出了机场,先深吸几口新鲜空气。国外的月亮不比国内圆,空气确实比国内新鲜一点。
去酒店有很多种方式,有大巴,出租车,或者租车。
大巴最经济实惠,出租车方便快捷,最为方便。租车适合自驾游的朋友。很多人钟意自驾游,说起来很洒脱,拍起来很漂亮,累起来也是要命要命的。
常用单词
Taxi - 出租车
Uber - 网约车
Fare - 车费
Meter - 计价器
Rental car - 租车
Driver's license - 驾照
Reservation - 预定
GPS - 全球定位系统
Insurance - 保险
Drop-off location - 还车地点
Gas Station/Petrol Station - 加油站
Shuttle bus - 机场大巴
Ticket - 票
Bus stop - 车站
实用短语
Call a taxi - 叫出租车
How much is the fare? - 车费多少?
Turn on the meter - 打开计价器
I have a reservation - 我有预定
Pick up the car - 提车
Return the car - 还车
Do you accept credit cards? - 你们接受信用卡吗?
Where is the nearest gas station? - 最近的加油站在哪里?
Where can I buy a ticket? - 哪里可以买票?
Where is the bus stop? - 车站在哪里?
场景与案例
在机场打车非常简单,一是不需要预定,直接上车就好(在国外,出租车一般都是要预定的,只有机场和大型酒店才有随时可走的出租车)。二是沟通简单,最不济,拿出地址对着司机说:hi,go here. Please。英语稍微好点,可以和司机师傅聊聊天。
租车相对复杂,没有预定直接去柜台租车,对英语的要求就高一截。单单选车的过程,就会出现大量的不常用单词。比如说品牌,Hyundai(现代),Sabaru(斯巴鲁),Volkswagen(大众),两厢车(hatchback),三厢(Sedan),房车(Recreational Vehicle,简称RV)。这些都是中文最普通不过的词语,一旦转换为英文,就特别难受。比如想租一辆韩国现代,一个Hyundai 发音就把我们卡住了。
建议提前在网上把车子定好。
取车基本上分以下几步:1) 到达租车柜台,出示预定;2) 出示证件,确定保险和一些事项,签几张表格;3)拿到钥匙,停车场取车。
这里特别嘱咐一点,一定要给车买保险,尽量买零垫底费的保险。出现任何意外情况,比如剐蹭,被盗之类,我们拍屁股走人就好,剩下的事情保险公司和租车公司来对接,省去很多麻烦。
关于驾照,出国之前可以翻译为英文,携程貌似还可以办理国际驾照,很简单。
示例对话
出租车对话
Tourist: Hi, can you take me to the Hilton Hotel downtown?
Taxi Driver: Sure. Do you have an address?
Tourist: Yes, it's 123 Main Street.
Taxi Driver: Got it. Please fasten your seatbelt.
Tourist: How much will it cost approximately?
Taxi Driver: It should be around $30, depending on the traffic.
Tourist: That's fine. Can you please turn on the meter?
Taxi Driver: Of course. Do you have any preference for the route?
Tourist: No, just the fastest way, please.
Taxi Driver: Alright. Here we go.
Tourist: Thank you. How long will it take to get there?
Taxi Driver: It should take about 20 minutes.
Tourist: Great. Thank you.
租车对话
Customer: Hi, I have a reservation for a rental car.
Rental Agent: Welcome. Can I have your driver's license and credit card, please?
Customer: Sure, here they are.
Rental Agent: Thank you. I see you have booked a compact car(紧凑型轿车)for three days. Is that correct?
Customer: Yes, that's correct.
Rental Agent: Would you like to add any additional insurance coverage(保险)?
Customer: What are the options?
Rental Agent: We have basic coverage, which is included, and you can upgrade to full coverage(全险)for an additional $15 per day.
Customer: I'll go with the full coverage, please.
Rental Agent: Great. Do you need a GPS or a child seat(儿童座椅)?
Customer: No, I have my own GPS, but I do need a child seat.
Rental Agent: No problem. That will be an additional $10 per day. Your total comes to $150. How would you like to pay?
Customer: I'll pay with my credit card.
Rental Agent: Alright, please sign here. Here are your keys and the rental agreement(租赁协议). The car is parked in lot A, space 45.
Customer: Thank you. Can you tell me where the nearest gas station(加油站) is?
Rental Agent: There's one just outside the airport. Turn right when you exit the parking lot, and you'll see it on your left.
Customer: Great. One more question, where do I return the car?
Rental Agent: You can return it here at the same location. Just follow the signs for 'Car Rental Return.'
Customer: Thank you very much for your help.
Rental Agent: You're welcome. Have a safe trip!
自驾游还是公共交通
出国旅游,如果不是跟团,是自驾游还是公共交通?
个人觉得取决于自身和目的地情况。
首先看目的地情况,如果公共交通十分发达,比如日本,巴黎,罗马等等,乘坐公共交通是一个很好的选择。一来节省体力,节约金钱,二来这是深度旅游的一部分。乘坐公共交通,能近距离看到当地人的生活情况,看看这个城市的人们是不是也像我们一样匆匆忙忙?还是不紧不慢,悠哉乐哉。有些国家坐地铁(subway)或者火车,出入站没有检票,买票全靠自觉,这是很有乐趣的事情。
第二个是个人情况,主要关乎两点:驾驶技术和体力。国外交规和国内不同,熟悉并适应交规对应变能力是一个小小的考验。又比如,英联邦国家都是右驾,靠左行驶,和国内直接反过来。这个其实很简单,可是容易反致命错误。以新西兰为例,所有租车的方向盘上都会套一个醒目的标牌: Drive on the left / 靠左行驶.
打方向盘前必须要撕掉这个标牌才可以,目的是确保所有司机都会看到这个提醒。新西兰南岛地广人稀,经常出现路上一辆车都没有的情况,我们会本能的驶向右侧,然后心旷神怡的驰骋在蓝天白云的大道上。忽然,你发现一辆车逆行,直直的朝你开过来。。。一旦出事,后果不敢设想。
这类疏忽导致的车祸时有发生,每次结果都非常严重。所以,如果自驾,最好全车的人都警觉,至少,确保行驶在正确的一侧。我回国开车怕开到左侧上去,就想了个办法:跟着前面车走。这个办法一直奏效,直到有一次,路上一辆车都没有,我堂而皇之的开到了左侧。。。
自驾游,是个表面风光,实则冷暖自知的活。朋友圈,小红书的自驾游,一个比一个潇洒, 一个比一个自在。实际情况是,回到住处,一个比一个累趴。
经济允许的话, 当地找个导游兼职司机是个比较稳妥的方案。时间灵活方便, 还能保证安全。
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