Page 242 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Northern Spain

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Banking and Local Currency

The official currency of Spain is the euro. You may enter Spain
with any amount of money, but if you intend to export more
than €10,000, you should declare it. Travellers’ cheques may
be exchanged at banks and cajas de cambio (foreign currency
exchanges), but it is difficult to find hotels and shops that accept
them. Banks generally offer the most favourable exchange
rates. The cheapest rates may be offered on your credit and
debit card, which you can use in cash dispensers (ATMs),
which are open 24 hours, but check before you travel on the A 24-hour cash dispenser
charges made by your card provider for cash withdrawals.
All take VISA or MasterCard; cards
Banking Hours
Avoid changing money in with Cirrus and Maestro logos are
Hours vary between Spanish hotels, as they almost always also widely accepted in Spain.
banks, but most are open levy heavier fees or have poorer When you enter your PIN,
Monday to Friday from 8:30am rates than banks. instructions are displayed in
to 2pm. In cities and larger English, French, German and
towns, they may stay open Spanish. Many ATMs are located
longer in the afternoon. Very Cheques and Cards inside buildings, and to gain
few banks open on Saturday Travellers’ cheques in euros can access you will have to run your
mornings, and never on be purchased at American card through a door-entry
Saturdays in the summer. Express, Thomas Cook or your system. This type of cash
own bank before starting your dispenser is the safest to use,
trip. When cashing a cheque at especially at night or in
Changing Money
a bank, you will need to show crowded places.
Most banks (bancos) have a your passport or another form
foreign exchange desk with the of photographic ID. DIRECTORY
sign Cambio or Extranjero. The most widely accepted
Always take your passport as ID credit cards in Spain are VISA, Banks
to effect any MasterCard and
transaction. (less so) Diners Banco Popular
In the tourist Club and American ∑ bancopopular.es
areas of Spanish Express. If you Tel 902 30 10 00.
towns and cities have to swipe and Banco Santander
you’ll find bureaux sign rather than
de change (casas use your PIN Tel 902 24 24 24.
de cambio), which An ATM logo when paying by ∑ bancosantander.es
stay open later credit or debit card, BBVA
than banks. The exchange you may be asked to produce Tel 902 22 44 66.
rates they offer can vary photo ID such as your passport.
considerably, so it’s best to ∑ bbva.es
shop around. Kutxa
Some department stores, Cash Dispensers Tel 900 44 55 66.
such as El Corte Inglés, have If your card is linked to your ∑ kutxa.net
their own bureaux de change home bank account, you can
that have the same opening use it with your PIN to withdraw Lost Cards and
hours as the store. money from cash dispensers. Travellers’ Cheques
American Express
Pl de Las Cortes 2, 28014 Madrid.
Tel 900 81 45 00.
Diners Club
Tel 902 40 11 12.
MasterCard
Tel 900 97 12 31 (toll-free).
VISA
Tel 900 99 11 24 (toll-free).
The entrance to a branch of the Banco Pastor

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