Where to... sex up your supermarket shopping
Mpreis, a family-owned chain of supermarkets in Austria, bills itself as 'The Seriously Sexy Supermarket'. But don't expect singles nights or dating at the deli counter here. No, what makes Mpreis stores sexy is their 'unusual' and 'progressive' alpine architecture. In fact, the 130 stores, designed by up-and-coming architects, are quickly becoming tourist attractions. The sense of design continues inside the stores, with sleek cafes and carefully chosen materials. Mpreis's most iconic shop is perched half-way up a mountain just outside the small town of Wenns. This store was designed by Rainer Koberl and Astrid Tschapeller and it's a dazzler - made from white concrete and dark glass with a low roof and surrounded by stunning alpine scenery. By night, when the interior lights are switched on, the whole store is illuminated. It's a testament to the architects' skill that it even manages to look at home amid the twee Tyrolean farmhouses. Sadly, there are no plans to expand into the UK market. www.mpreis.at.
What should I do... if I get a surprise charge on my credit card?
Nothing will kill off that post-holiday feel-good glow quicker than getting home to find a mysterious charge on your credit card from a car hire company or hotel - for extra fuel, something from the minibar or whatever. Can they do this when you haven't signed for it? Unfortunately, the answer is often yes - when you give your signature on checking into a hotel, or picking up the car hire, the small print often includes wording to the effect that with this initial signature you are authorising a series of transactions, such as the hotel or car hire company see fit. However, if you believe you have been wrongly charged, you should contact your credit or debit card issuer. Under Section 10.2 of the Banking Code, if you don't recognise a card transaction your card issuer is obliged to check it for you. If your bank investigates and discovers you have been wrongly charged it will refund you and is responsible for getting the money back. Apacs, the Association for Payment Clearing Services, advises you to keep all receipts and bills to help you query any charges that you haven't authorised. Also, don't just check your statements in the few days after you've returned. Charges from overseas trips can appear several weeks and even months after you get home. See www.apacs.org.uk for more information.
How do I know... what to tip
Beware: tipping etiquette varies significantly from country to country, so here are a few tipping dos and don'ts for some of the most common destinations. In Japan tipping is simply not done and could be considered an insult. In China waiters will often refuse even the smallest tip and in North Korea it is not only impolite, but also illegal. Tipping in Australia is generally not expected; but 10 per cent after a meal is polite and taxi fares can be rounded up to the nearest dollar. In restaurants in France, service must be included in the total bill by law, so there is no need for an additional tip. Tip taxi drivers 10 per cent of the fare, and porters one euro per bag. In Mexico a small tip is expected for almost any service, and in restaurants the amount you leave is entirely at your discretion. Restaurants in Italy usually implement a cover charge, so a tip is not generally expected, although a small amount (say 5 per cent) is appreciated. It is not strictly necessary to tip taxis, but porters expect a euro or two. In the US tips can be the major source of income for people in the service industry and anything less than 15 per cent in a restaurant will be sniffed at. Bar tenders expect a couple of dollars in the pot, even if you are standing at the bar (fail to do this and buying the next round might take a long time) and taxi drivers expect a 15 per cent tip. There's a good guide at www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/A640018.
