Usually if your cards have Maestro / Cirrus then you shouldn't have a problem, we find that you get quite a good rate of exchange when lifting money this way. The banks tend to give you the rate of the day

read on another site that there are only about 4 atms in PDR, resulting in long queues, and often, empty machines! any truth in this/ and if so, what is the situation in portimao ? thanks in anticipation

achates

Hi,

I can't say that I've seen many atms in PDR but the one I have seen is not usually that busy. It's just inside the Alispur supermarket in the precinct just off the promenade road. Go to the top of THE hill and turn right towards Alvor. The precinct is about 50mtrs on your right. The Alispur is right at the bottom on the left.

Stoop

There's a useful web site for finding ATM locations anywhere in the world. Have a look at http://www.mastercard.com/us/. If you search on Portimao, it lists four.

thanks Scoop,& Eviljock.Will make a note of the first,& give the second a visit

Cheers

ach

Most ATMS in the Algarve run out of money at weekends this tends to happen in July/August when very busy!! I don't think you will have any problem this time of the year.

i went to albufeira two weeks ago and stayed at the villa gale cerro alagoa, not bad
i took very little euro's with me and thought i would test the cash machines and see what i got from them, i have two current accounts one with the alliance and leicester and one with the nationwide, so i wanted to test their no charges bit, using my debit cards.

i used the same machine on the 11th june for two transactions both of 200 euros, one transaction straight after the other.

looking at my statement, the nationwide gave me a conversion rate of
1.493875 euros to the pound with no atm charges.

the alliance and leicester gave me 1.45275 to the pounds and also charged me a UKpounds £2.07 atm fee.

so, all in all the nationwide cost me for 200 euros the sum of £133.88
and the alliance and leicester cost me £137.67 plus 2.07 for the atm charge which totals £139.74

a difference on 200 euros of £5.85, which is a lot of money
how can they justify the extra charges and atm charges i wonder

Hi glynnbuk,

I am going to the cerro alagoa in over a week, what is your reccomendations on the place. where to drink eat etc. Is cash points the way ahead or travellers cheques? i have always used cheques in the past.

A general outlook and advise on the place would be brill
Thanks

Portsmouth mission

well, that seems to be the only good thing about our Euro No more problems with money exchange

thats a great tip about the bank charges ill consider opening a nationwide account before i go pat

has anyone used yorkshire bank mestro card how much do they charge not going while sept so no rush

hi portsmouth mission,

the villa gale cerro alagoa is a nice 4 star hotel, and the rooms are fairly reasonable and clean.

i stayed on bed and breakfast and the hotel breakfast is a typical med type breakfast, which is not bad if you like greasy bacon, other than that there is plenty of cereals/rolls/cheese/ham etc with tea and coffee and toast/jam if you wish.

the hotel is a bit far from most things but the road train stops right outside and is 3 euros per day for as many trips as you can do from
0930am to about 2.30 am the next morning, running about every 20 minutes(sign board on the bus shelter tells you the timetable), ensure you keep your ticket and show it to the inspector every time you board.

its great for getting to the strip/old town, which are the only two other stops.

the first stop is the strip area and get off there and walk left and right for plenty of restaurants and bars, the second stop is down in the old town area and there is plenty to do in there and the square has lots of great restaurants and bars and during the day, plenty of street entertainers.

as for whether cash points or travellers cheques, thats really your choice, make sure you have sufficient euros for the first day and then do your own thing, i used the cash points and the rate on my nationwide card was good at 1.49... and its gone higher lately, i dont use travellers cheques so i dont know what rate they give on those, sorry

Last year we made three withdrawals of the most they let you have 200 euros a time and when we got home the charge was £25.00. I would say only use them if you run out before your holiday is up.

Dave

P:S this was with the Nat West.

I may be wrong, but i dont think YB charges owt...or at least very little. The mrs has used hers a few times in Portugal, and never mentioned any bank charges in the following weeks.

Hi Glynnbuk,

Thanks very much....

How far is the walk to the strip and the old town? Is it too far?

If anyone has stayed here please assist your fellow holidaymakers by writing your review HERE

Thanks