Page 35 - Northern Spain & Portugal: Pilgrimage into the Past

ATMs

When using the ATM, keep in mind that it may only accept cards from local banks, and may
not allow cash advances on credit cards; you might need to try more than one ATM or more
than one card.

Many banks charge a fee of $1-$5 each time you use a foreign ATM. Others may charge you a
percentage of the amount you withdraw. We recommend that you check with your bank before
you depart.

Lastly, don’t forget to memorize the actual digits of your card’s PIN number (many keypads at
foreign ATMs do not include letters on their keys—they only display numbers.)

Spain: ATMs are widely available throughout Spain, especially in larger cities and towns.

Portugal: ATMs are widely available in Portugal, especially in larger cities and towns.

France: ATMs can be found throughout large cities and small towns in France.

Credit & Debit Cards

Even if you don’t plan on using a credit card during your trip, we still suggest that you bring
one or two as a backup, especially if you are planning a large purchase (artwork, jewelry).
We also suggest that you bring more than one brand of card (i.e. Visa, MasterCard, American
Express) if possible, because not every shop will take every card. For example, although the
Discover card is accepted in some countries outside the U.S., it is not widely adopted, so other
brands will work at a much larger range of stores, restaurants, etc.

Spain: Credit card use is fairly common in Spain, but may not be accepted for small purchases
or in the markets.

Portugal: Credit cards are widely accepted in Portugal, though may not be accepted for small
purchases or at markets.

France: Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in France. For small purchases or markets,
you may need cash instead.

Chip Cards
Many countries have adopted a new type of credit card that has an embedded computer chip.
These cards are inserted into the reader instead of swiped. The card owner then authorizes the
purchase using a PIN instead of signing.

This new technology is only now gaining traction in the U.S., so occasionally there are
machines in other countries that can’t read U.S. cards. Or the machine can read the card, but
asks for a PIN. This doesn’t happen often, and is nothing to worry about. You can usually
resolve the situation by asking the cashier to let you sign. (If you don’t speak the language,

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