TAX-FREE SHOPPING
There are more than 1600 shops in Portugal that are affiliated to the Tax-Free for Tourists system and these are identified by the logo with that name and have a simple VAT reimbursement system, effected at airports in cash, by credit card or by international cheque, as long as the goods have been shown to customs in advance.

TAXIS
Taxis are very reasonable in Portugal compared with most other European countries. The fare to be paid within a city's perimeter is shown on the fare metre at the end of the journey. An additional amount is charged for a taxi radio phone call. Luggage over 55 cm x 35 cm x 20 cm must be carried in the boot or on the roof of the car and an extra fee is levied irrespective of the number and weight of the items of luggage. Carry cots, prams and pushchairs or wheelchairs for the disabled are exempt from the additional luggage fee. Between locations, any toll payments are normally the responsibility of the customer. Tips are voluntary and are generally about 10%. At the beginning of the journey, a fare metre should show the amount displayed on the windscreen. Passengers are advised to ask for a receipt and check the vehicle registration number is the same. For information on tariffs, please consult the sticker on the back left hand window of the car or ask the driver for the national price list.

TELEPHONES
Telephone kiosks work with coins, credit cards and specific phone cards such as ONI and Portugal Telecom. Portugal Telecom cards are on sale at official Portugal Telecom shops, post offices and most kiosks and tobacconists. All telephone kiosks indicate the nearest place where these cards can be purchased. International dialling codes and numbers for the national telephone network are also displayed in the kiosks. To make a call from Portugal to an overseas country, dial 00 followed by the country and city codes and then the telephone number required.

TIME DIFFERENCE
Portugal and the islands of Madeira adhere to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), with the daylight saving system of one hour used from March to September. In the Azores, clocks are set exactly one hour behind the rest of Portugal in winter and follow the GMT time pattern during the summer. The 24-hour clock is most commonly used for time readings in books and in the media.

TOURIST INFORMATION
The main tourist information centres are as follows: Lisbon City Centre, Praça dos Restauradores 1250-187 Lisbon (tel: 213 466 307 fax: 213 468 772); Lisbon Airport, 1700-007 Lisbon (tel: 218 494 323 -218 493 689 fax: 218 485 974); Oporto City Centre, Praça D. João I 43, 4000-295 Porto (tel: 222 057 514, fax: 222 053 212). Oporto Airport 4470 Maia (tel: 229 412 534, fax: 229 412 543); Faro Airport, 8000-124 Faro (tel: 289 818 582, fax: 289 817 787); Spanish Border Office, 6355 Vilar Formoso (tel: 271 512 202, fax: 271 513 477); Highway Offices, Santo Tirso on the A3, 4785 Trofa (tel: 229 820 964, fax: 229 820 976); Aveiro on the A1, 3850 Albergaria-a-Velha (tel: 234 542 842, fax: 234 542 840); Aveiras on the A1, 2050 Azambuja (tel: 263 469 311, fax: 263 469 310); Palmela on the A2, 2950-436 Palmela (tel: 212 332 858, fax: 212 332 857).

TRANSPORTATION
The Portuguese railways board CP offers several options for getting around, from local and regional services to high-speed express and intercity services. Most trains have first class carriages available, while frequency and punctuality is on a par with the rest of the Europe. Rail fares are relatively low in comparison, especially tourist tickets permitting travel to anywhere in the country for several weeks. Special arrangements can be made for groups.
Coach travel has becoming more efficient and comfortable since the privatisation of Portugal's bus network a few years ago. Several national operators offer reliable services at very competitive prices, including Rede Expressos (www.rede-expressos.pt) which covers the length and breadth of the country.
Local airline companies such as TAP Air Portugal and PGA - Portugália Airlines provide domestic services connecting the mainland airports of Lisbon, Oporto and Faro with Madeira and the Azores. Most major European airlines operate scheduled flights to Lisbon, while SATA serves the islands of the Azores and a network of inter-island connections.