The best and worst deals on the High Street today

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Portugal

Savvy Tips

• Don’t stay in a cheap hotel. You’ll get a much better deal at one of Portugal’s guesthouses known as residenciais and pensoes. These popular places fill up quickly, so it is well worth reserving in advance.

• Lunch is a much better bargain than dinner in Portugal ­ as it is in many mainland European countries. The daily specials, or pratos do dia, often offer the best value as they often cost less than five euros. If you eat at the counter, rather than taking a table, the price is cheaper still. It is no wonder that some cafes in Lisbon are pretty much all-standing affairs.

• Now that Euro 2004 has finished there are plenty of bargains to be had hiring a villa in Portugal. Many websites still have dozens of offers for places to rent all over the country.

• Competition amongst airlines flying between the UK and Portugal is fierce. British Airways, TAP Air Portugal, easyJet, Monarch and BMIbaby will fight for your custom, so shop around.

• If you decide that you want to see a lot of the country then invest in a bilhetes turisticos, a tourist pass that will let you have unlimited train travel for seven consecutive days for just 100 euros. There are also passes for 14 or 21 days travel if you really want to get into every last nook and cranny!

Money Matters

• The Portuguese adopted the euro in January 2002. Some older people still speak in escudos, but the country has taken to the new currency with surprising ease. As in the rest of the Euro Zone, prices were rounded up when the currency was converted.

• Travellers’ cheques are widely accepted in Portugal, although cashing them in banks can attract heavy commissions. Virtually every town has an ATM though and increasing numbers of restaurants are accepting Visa or Mastercard transactions, especially in the tourist areas.

• Our research found Portugal to be the cheapest place in Western Europe. A can of cola costs just 33 pence, compared with a European average of 62 pence. A glass of house wine in a central café costs just 67 pence, compared with a European average of £1.87.

• The Portuguese version of VAT ­ the IVA ­ is levied at 19 per cent. Unfortunately, you can only claim this money back at the airport if you live outside the European Union.

Savvy Portuguese Dictionary

Yes
Sim

It’s too expensive for me
E muito caro

No
Nao

I’d like to change some money
Queria trocar dinherio

Thanks
Obrigado

Could you please write it down?
Pode escrever isso por favor?

How much is it?
Quanto custa

Exchange rate
Kur

I’d like to book a cheap room
Quero fazer una reserva para um quarto barato