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Money on Mallorca
The currency in Mallorca is the Euro. Therefore many
Europeans do not have to go through the annoying process of exchange
anymore. In Mallorca smaller things are always paid with cash. Bigger ‘buys’
(Hotels, renting cars, more expensive restaurant bills, plane tickets and
petrol) can be paid in most places with credit cards. The Spanish pay even
bigger amounts with cash. Cash is always welcome, and "I will pay in cash"
is always a good argument when you are bargaining about the price for a
room.
Cash cards: Most tourists get their cash in Mallorca from ATMs. There
are many ATMs and almost all accept EC Cards and other cards with the
Maestro sign. Of course you have to pay for the service, how much depends on
your bank. Usually it is 1% and a minimum of 3 to 5 Euros. Some banks have
partner-banks in Spain and the use of their ATMs can be for free. Costumers
of the German Deutsche Bank can get cash in the machines of the many
Deutsche Bank Branches on Mallorca. Shopping with cash cards is usually not
possible.
Credit Cards: With those cards you can go shopping or get money from
an ATM. Most known credit cards on Mallorca are like, almost everywhere in
Europe, Visa and MasterCard. Getting cash can be more expensive than with a
Cash Card.
Traveller Cheques: In banks and bureaus de change traveller cheques
can be cashed. For this service you will be charge twice: First when you buy
the checks and second, when you cash them in on Mallorca. This is around 3%
altogether. Traveller Checks are pretty safe way to travel. Since the
introduction of the Euro there are less and less places to cash checks.
Banks mostly close in Spain at 2pm and are only open from Monday to Friday.
Here you get tickets Madame Tussauds London
(online without long waiting)
Prices on Mallorca
Mallorca is not a cheap place to travel anymore. The price
levels are still a bit lower than in Britain or Ireland.
Accommodation: A double room for less than €40 is hard to find. In
winter prices like €25 or €30 are still possible, if you are lucky. Single
rooms are on Mallorca mostly 25-30% less than double rooms.
Restaurants: Eating out can still be cheap in Mallorca. A simple
taverna or restaurant should have a main meal for €6-9 Euros. Drinks are
also cheaper than in Britain.
Fast-Food: A meal in the many McDonalds or Burger Kings on Mallorca
is around €6. A kebab costs around €4. German Fast Food (e.g. sausages) is
also very popular and inexpensive.
Bars/Pubs: A large beer (equivalent to a British pint) costs €3 or a
bit less in most places. Many places serve German or British beer, which is
the same price as Spanish beer or a bit more expensive. The prices for long
drinks and cocktails are very different on Mallorca. There are a lot of
special offers and most places have a happy hour. Often a special offer is a
small beer (0.2 l) for 1 Euro or all long drinks until 10 pm for 2 Euro.
Supermarkets: In the bigger supermarkets the prices are low. Best for
cheap shopping is the supermarket chain Mercadona. In the very big shops you
can buy brand products and very cheap unbranded products. German discount
supermarket chain Lidl is even cheaper and has a lot of shops on Mallorca.
Lidl has the same products on sale as it does in Britain and the rest of
Europe. Smaller supermarkets in the centre of towns or tourist areas are
usually much more expensive.
Electronic/Photo: There is hardly any price difference in the
European Union. You can find good service and average prices in the enormous
department store El Corte Inglés in the centre of the capital Palma de
Mallorca.
Cigarettes: The prices for cigarettes in Spain are much lower than in
Britain or Ireland. A packet of cigarettes is around €3. There are always 20
cigarettes in a box. Cigarettes are only sold in tobacco shops, which are
only open during the week and only in the morning and early evening. Some
pubs and hotels have cigarette dispensing machines. These are the only
places to buy cigarettes on Sundays or at night.
Alcohol: In supermarkets on Mallorca alcohol is dirt cheap. A bottle
of cheap Gin or Vodka can be as little as €4 in Mercadona or Lidl. You can
buy cigarettes and alcohol only if you are at least 18 years old. You have
to show ID if you are young or look young.
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