Read this advice for tourists. Which are the three most important pieces of

advice that you'd give to a visitor to your country?

What would you say to someone who asked you why they should follow each tip?

TRAVELLER SAFETY TIPS

1. Don't answer the door in a hotel or motel room without verifying who it is. If a person claims to be an employee, call the front desk and ask if someone from their staff is supposed to have access to your room and for what purpose.

2. When returning to your hotel or motel late in the evening, use the main entrance of the hotel. Be observant and look around before entering parking lots.

3. Close the door securely whenever you are in your room and use all of the locking devices provided.

4. Don't needlessly display guest room keys in public or carelessly leave them on restaurant tables, at the swimming pool, or other places where they can be easily stolen.

5. Do not draw attention to yourself by displaying large amounts of cash or expensive jewellery.

6. Don't invite strangers to your room.

7. Place all valuables in the hotel or motel's safe deposit box.

8. Do not leave valuables in your vehicle.

9. Check to see that any sliding glass doors "or windows and any connecting room doors are locked.

10.If you see any suspicious activity, please report your observations to the management.

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Read the texts and say which of the described banking services you usually apply for. Do you need a bank if you go abroad?

SERVICES IN A BANK

1.Banks offer their customers different services mostly connected with organizing money. When you are a visitor to country you'll probably go there for two reasons: to exchange currency or to put your money on a deposit or savings account.

When you're exchanging foreign currency in a bank, look for a sign saying "Foreign Exchange" or if you have traveller's cheques in Britain simply "Change". If you have pounds, however, you can cash them in the main part of a bank. Each time you exchange money you'll have to pay a small charge called commissions. Because of this it's cheaper to exchange several notes together than to exchange them one at a time.

If you came to Britain for more than a few weeks you can open a current account at a British bank. In this case the bank may ask you for a reference (the name and address of a person who knows you) from someone who has a bank account in Britain.

Another way to keep your money safe is in an account for saving money — called either a savings account or a deposit account. Instead of a cheque book, you usually get a small book which you use to pay money in and to take it out. All banks and the Post-office have accounts like this and they'll be happy to tell you about them.

2. In a bank you usually have a current account, which is one where you pay in your salary and then withdraw money to pay your everyday bills. The bank sends you a regular bank statement telling you how much money is in your account. You may also have a savings account where you deposit any extra
money that you have and only take money out when you want to spend it on something special. You usually try to avoid having an overdraft or you end up paying a lot of interest. If your account is overdrawn, you can be said to be in the red (as opposed to in the black or in credit).

Sometimes the bank may lend you money — this is called a bank loan. If the bank (or building society) lends you money to buy a house, that money is called a mortgage.

The money that you pay for services, e.g. to a school or a lawyer, is usually called a fee or fees; the money paid for a journey is fare.

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METHODS OF PAYMENT

More and more people are using credit cards to pay for tickets, holidays, etc. Do you know the procedure for accepting credit card payments? What would you do in the following situations?

1. A man wants to pay for a holiday by credit card. You notice that the card has no signature.

2. A woman tries to use her credit card to pay for some tickets. You notice that the card expired the previous day.

3.Someone wishes to make a credit card payment by telephone.

MEMORANDUM

1. Always ensure that the credit card is valid. The expiry date appears on the card. Note that some cards also carry a "Not valid before" date. If the card is invalid, you must obtain authorization from the appropriate credit card company.

2. The card holder's signature must appear on the card. Holders of unsigned cards must produce proof of identity and signature, then sign the card in front of a staff member.

3. Check that the credit card is not on the blacklist of the issuing company.

4. The amount to be charged must not exceed the limit set by the credit card company. For amounts above the limit, authorization is necessary.

5. Cards that are damaged or defaced in any way are invalid.

6. In the case of telephone sales, make sure you note the following details:

— name of the card holder;

— credit card type;

— card number;

— expiry date;

— address of the card holder (to which credit card statement is usually sent);

— contact telephone number.

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