Vamus Algarve 4+

The App is great for looking at timetables and journey planning etc but no good at all for paying a fare on the bus instead of using cash. My understanding is that for single journeys you tell the bus driver where you are going and he tells you how much the fare is and you then present your phone to the scanner (with the QR code within the Vamus Algarve App displayed) and this pays for the fare, instead of cash, and the amount is deducted from your balance in your account within the App (which is easily topped up online). However, when I tried this in real life it was quite clear that the bus driver had never seen anyone try to use the App to pay and the QR code in the App is so big (with no option to resize it) that the optical scanner on the bus could no read it. As an alternative, one of the options stated within the App is to purchase a Vamus Travel Card at a main bus terminal, which is then linked to your account within the App, which means that your balance in the App is then available on the card, and you can then use the card to pay on the bus by tapping it on the reader once the bus driver has confirmed the amount of the fare. However, when I tried to get this Travel Card at the main Albufeira Bus Terminal the lady behind the desk said it was not possible to link the card to my existing account and all she could do was sell me an anonymous pre-paid card which could only be topped up by going back to one of the ‘purchase points’, ie a main bus terminal. She referred me to the email address for Vamus customer service and I emailed them to explain all this but they have not responded. If anyone has any experience to assist me I would appreciate you posting it on the App reviews.

Unfortunately the app is useless for paying in the buses. A QR is generated in the app that should be scanned when but the scanners on the buses do not work and the drivers seem to hate using them. However when they don’t work you will have to be pay twice as much in cash as it would be using the app. Extremely frustrating and unfair.

We bought the 7 day pass for £40 and used daily to go East, West and North. It even took us to the Emergency Department at Faro Hospital. Buses always clean, on time(ish) and skilfully driven. It’s five from me 😎