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 Mail
The word “Correio” denotes a Post Office or mail services. First
class mail is denoted by the words "correio azul" and
associated with the colour blue. The Post Office also offers an express
service named "EMS" that records the delivery. A
registered letter is "correio registrado", and postage
stamps are called "selos".
Post Offices are normally open from 08.30 hrs. until 18.30 hrs. from
Monday to Friday but this is only a general rule as they may vary from
district to district. In some towns main Post Offices will also be open
on Saturdays mornings or the whole day. Outside and inside many Post
Offices there are stamp vending machines that indicate the cost levels
for each type and the weight of the item being posted.
Visitors wishing to receive mail when in Portugal may use the “Poste
Restante”. Items should be addressed as follows:
(Last Name), (First name)
Poste Restante
(Postal Code Number) Town
Country
Collection of items will be made against proof of identity of the
receiver and there is a charge of € 3.00 per item.
Major Post Offices also have the facility of sending and receiving Fax.
There is also a system for receiving and sending e-mail by renting a
Computer Unit.
Telephone
National Emergency is 112
National Enquiries is 118
International Enquiries is 171
Pre-paid Calls is 172
Public telephones are to be found in the street in major towns and in
the Post Offices. The national service is run by a State company named
"Telecom" (TLP). Telephones can be used according to
the two ways of paying other than with cash. One is by a card named
"Credifone" and the other is by "TLP Card".
The former is accepted throughout the country and the latter only in
Lisbon and Porto. Cards can be purchased at shops
displaying signs advertising their sale.
International calls can be made direct and the dial code for Portugal
is "351". A caller must first dial "00",
then his country dial number, then the area code without the prefix
"0", and lastly the subscribers number. Call charges
are cheaper between 22.00 hrs. and 08.00 hrs., and at weekends. Hotels
charge a surcharge for outgoing calls. Within Portugal you can call
direct to any subscriber by first dialling the area code if the
destination of the call is outside the area in which the call is being
made. This area code is indicated by the prefix of "2" –
example "289" indicates the area of Faro. | 
