UNIT 9 VISITORS AND TRAVELLERS

9.1 Did you have a good journey?

Look at the illustration and discuss these questions:

- What is each person doing? She’s waiting for someone. They are looking for someone. They are introducing themselves.

- What is going to happen next? They are going to find the person they’re looking for.

- Have you ever been in any of the situations shown? No, I haven’t

- When was the last time you travelled to another country (or another part of your own country)? What did you do there? I traveled to Puerto Vallarta five years ago. I went to the beach, I walked in downtown and I went shopping in the mall.

D. Look at these situations and decide:

- Who would you speak to in each case to get the information you require?

- What exactly would you say in each situation?

1.- You’ve heard that flight BZ 431 is delayed.

I would ask the flight attendant why the flight is delayed or if there is a solution.

2.- You want a rail ticket to Manchester.

I would speak to the comptroller and I would buy a ticket from him.

3.- You want to reconfirm your seat on flight TR 998.

I’d speak to the flight attendant and I’d tell him/her: “I’d like to reconfirm a seat on flight TR 998, please”.

4.- You want a plane ticket to Bangkok.

I would tell the flight attendant “I’d like to buy a ticket to Bangkok, please”.

5.- You’re in a hurry to get to the airport.

I’d take a cab and I’d tell the taxi driver I want to get to the airport.

6.- You’ve arrived at the airport 3 hours before your flight.

I’d just sit and wait.

7.- You have 3 minutes before your train leaves.

I’d speak to the comptroller and I’d ask him where the gate is to take the train.

8.- You’ve heard that the 17.55 train has been cancelled.

I’d ask the comptroller: “Is there another train in the next schedule?”

E. Discuss these problems with your partners and decide:

- What action would you take in each situation?

- Who would you speak to?

- What exactly would you say to that person?

1.- You arrive in good time at the airport but discover that you have lost your ticket. The ticket clerk says your name is not on the computer?

Could you check again, please? My name may not be spelled right on the computer. If you still can’t find it, could I speak to your supervisor, please?

2.- You find that your travel agent has entered the wrong check-in time on your itinerary and you have missed your flight. Your hosts are meeting you at the airport buy by now they will be on their way there.

I’d call my hosts and I’d tell them my travel agent made a mistake in the itinerary, I’d offer them an apology.

3.- You are a non-smoker but the only seat available on the plane is in the smoking section. After take-off you find that your neighbor is a chain smoker and he doesn’t speak English.

I’d speak to the air hostess and I’d tell him/her I want another seat.

4.- You arrive at an airport in a foreign country expecting to be met but there is no one there to meet you. You have a meeting in a couple of hours in the center of the city.

I’d take a taxi immediatly.

5.- Your train has missed the connection and now you’re going to be an hour late for your appoinment. You have only five minutes to find a phone and make one call.

I’d borrow the phone from someone and I’d make a call to my client. I’d tell him I’m going to arrive late because there’s a problem in the train.

6.- You’re seeing off a visitor. You arrive at the airport for his/her flight home and discover that the check-in desk for his/her flight is closed. You go to Airport Information. They tell you that airline is on strike.

I’d tell him/her that he/she can look for another airline.

F. Decide:

- Which of the advice would you recommend to someone who is coming to your country?

· Use traveller’s cheques not cash.

· Find out which parts of the city are unsafe at night and avoid them.

· Never agree to transport anything for a stranger.

- Which of the advice would you yourself follow when visiting a foreign country?

· Photocopy the information page of your passport and store it in a safe place in case your passport is lost or stolen.

· Keep your hotel key with you when you leave the hotel, if possible.

· Keep your passport, tickets and other important documents with you.

9.2 Hotels and accommodation

C. What kind of hotel would you prefer to stay in if you were on a business trip?

In a business hotel.

How is a business hotel different from a holiday hotel?

A business hotel is very luxurious, it is ubicated near malls and exclusive places for business people. A holiday hotel is for people who are looking for fun and relax, specially on vacations, they have a lot of facilities, for example: spa, swimming pool, restaurant, etc.

9.3 Local knowledge: You are the expert!

1. How much do you know about your own city? Can you answer these questions:

- Where could a visitor go on a free day, or at the weekend?

On weekends people can go walk in downtown to see the stores, or go to the disco at night

- When are the museums and art galleries open?

I don’t know.

- How can a visitor get tickets for a concert or show?

People can buy a ticket in the auditorium or in specific stores.

- Where can a visitor rent a car?

In a leasing.

- Which restaurants serve typical local dishes?

In Pancho’s, La Casa Country, Mi Casa.

- Where can a visitor buy local specialities to take home?

In craft stores.

- Where does the bus to the airport leave from and how long does it take?

In downtown there are some private transportations to go to the airport, it takes 30 minutes to arrive.

3. Make a list of some famous local names: people who are well-known in your country but may be less well-known abroad.

2 national politicians: Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Felipe Calderón.

2 local politicians: Marcos Covarrubias, Arturo de la Rosa.

2 historical figures: Miguel Hidalgo, José María Morelos.

2 TV personalities: Chabelo, Chespirito.

2 movie stars: Gael García, Salma Hayek.

2 entertainers or artists: Vicente Fernández, Yuri.

2 big names in local industry or commerce: Telmex, Soriana.

9.4 Eating, socializing and telling stories.

1.- Think of three stories you can tell. Think of an amusing, frightening, surprising or embarrasing experience you have had…

… on a journey by car, plane, train or bus

… in a hotel

… while having a meal

… while meeting or looking after a visitor

… at work

1.     I’ll never forget the day when I went to Puerto Vallarta, it was raining a lot and I was in the back seat of the car, suddenly I saw a lot of water coming through the window, the water wasn’t stopping! Then I looked in my suitcase and I found a towel, finally it stopped but I got wet!

2.     In our last day in a hotel in La Paz I left in the bathroom my favorite bracelet, I was keeping my stuff in my suitcase. Then we left the hotel and we came back to Cabo. When I arrived home I remembered I left my bracelet in the room! A few days later I found it on my sister’s bag, I got surprised!

3.     One day we were having a meal in my house, my little sister was eating in her little chair, suddenly, for no reason, she threw me the plate in my face and I got covered by sauce and soup. That was embarrasing!