Interview with Julie in Lisbon
What cards did you take with you?
Julie took these products with her:
- Cash Passport Platinum Mastercard
- Latitude Financial 28 Degrees Platinum Mastercard
- Westpac Choice Account Debit Mastercard
Why did you take these cards?
- Julie says she transferred money from her Westpac Choice Account to her Cash Passport Platinum Mastercard as she needed it. She did this so she could make over-the-counter purchases and ATM withdrawals without paying extra for currency conversion.
- She had her 28 Degrees Platinum Mastercard to use for emergencies (she avoids using credit if possible).
- She didn't use her Westpac card, she took it along with her incase she lost both her Cash Passport cards. However, it didn't leave her passport sleeve the entire time she was in Europe.
Where could you use your cards?
She didn't have a problem using her cards 90% of the time. She did come across the odd restaurant which was cash only, which was a little surprising since she said much smaller cafes accepted cards. She recommends that you always ask whether they take card before you sit down to avoid awkward circumstances. She says that when she went out for drinks with her friends, the bars they visited were mainly cash only.
What about withdrawing money from ATMs?
She had no problems using her Cash Passport Platinum Mastercard to make ATM withdrawals. However, she was charged a €2.50 fee per withdrawal, so she tried not to do it too often.
Do you have any travel money recommendations for Portugal?
She says the best thing she did was apply for a product which had the ability to lock in exchange rates, so she knew exactly how much money she had to spend and could stick to her budget.
What are your travel money tips for Portugal?
- Skip the taxis in Lisbon. Julie says Lisbon is well serviced by a metro, train and bus network. She says you can buy a 7-day carris card for 0.50 Euro and reload as you need. Using the card gives you a discounted travel across public transport networks.
- Ask about the price of sides. When she was eating out with her friends, a couple of times the restaurant gave them sides like bread and olives. They didn't ask for it, but they were charged a couple of Euros. They paid for the sides, but in hindsight, she would have asked for the waiter to take it back.