Guest Service

Hotels offer a variety of services to their guests. The most traditional are laundry service (clothes washing) and valet service (shoe shining and clothes dry-cleaning and pressing), although some hotels run them on the do-it-yourself basis. A big hotel will also have a restaurant, a bar and a coffee shop, a bookstore or a newsstand, a gift shop selling a variety of souvenirs, and a drugstore providing the guests with medicine and cosmetics. At a luxury hotel one can often find a barber's shop and a beauty salon. The guests might also need the services of a car rental agency, to be able to rent a car through the hotel. Many hotels provide a free morning paper and free drinks ("cocktails") in the afternoon.

Local phone calls are usually free, long distance calls are added to the room bills, and are 2 to 3 times more expensive than from a pay-phone down in the lobby. You can also order various services from the front desk by dialing "0".

A number of hotel staff relies on tips to raise their wages. The bellman expects up to $1 per bag for taking your baggage to your room. The hotel doorman gets at least 50 cents if he summons a taxi (and of course your taxi driver should be given 15 per cent of fare!). Chambermaids usually receive a few dollars if you stay at a hotel for several days, or else you may leave a dollar note under an ash-tray as you leave the room every morning. In restaurants and nightclubs you are expected to tip 15 to 20 per cent of the bill (before taxes are added). No tipping is required for elevator operators or hotel desk clerks.

Tipping allows you to reward good service. On the other hand, if the service has been bad n у tip need be left. It is a good idea to consider all these expenses when you are anticipating the cost of your stay at a hotel.

Текст № 14. Їжа. Заклади харчування. Кухня світу

Українська кухня

Ukraine enjoys a variety of traditional cookery, as well as favourite imported dishes. Breakfast is a simple meal of bread, butter, and perhaps soft-boiled eggs. Homemade jam with whole berries in heavy syrup is prized. Lunch may consist of a fish dish, a salad, or a vegetable.

Dinner is the main meal, and guests are treated with great hospitality. Soup is made from available vegetables, such as carrots, cabbage, or turnips, plus a piece of meat that is removed for serving. Accompaniments may include kasha /buckwheat grouts/, cabbage, or pearl barley.

Desserts are simple, perhaps small pastries, a fruit puree, or fruit compote. Tea is the favourite drink, although coffee is enjoyed as well. Kvass, a slightly fermented drink, may be made from white or dark rye bread,

Dialogue

Waiter Are you ready to order now?

Bob: Yes, I think so. Could you tell me what "dolmadakia" is, please?

W: It is vine leaves stuffed with meat and onions and served with lemon sauce.

B: It sounds delicious. I will try that, please. I will have the fish and vegetable soup and the roast lamb with salad, please.

W: What dressing would you like on the salad?

B: French dressing, please.

W: And would you like anything to drink?

B: I’d like some white wine. Is there a Greek wine you can recommend?

W: Well, the Santa Helena is very nice.

B: Yes, a bottle of the Santa Helena then, please.

W: Thank you. Would you like a desert?

B: No, thank you. Just a cup of coffee. And could I have the bill, please?

W: Yes, sir.

Англійська та американська їжа.