Algarve news and information portal - AlgarveMais

Telephones
Telephone calls can be made at post offices and public call boxes which accept coins or credifone cards. Credifone call boxes are the most common and the majority of newagents and supermarkets sell the phone cards.

For calls abroad dial 00, followed by the country code, the area code (omitting the 0) then the telephone number.

Information number : 118

Security
Theft from cars, locked or otherwise, is depressingly common. When driving you need your licence and other documents, but don't leave them in the car when parked. Be every bit as security conscious in villas and apartments as you would be at home. When you go out, be sure to lock up.

PLACE	PSP	GNR	FIRE DEP.	TURISM. OFFICE
ALBUFEIRA		289 590 790	289 586 333	289 585 279
ALCOUTIM		281 546 208	281 540 450	281 546 179
ALJEZUR		282 998 130	282 998 258	282 998 229
ALMANCIL		289 351 530	289 416 702
ARM. PERA		282 312 178	282 442 411	282 312 145
CASTRO MARIM		281 531 004		281 531 232
FARO	289 899 899	289 887 603	289 888 000	289 803 604
GUIA		289 591 115	289 586 333
LAGOA		282 352 310	282 352 888	282 357 728
LAGOS	282 762 930	282 762 809	282 770 790	282 763 031
LOULÉ		289 410 490	289 416 702	289 463 900
MONCHIQUE		282 912 629	282 912 115	282 911 189
MONTE GORDO		281 544 355	281 544 211	281 544 495
ODECEIXE		282 947 682	282 947 197
OLHÃO	289 702 144	289 703 089	289 702 108	289 713 930
PADERNE		289 367 115	289 586 333
PORTIMÃO	282 450 580	282 420 750	282 420 130	282 416 556
QUARTEIRA		289 315 662	289 323 132	289 389 209
S.B. MESSINES		282 339 246	282 339 633
S.BRAS ALPORTEL		289 840 800	289 842 666
SALIR		289 489 136	289 416 702
SÃO CLEMENTE		289 489 136	289 416 702
SILVES		282 442 414	282 442 411	282 442 255
TAVIRA	289 322 022	281 325 704	281 322 122	281 322 511
V.R.ST ANTONIO	281 543 066	281 544 355	281 544 211	281 542 100
VILA DO BISPO			282 639 285	282 624 783

Shops
Open 09:00 or 9:30 - 13:00; 15:00 - 19:00 or 19:30 , Monday to Friday. On Saturdays open 09:00 or 9:30 - 13:00 . Closed Sundays, except some supermarkets, mini-mercardos and out of town Markets
In Quarteira a market is held every Wednesday, Loulé every Saturday, Portimão every first Monday of each month, Lagos every Saturday, most Sundays in Almancil and Moncarapacho, and most Thursdays in Boliqueme and on Mondays in Tavira.

Drive
Speed Limits

* Built-up Areas 50km
* Out of Town 90km
* Trunk roads 100km
* Motorway 120km
* Insurance is compulsory and normally provided with a hire car.
* EU licences are valid at all times
* Seat belts are obligatory for the driver and passengers.
* Alcohol is readily available and cheap - but the maximum legal blood alcohol level is currently only 20mg per 100ml,

DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE!
Portugal has the highest road accident rate in Europe. The standard of both road building and driving is much lower than in Northen European countries, and you need to be continually alert and cautious. Be especially aware of vehicles suddenly emerging from side roads, and of maniac overtaking.

ZERO TOLERANCE!
High-profile police patrols are becoming ever more vigilant and ever less tolerant of bad driving, speeding and drink driving. Besides risking your life and those of others, you also risk heavy penalties if you break the law.

Duty Free
There are no no duty-free allowances for transport of goods within the European Union.

If you are planning to bring home Portuguese delights such as port, table wines or regional aguardentes or liqueurs, look no further for a good deal than the cheapest local supermarket, where you can generally buy at prices lower than the airport "duty free" shop.

Electricity
220 volts AC with Continental two-pin plugs is usual. Earthing can be erratic in older buildings.

Chemists
Open 09:00 - 13:00; 15:00 - 19:00. One chemist stays open after hours on a rotating basis and the address of the open pharmacy is listed on all other chemists' doors.
Chemists (farmácias) will advise on minor matters. There are reciprocal arrangements within the EU on free treatment in clinics and hospitals. When requesting treatment, show your passport, or an E111 or E112 form. Health clinics (centro de sáude) deal with less serious problems. For emergencies, there are 24-hour hospitals in Faro, Portimão and Lagos.

Banks
Open Monday to Friday 08:30 - 15:00; closed Saturdays, Sundays and National Holidays. You'll need your passport to exchange travellers cheques. Look for the sign “câmbios”. Commission is charged per transaction regardless of amount.

Buses
Clean, reasonably comfortable and cheap. Local services often infrequent by day and non-existent at night. Avoid long, boring journeys within the Algarve by booking express regional services.

Trains are one of Portugal's little-known gems and are well worth investigating, and covered in more detail below.

Car Hire
Cars from reputable companies are clean, recent models. Drivers must be at least 21 and have had a licence for at least one year. Hire price always includes third party insurance. A government tax of 21% (vat) is a compulsory extra. Optional extras: collision damage waiver, theft insurance, personal insurance