Travel Tips
To make a holiday trip to or through Portugal can be a delight. It is a smaller country to its neighbor Spain and therefore has a more personal and endearing character. The major resort areas, such as the Algarve, offer the holidaymaker as many attractions as anywhere in Europe. Throughout Portugal there is a chain of Tourist Offices manned by bilingual staff to assist the tourist. As the Portuguese are by nature hospitable they are keen and proud to share their country with foreign visitors.
Commercial Hours
The normal shopping hours are from 10.00 hrs. until 19.00 hrs on Mondays to Fridays. Saturdays is from 10.00 hrs. until 13.00 hrs. There are some shops that extend their hours and their days of opening. Shopping Centers are open from 10.00 hrs. to 23.00 hrs all week except 25th December and 1st January.
Communications
The international access code for Portugal is +351. There are no area or city codes required. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). Portugal is well covered by three GSM/GPRS/UMTS mobile phone networks. Internet cafes are available in most towns and resorts. Wifi hotspots available in most areas including restaurants, hotels, gas stations, public services, public gardens, etc..
Disabled Facilities
There is a great lack in past design and facilities to provide their needs. Happily, awareness is now showing and this is evident with the appearance of special parking spaces in public areas, special toilets at airports, stations, and centers of entertainment. In Lisbon (217 585 676) and Porto (226 006 353), there is a dial-a-ride disabled bus service. Also in Lisbon (218 155 061), Braga (253 684 081), and Coimbra (239 484 522), there are taxi services for disabled people.
Driving and travelling
ROADS:
Traffic drives on the right. Every town and village can be reached by an adequate system of roads. Petrol stations generally open 07am til 08pm, although some are open 24 hours. Travel by motorway is subject to a toll according to distance covered and type of vehicle. A small tax may be added to petrol bought with a credit card.
BUS:
There are frequent coach services between all Portuguese cities. For further information, contact Rede Nacional de Expressos (website: www.rede-expressos.pt).
TAXIS:
Plentiful and cheap, they are painted either in green and black, or beige. They have an illuminated taxi sign on the top. In the city they charge a standard meter fare; outside the city's limits they charge per kilometer and are entitled to charge for the return fare. There is a surcharge for carrying luggage in the cities. From 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. there is a surcharge of about 20%. You have to pay what's in the meter, plus tip (optional).
CAR HIRE:
Available from main towns and airports, with or without driver.
REGULATIONS:
Minimum age for driving is 18 (but must be at least 21 to 25 if hiring a car). Cars may be imported for up to six months. Traffic signs are international. Headlights should be dipped in built-up areas and side lights used when parking in badly lit areas. Children should not travel in the front seat. Seat belts should be worn. Warning triangles are compulsory. It is forbidden to carry cans of petrol in vehicles. Speed limits are:
50kph (30mph) in built-up areas, 90kph (56mph) outside built-up areas120kph (70mph) on motorways.Visitors who passed their driving test less than one year previously must display a yellow disc with ‘90' on it on the rear of their vehicle and must not go faster than 90kph (56mph). Permitted speeds will vary if trailers are being used.
DOCUMENTATION:
International Driving Permits or foreign driving licenses are accepted. Third Party insurance is compulsory. Under the requirements of the Portuguese Road Code, those wishing to drive a car must possess a valid national/international driving license, other official documentation with photograph, log book or rental contract and adequate car insurance. Failure to produce, on request to the authorities, any of the above will result in an on-the-spot cash fine. A Carnet de Passage is needed for a van.
Electrical Current
The current all over Portugal is 220 volts AC and connection is made by a two-pin plug. The plug today acts also as an earth except in older buildings that use older models of this two-pin plug.
Emergency
By calling anywhere in Portugal on 112 you will be connected to Fire, Police and Ambulance services. Every Fire Brigade also maintains one or more ambulances for emergencies. Chemists can give advice on simple health problems and suggest appropriate treatment. They are also permitted to sell some medicines without a doctors subscription. A green cross on white background denotes a chemist.
A red cross on a white background denotes a "Red Cross" station. In most towns there are Emergency Treatment Centers (SAP) that will provide medical assistance 24 hours a day. Security in cities and towns is handled by the "Polícia de Segurança Pública" (PSP), rural areas by the "Guarda Nacional Republicana" (GNR), and the traffic by "Brigada de Trânsito". On motorways and several major roads there are SOS phone boxes for help in accidents or breakdowns.
Health
There are no health risks attached to travel to Portugal. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is necessary for anyone travelling from an infected area. Health facilities are good and reciprocal health agreements exist with most European countries, including the UK, whose citizens receive free emergency care at state hospitals. Dental care and repatriation costs are not covered under this agreement. Medical insurance is therefore advised.
National Holidays
1st January; 25th April; Good Friday; 1st May; Corpus Christi (Early June); 10th June; 15th August; 5th October; 1st November; 1st December; 8th December; 25th December;
It is traditional for each Municipality (Concelho), to reserve one annual day as a holiday for its own town commerce. This day is used for local events and celebration. You will find restaurants open but normally most shops are closed.
Language
When written the Portuguese language has a visual relationship to both Spanish and Italian. When spoken it takes on another character. Although today the language has been influenced by modern means of communication, the educated form can be linked to "Dickensian English" in its style. It is courteous in content and suitable flowery in Description. Spoken Spanish can be understood by the Portuguese but is best avoided. Anybody with knowledge of some Portuguese history will be able to understand the reason. The inhabitants have a wonderful ability to learn foreign languages and you will find that the English language is normally easily understood. This has been helped by the fact that all foreign movies on TV and Cinemas are shown in their original language with subtitles.
Mail Services
The word "Correio" denotes a Post Office or services. First class mail is denoted by the words "correio azul" and normally associated with the color of blue. From Post Offices there is an express service named "EMS" that also records delivery. These offices are normally open from 08.30 hrs. until 18.30 hrs. from Monday to Friday. In bigger towns they may also be open on Saturdays.
Money
The local currency is Euro (€). Money can be changed at Banks and "Bureau de Change" (Cambio). These facilities will offer a better rate than in Hotels and Receptions. Banks are open from Monday to Friday, from 08.30 hrs. to 15.00 hrs. All well-known Credit Cards are usually accepted.
Museums and Art Galleries
Although the majority of the museums and art galleries are State owned there are a number of private Foundations and individually owned exhibition places. This fact is particularly evident when wishing to see contemporary art where they tend to reflect the taste of the owner. State Museums charge a small entrance fee that is often waived on Sundays and Public Holidays. They are open from Tuesday to Sunday and pensioners receive a 50% discount on the entrance fee. Sometimes there is no charge at all for pensioners on showing their ID.
Opening times are normally from 10.00 hours to 17.00 hours, but sometimes closed during lunchtime. In Lisbon there is an excellent ticket system for tourists provided by "Carris" kiosks. The holder of this ticket can visit 26 of the main museums in the city and enjoy free public transport during this time period. They are available for one, two, or three days.
Student Information
Young people between the ages of 12 and 25 may purchase a "Cartão Jovem" costing about 10.00€. This card offers the bearer special discounts on public travel, travel insurance, and discounts to certain shops and museums. A useful advantage is this card also provides a discount on Youth Hostels within Portugal. Bearers of the International Student Identity Card (ISDC), receive the same advantages as the "Cartão Jovem".
Tax (IVA)
This tax that is the same as VAT is known as IVA in Portugal, and is at present 21%. Persons from outside the European Union (EU) and visiting for less than 180 days, can reclaim this tax by requesting a form named "Isento de IVA". This form is presented to customs when leaving the country.
Time to Travel
It is safe to suggest that the whole year is a good period to visit. Mainland Portugal has an attractive climate with long hot summers and mild pleasant winters. In the north, winters are obviously cool and wet, whilst in the Algarve temperatures seldom ever fall below freezing except in the mountain regions. Inland areas have hotter summers and cooler winters except for mountainous regions that even enjoy snow. Madeira Island and the Islands of the Azores enjoy a temperate climate the year around.
Tipping
Service charges are usually added to hotel, restaurant and bar bills, but it is customary to leave an additional 10%. Taxi drivers also expect tips, which are usually the rounding up of the bill to the nearest Euro.
Visa Control
Nationals of the EC (European Community), Australia and New Zealand, require only their passport or Identity Document. They may remain for a period of up to 90 days. American and Canadian nationals may stay for a period of 60 days with a valid passport. Other countries are subject to Visa controls and as regulations can change overnight it is recommended that a potential visitor should check with the Portuguese Consul in their respective country prior to make a visit to Portugal.
