Page 190 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Mallorca, Menorca & Ibiza

188  SUR VIV AL GUIDE PR A C TIC AL INFORM A TION  189

Communication and Banks have one side identical (the staff will usually pass your card
value side), and one side through a reading machine.
The quality of telephone services in the Balearic Islands is with an image unique Sometimes you may be
high for both landlines and mobile phones. The banking to each country. asked to punch in your
services on the islands are equally efficient and many PIN number. Some smaller
foreign banks, mainly German, have branches here. The Banks and Cash places, such as market stalls
and independent shops may
Spanish postal system functions quite well, but it may Dispensers not accept credit cards.
take a week or longer for a letter posted in the Balearic The easiest way to get cash
Islands to reach its destination. When communicating is from a cash dispenser, or Radio and Television
with Spanish companies, it is best to use email. ATM, and these are ubiquitous
across the Balearic Islands. Numerous pubs and cafés
Bright and easy-to-spot post box Note that most major credit have a television and it is
belonging to the Spanish correos and debit cards are accepted. easy to watch major sporting
Telephones and When dialling a number However, with credit cards events live, including many
Mobile Phones you should remember that Postal Service you will be charged a supp­ English and German league Popular dailies published in the
You will be able to enjoy in Spain you must always dial The Spanish postal system lementary fee; this is not the soccer matches. Hotels have Balearic Islands
good mobile-phone reception the full nine-digit number, is now quite efficient, and case with debit cards. For a larger selection of TV channels.
in all but the most remote even if you are in the same postcards and letters sent changing currency, most Besides Spanish national TV, In many towns, kiosks and
corners of Mallorca and area. The code for the Balearic from the islands take a couple banks are open from 8am such as TVE1 and TVE2, there hotels sell Spanish national
Menorca, with the network Islands is 971. Making a call of days to reach the addressee. until 2pm. are a number of local channels papers as well as British and
fixed at GSM900/1800, the from Mallorca to Menorca It is also possible to send including Catalan TV3 and German newspapers and
band used in the rest of will cost the same as one express (urgente) or registered Canal 33. These broadcast magazines. The majority of
Europe, Australia and New from Palma to Andratx. (certificado) mail. mainly Spanish news and popular publications from
Zealand. Mobile phones When telephoning the Post offices are open bet- light entertainment shows.. other EU countries arrive
purchased in North America Balearic Islands from the UK, ween 8:30am and 2:30pm You can tune into the BBC’s on the Balearic Islands
will need to be adjusted to Ireland and New Zealand, you Mondays to Fridays (main World Service 24 hours a day with a minimum delay.
this GSM band. must first dial 0034 (the country offices are open to 8:30pm), online or through audio
Rather than using your code for Spain) followed by and between 9:30am and channels offered by local TV DIRECTORY
own mobile phone, you the subscriber’s number 1pm Saturdays. If you only providers in some hotels.
may find it cheaper to buy starting with want stamps, Post Offices
a local SIM card. Bear in mind, the area code note that Newspapers
however, that this can get (971). When these are also Ibiza
complicated: many mobiles calling a sold at kiosks One of the many cash dispensers available Several local newspapers are Avda Isidor Macabich 67,
will not permit you to swap mobile phone bearing the on the islands published on each of the islands. Eivissa.
SIM cards, and the connection number you Logo of Movistar sign timbre or Debit and Credit Cards These cover mainly local issues Tel 902 197 197.
instructions for the replace- should dial the at tobacconists; and they can also be valuable Mallorca
ment SIM card may be in country code, followed by or, ask at your hotel reception. The most widely accepted sources of information for Constitucio 5,
Spanish only. If you overcome the subscriber’s number. Postal charges depend on credit cards on the Balearic visitors who want to find out
these problems, you can buy To phone the UK from the where the item is being sent Islands are Visa and MasterCard. about forthcoming cultural Palma.
SIM cards at high-street phone Balearic Islands dial 0044, to and fall into bands that However, most cash dispensers, and sporting events. They also Tel 971 721 095.
companies, which offer myriad then the area code (minus the include the EU, the rest of as well as shops, hotels and publish useful addresses and Menorca
deals beginning at about €5 0), then the number; to phone Europe, the USA and the rest restaurants, will also accept telephone numbers. Some of C/Bon Aire 15, Maó.
per SIM card. Ireland dial 00353, then the of the world. Post offices also American Express or Diners. the local newspapers have Tel 971 356 629.
area code (minus the 0), then accept telegrams, registered When you pay with a card, foreign­language supplements.
the number; to phone the US mail and parcels. Letters and Pl Borne 9, Ciutadella.
or Canada dial 001, then the cards can be mailed in a Tel 971 380 081.
area code, then the number. yellow post box.
Lost or Stolen
Credit Cards
Internet Currency
All hotels and airports, plus a The euro (€) is the common American Express
large number of bars, on the currency of the European Tel 1273 696 933.
Balearic Islands have Internet Union. It went into general Diners Club
hot spots, but be aware that circulation on 1 January 2002, Tel 1273 696 933.
sometimes they will charge initially for 12 participating
you a small fee for access, countries. Spain was one of MasterCard
and you will usually need those 12 countries, and the Tel 900 971 231.
to ask for a password. Cafés Spanish peseta was phased
with free Wi-Fi are mainly out in January 2002. Euro Visa
found in the city centres. notes, in denominations Tel 900 991 216.
Nearly all hotels have at of €5 to €500, are identical
Tourist navigating the streets of the islands least one computer for throughout the Eurozone
with a digital tablet guests to send emails. countries, while the coins Kiosks selling papers in Passeig d’es Born in Palma, Mallorca

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