Azores Travel--Practical Advice

[NancyC]

Hi, Everyone. I am planning a trip to Sao Miguel and need some
practical advice. Specifically, I need to know if I can count on
having access to ATM machines in Ponta Delgada. I'm reading that
travelers' checks are not convenient to use. I would prefer to take a
small amount of American cash and plan on withdrawing money from my
account in Euros for everyday expenses. Any advice will be greatly
appreciated.

Thanks.
Nancy

[Cheri Mello]

ATMs (automated teller machines in America) are called Multi-Bank Boxes in the Azores.  I'm unsure of the Portuguese acronym for them (I think box is caixa).  I'm not sure about all machines, but the taxi driver took me to one and pressed a button and it went to English.  Check with your bank to see what the fees are for an out-of-network ATM and the fee for pulling out euros instead of USD.

Banks there are open around 9 a.m. and close at 3 p.m.  I would go to the bank with my traveler's checks and say "cambio" (you'll see this in the bank windows - means exchange) and they would find me an English speaking teller.  I did not use the traveler's checks in a restaurant.  Some of the residencials were not set up for a Visa or MasterCard, nor travler's checks, so I'd go exchange them at the bank.

If you use your credit card, you need to check with the bank that issued it as to the fees for charges made in euros.

Cheri Mello
Listowner, Azores-Gen
Researching: Vila Franca, Ponta Garca, Ribeira Quente, Ribeira das Tainhas, Achada

["E" Sharp]

I travel to Europe with my trusty ATM and credit card.  There are ATM machines all over the place.  Used it multiple times on the island of Terceira (2 banks right outside our hotel) and Sao Miguel.  You do not need Travelers Checks not to mention the inconvenience of finding a place to cash them.  If you are going to smaller places/cafes, make sure you have local monies - just in case they do not take credit cards.  There will be small charges to your cards by your US bank for the convenience of using them but cost is minimal...you can ask them before you go.  I also order a small amount of local currency from my bank before I go so I have monies to pay for taxis, etc. when I first get there (my bank charges $5 for this).   I do take some American cash but I have never used it...mostly take it for return to US to use as airports, etc.).  Also, a good tip....there is a nice laundromat in one of the shopping centers in Sao Miguel.

 

A few years ago, I went with my 4 sisters to Europe and a couple of them would not use their ATM cards and some of us grew weary of always having to find a place for them to cash their traveler's checks....:-( when you can stand outside the bank and just get monies in a few seconds....so, we became their banks and they paid us back when we returned to the US :-((((

 

Most of all, have fun, do lots of research and talk to the locals, you will be surprised what you will learn about these wonderful islands.

 

"E"

[celeste perry]

Hi Nancy,   The last time (2009) I was in Sao Miguel, I used Euros (I had cashed $ for them in Terceira, with the help of Joao Ventura).  I carry my money in a money belt around my waist, under my clothes.     The only time I used the ATMs, I found that the exchange rate that was being used that day did not always match the exchange rate that was used when my bank deducted my transaction and also I was never sure of the fees attached by the bank where I used the ATM and the fees used by my bank for the transaction.  In other words, it was an unknown and I was surprised at the amount of fees.    My friend that travelled with me used her credit card to pay for our room.  I paid her my part of the room cost in Euros so she had money to spend.  When we returned home, she also was very surprised as to how much the fees were when she received her credit card bill.  I don't know if this varies by bank or credit card or if things are different today.  I believe if they are different, the fees are even higher today.    I have always used the same taxi driver whose base is near the arches in Ponta Delgada.  His name is Carlos Rego and he speaks English; is a wonderful tour guide; has even run up and down the street in a small village yelling, "Who has the key," when the church was locked and I wanted a picture of the baptismal fond and the altar.  He found the person with the key and we had a nice time visiting with the locals and taking pictures of the church and village.    If you need additional info on staying in Sao Miguel, I have stayed in 4 different places and can give you my take on them.    Celeste, Hayward, CA Celeste Perry ccgr...@yahoo.com --- On Wed, 6/1/11, NancyC <nvcou...@gmail.com> wrote:

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[Iris Bilodeau]

Hi Nancy, My travel agent, Ginny Dutra, told me to use ATM, they are in Ponta Delgada. Just to be safe I ordered Euros from my bank, although that is the expensive way to go.   I'm leaving for Sao Miguel on June 7th from Oakland.  You wouldn't happen to be on that same flight would you? Iris

--- On Wed, 6/1/11, NancyC <nvcou...@gmail.com> wrote:

From: NancyC <nvcou...@gmail.com> Subject: [AZORES-Genealogy] Azores Travel--Practical Advice To: "Azores Genealogy" <azo...@googlegroups.com> Date: Wednesday, June 1, 2011, 7:25 AM

[jojo...@comcast.net]

Hi Nancy,

       I usually take several hundred euros with me. My local bank does the dollar to euro exchange and they withdraw the amount from my account. You'll be using euros the entire time that you are there for food, transport, etc. so I found it convenient to have them on hand. Also, I had some left from my first trip and put them away and had them handy when I returned to Sao Miguel two years later. Have a wonderful and safe trip.

  Joanne

----- Original Message -----
From: "NancyC" <nvcou...@gmail.com>
To: "Azores Genealogy" <azo...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 1, 2011 10:25:15 AM
Subject: [AZORES-Genealogy] Azores Travel--Practical Advice

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[Nancy Couto]

Dear Cheri, Elaine, Celeste, Iris, and Joanne,

Thanks so much for all your good advice.  You've reassured me about the ATM machines; it seems we won't have any trouble finding one.  I may take some travelers' checks just to be on the safe side, though. 

Celeste, I remember your mentioning your taxi driver before, but I didn't remember his name.  I'll try to find Carlos Rego in Ponta Delgada.

Iris, I'm also leaving for Sao Miguel on June 7, but my flight leaves from Boston.  Does your flight from Oakland connect with the Boston flight?  My SATA flight leaves at 10:30 PM. 

Thanks again to all of you, both for your advice and for your good wishes.

All best,
Nancy

[celeste perry]

Nancy,    If you ask for Carlos Rego, no one knows him by that name.  I tried that on one of my trips, after I had met him.  When I finally found him, he admitted he was known as, "Carlos Chapaca; (Sha-poc-ah), this is the phonetic pronounciation.  I have his cell # from 2009, if you want it, write me privately.     If Carlos is not available, his brother, Joao Maria de Lima Rego and his nephew, Nelson Rego, also are taxi drivers.  The brother does not speak much English; however, the nephew does speak English.  After having all of them drive me around the island, I still prefer Carlos.  He has a great sense of humor and even invited me to his new home for lunch the last time I was in Sao Miguel.  Celeste Celeste Perry ccgr...@yahoo.com --- On Wed, 6/1/11, Nancy Couto <nvcou...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Iris Bilodeau]

Hi Nancy, No my flight goes to Toronto, then to Terciera, then Sao Miguel.  I'll be staying at Sao Miguel Park Hotel in Ponta Delgada.  It would be cool if we could hook up somehow. Contact me by e-mail and I will send you my itinerary.  iris...@yahoo.com Iris Cabral Bilodeau

--- On Wed, 6/1/11, Nancy Couto <nvcou...@gmail.com> wrote:

From: Nancy Couto <nvcou...@gmail.com> Subject: Re: [AZORES-Genealogy] Azores Travel--Practical Advice To: azo...@googlegroups.com Date: Wednesday, June 1, 2011, 3:02 PM

[John Vasconcelos]

Hi Nancy,
I've been to the Azores 3 times since 2000 and have had few problems with  getting money out of an ATM. (There are even ATM's on Flores.)  From my experience, all Azores ATM's I've used dispense cash in Euros and give a better exchange rate than you get for travelers' checks. I've had bad luck getting cash out of airport ATMs in the Azores.  Either the machines are tapped out by passengers on earlier arriving flights or it's a conspiracy among the banks/money changers to get you to a window where they charge higher rates. Try to take some Euros with you, at least enough to cover a taxi ride to your hotel. If you belong to AAA, you can usually get a pack of foreign currency (at least Euros, Canadian dollars, etc). I would call ahead though.

Phone calls. Calling from your hotel can get very expensive. Prepaid phone cards, from my experience are pretty reasonable. You can call from any public phone that accepts them. They can be bought at any postoffice in Portugal. If you have a  GSM compatible cell phone, you may be able to get a chip from your cell phone provider that converts your phone to work on the local system. You can also rent a cell phone for use in Portugal (and other European countries). Just google "cell phone rentals".
Have a good trip
John Vasconcelos

[Susan Vargas Murphy]

Hello Nancy,

I will also being going to Sao Miguel for a couple of days this summer
and then on to "my" island of Faial (with day trips to Sao Jorge and
Pico). Anyway, I used a guide there recently when I was on a cruise
that stopped in Sao Miguel for the day and will use him again when I
go back in July. He is very popular on tripadvisor.com and you can
find out more about what people have to say about him there. His name
is Gary Travassos and he has a website

http://www.azoreantours.com/

You can read all that you would need to know about him and his tours
there.
He speaks excellent English as he was born in Canada and lived there
until he was about 10, when his parents decided to return to Sao
Miguel. He is very personable and we had a great day with him....I
highly recommend him. He may be busy as he is pretty popular but it is
worth a try to contact him.

I have not really been to the islands for 15 years and am so excited
to go again. Will be taking my oldest son, his wife and their two boys
who are 14 and 8.....and have the map of the Azores written on their
faces:) They are the only two of my 8 grandsons that really have the
"Azorean look".....can't wait for them to go and recognize that they
fit right in:)

Have a wonderful trip!

Susan Vargas Murphy

[Cheri Mello]

Repost Steve Peters, spp1680 at gmail.com

Hi Nancy,

I've been looking into this too, as I head off to Faial & Pico on June
22. It really is worth going in and talking to someone at your bank to
figure out how they handle all this stuff, as each bank is different.
A couple of other things I've found out:

My bank charges 3% on all foreign ATM withdrawals using my debt card,
along with the usual fee for using an out-of-network ATM. If I use my
credit card, they charge the same 3% (and ATM fee if I use one) +
another 3% for a "cash advance". Any credit card purchase made at a
store or restaurant or whatever is also considered a cash advance and
carries this extra 3% fee. So it makes the most sense to use the debit
card, and to take out large amounts each time to minimize the number
of withdrawals/fees. Save the credit card only for times when you
absolutely need it, like renting a car.

But: I can order Euros through my bank at no charge with a week or so
lead time. So I plan to take a bunch of Euros with me and then only
use my debit card at ATMs if I run out. I won't even bother with
traveler's checks.

I assume when you make a debit withdrawal from an ATM that they charge
you the lowest exchange rate available on that day, but as someone
else said, the day they run the charge may be later than when you make
the withdrawal, so this may not be entirely accurate.

Have a great trip!

[Iris Bilodeau]

Does anyone know if I can carry on my prescription pills in a pill box, or do I need to be carring the original little bottles? Iris --- On Wed, 6/1/11, Iris Bilodeau <iris...@yahoo.com> wrote:

[Cheri Mello]

The TSA web site: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/specialneeds/editorial_1059.shtm
<<Non-liquid or gel medications of all kinds such as solid pills, or inhalers are allowed through the security checkpoint once they have been screened. We recommend, but do not require, that your medications be labeled to assist with the screening process.>>

I've saved up some of the smaller pill bottles and transferred my prescription into the smaller ones.  I've peeled the label off and put it on the small ones.  Not all labels peel off that well, though.

The TSA has never stopped me for my prescriptions.  I've been detained for the bean bag thing that the GPS sat on (there's lead inside), my AC/DC plug adapter (they have round holes where you plug in your electrical things), and for my flute!  Another time, I had my band uniforms in a separate suitcase and the TSA had opened it and included a note that said they searched it.  I guess they wanted to make sure it wasn't part of a rogue military group!

[nancy jean baptiste]

Greetings all,
 
All this money to the Azores conversation made me think about how safe I always feel over there. Like Steve, we take euro's with us each year when we go to Pico. Although we have a bank on Pico to run our electric and water bills through it's minimal so we plump it up each year. 3 years ago  I had my euro's in my carry on....in the flurry to take the little plane from Sao Miguel to Pico (when you have to check your carry on) I forgot to take my money and jewelry out. When we got to Pico my bag along with several other peoples were left in Sao Miguel to be delivered later....(we've since found out this has to do with commercial cargo being flown on the plane)....needless to say I was worried since it was about 1200 euros and all my favorite baubles. The next day they delivered my carry on to our adega( which is in the "boonies" of Pico)...every penny was there.....it was all perfect and taught me a very valuable lesson! Several of them actually!
 
Sounds like many of you are going "home" for a holiday....come visit if you're in Pico....we'll be there from mid July to mid Sept. and I'd love to meet some of you in person!
 
Best regards,
Nancy Jean Baptista
 

---

From: gfsc...@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 2 Jun 2011 08:38:10 -0700
Subject: Re: [AZORES-Genealogy] Re: Azores Travel--Practical Advice
To: azo...@googlegroups.com

[Sam Koester]

Iris;  My husband and I both have quite large pill cases, because we usually travel for a month at a time, that we take with us when we travel.  They are approx. 8”x12” in size.  The pills within are not labeled, some of them are prescription and some are vitamins and minerals.  It has never been an issue for us.  One time we were questioned as to why we needed so many pills but; when we explained we would be gone for a month, there was no issue.  Sam in CA

 

From: azo...@googlegroups.com [mailto:azo...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Iris Bilodeau
Sent: Thursday, June 02, 2011 6:31 AM
To: azo...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [AZORES-Genealogy] Azores Travel--Practical Advice

 

Does anyone know if I can carry on my prescription pills in a pill box, or do I need to be carring the original little bottles? Iris --

 

[Katharine]

Should anyone ever need a fluent English-speaking bilingual tour guide
on Flores, I heartily recommend Sílvio Medina. He was my (very young)
guide back in 2002, and I liked him so much I wanted to bring him back
home and adopt him (except I imagine his parents were quite fond of
him, too)! See Sílvio's website at:
http://toursofflores.blogspot.com

See also glowing article re him (in the first half) by a professional
travel writer who visited Flores a few years later:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10043006

Katharine.

[Linda Norton]

I always put my prescriptions in the bag that goes into the plane not the bag I bring on the plane so I don’t have any problems checking in. It’s much easier that way.

 

Linda Borges Furtado Norton

 

---

From: azo...@googlegroups.com [mailto:azo...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Cheri Mello
Sent: Thursday, June 02, 2011 11:54 AM
To: azo...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [AZORES-Genealogy] Azores Travel--Practical Advice

 

The TSA web site: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/specialneeds/editorial_1059.shtm

--

[Sam Koester]

Guess I’m just always concerned that my checked luggage can get lost, etc.  Sam in CA

[Iris Bilodeau]

Obrigada Sam and others who have answered my question. Iris in Northern California. --- On Thu, 6/2/11, Sam Koester <sam...@surewest.net> wrote:

From: Sam Koester <sam...@surewest.net> Subject: RE: [AZORES-Genealogy] Azores Travel--Practical Advice

[pkathy]

I haven't gone to the Azores, but we live half time in Mexico. Wells
Fargo bank charges flat fee of $5 for international bank ATM use. We
opened a Global Remittance Account with them and can transfer money
via the internet or phone to the local bank in Mexico and go into the
bank and just pick it up. That is free. Up to $1500 per day. If you
buy foreign currency before you go, you take a hit on the exchange
rate - that's how the bank is making it's money. We did that the
first time we went to Mexico and got only 12 pesos to the dollar, when
the actual exchange rate was about 14 to one at the time. So, check
with your bank(s). Several people we know use ATM cards issued by
their brokerage firms and there is no charge or the brokerage refunds
the ATM fees to them. I don't have an account at one of those
(Fidelity, I think is one). Some credit unions don't charge for
foreign ATM use, either. I know a guy who gets a prepaid ATM from his
local credit union before he leaves - no ATM fees on that, either,
from his credit union - only the fee that the foreign bank charges.

On Jun 2, 6:31 am, Iris Bilodeau <irisca...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Does anyone know if I can carry on my prescription pills in a pill box, or do I need to be carring the original little bottles?
> Iris
>

> --- On Wed, 6/1/11, Iris Bilodeau <irisca...@yahoo.com> wrote:

>
> From: Iris Bilodeau <irisca...@yahoo.com>
> Subject: Re: [AZORES-Genealogy] Azores Travel--Practical Advice
> To: azo...@googlegroups.com
> Date: Wednesday, June 1, 2011, 3:21 PM
>
> Hi Nancy,
> No my flight goes to Toronto, then to Terciera, then Sao Miguel.  I'll be staying at Sao Miguel Park Hotel in Ponta Delgada.  It would be cool if we could hook up somehow.

> Contact me by e-mail and I will send you my itinerary.  irisca...@yahoo.com
> Iris Cabral Bilodeau
>
> --- On Wed, 6/1/11, Nancy Couto <nvcouto...@gmail.com> wrote:

>
> From: Nancy Couto <nvcouto...@gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [AZORES-Genealogy] Azores Travel--Practical Advice
> To: azo...@googlegroups.com
> Date: Wednesday, June 1, 2011, 3:02 PM
>
> Dear Cheri, Elaine, Celeste, Iris, and Joanne,
>
> Thanks so much for all your good advice.  You've reassured me about the ATM machines; it seems we won't have any trouble finding one.  I may take some travelers' checks just to be on the safe side, though. 
>
> Celeste, I remember your mentioning your taxi driver before, but I didn't remember his name.  I'll try to find Carlos Rego in Ponta Delgada.
>
> Iris, I'm also leaving for Sao Miguel on June 7, but my flight leaves from Boston.  Does your flight from Oakland connect with the Boston flight?  My SATA flight leaves at 10:30 PM. 
>
> Thanks again to all of you, both for your advice and for your good wishes.
>
> All best,
> Nancy
>
> --
> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to Azores+un...@googlegroups.com. Follow the confirmation directions when they arrive.

> For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail (vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group athttp://groups.google.com/group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the right that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership."

> --
> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to Azores+un...@googlegroups.com. Follow the confirmation directions when they arrive.

> For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail (vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group athttp://groups.google.com/group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the right that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership."

[Nancy Couto]

Hi, everyone.  I just wanted to say thanks again to all who sent advice about ATM machines on Sao Miguel.  And I wanted to share some advice I received at my bank. 

My ATM card is a MasterCard debit card, and my bank assures me that it can be used at any ATM machine displaying the MasterCard symbol.  It is possible to go to the MasterCard website, www.mastercard.com, and get a list of all the ATM machines in any city in the world that accept MasterCard.  (There are several in Ponta Delgada.)  I suspect that Visa provides the same sort of information on their website.

So thanks again for all your help.
Nancy