Two trips to Italy in two years, passing through Sicily, Dolomites, Tuscany, and some other cities. Personally, I feel that the security in Italy is not a big problem. Tourist attractions are always crowded, which is unavoidable anywhere. Just be mindful of your belongings, keep some loose change in your pocket, and don't expose large amounts of cash. We added a small combination lock to our backpacks for extra security. Thieves also choose their targets, just like in our own country. I've seen many foreigners leaving their bags far away while taking photos, and their belongings were not stolen. There are armed police guarding various attractions in Italy, so I didn't feel unsafe at all ?
Italy Q&A
I just returned to my country, and overall it was safe and sound. I didn't encounter any thieves, and my car was also in good condition. First of all, the safety education is quite sufficient, and the journey was like fighting monsters, but in reality it wasn't that scary. Italy's famous attractions not only have police, but also armored vehicles and armed soldiers, making it difficult to imagine how thieves and scammers would operate. Secondly, don't be tempted to park on the roadside. I always use paid parking lots, and there are people watching over them in Pisa. In addition, Italy may have an average economic situation, which is reflected not only in prices, but also in the scarcity of black people. Even in the capital Rome, there are slightly more black people, but even they look down on Italy. Finally, let's talk about ztl. Italy's historic districts are relatively small and essentially tourist attractions, so parking outside the ztl will not cause much inconvenience ?
Italy Q&A
For one-off compensation and various benefits for those who suffer permanent injury. Q: What constitutes an "accident"? Any illness or injury caused by a sudden event. Some cases are uncontroversial: those who have been assaulted, involved in a car accident, fallen over, self-harmed, injured by any external force, and sudden illnesses that cannot be predicted. ACC will usually accept these cases straight away, without seeking a doctor's professional opinion. Some cases may be related to past medical history, for example, if someone who previously had high blood pressure suffered a heart attack or stroke in New Zealand, there is controversy over whether this counts as an "accident". ACC will usually seek a doctor's opinion and then make a decision on whether to pay compensation. However, in these cases, doctors usually side with the patient and advise ACC to pay compensation. Unlike general commercial insurance companies, ACC can be "free" and automatically joined. The biggest difference between ACC and general commercial insurance companies is that you don't have to join ACC insurance before an accident happens. As long as you are a natural person in New Zealand, you are automatically insured ?
New Zealand Q&A
The choice of this route was made under many premises. First, we took into account the weekends before and after, and on Saturday there was only a direct flight from Shanghai to Barcelona. We considered going from Macau to Barcelona, but the cost was much higher than going in and out at the same time, and we were a group of six people, which was a significant expense. Second, due to the large number of people, we were concerned about the uncertainty of the transfer, so we naturally chose a direct flight. Third, there were many places to play, and choosing to commute by train and plane would result in more time spent at the station and airport, while the cost of renting a car and returning it at a different location was higher than returning it at the same location, so in the end we chose the big closed loop route. Another key issue is that no matter where you enter or exit, the last place to leave is Barcelona. One reason is to put shopping in Barcelona, and the other is to put the most stunning Sagrada Familia as the last viewing point. Before determining the plan, we also thought about it, but 600 kilometers is not too far. Our flight arrives in Barcelona at 8 am on the sixth day, so it won't take us too long to get to Madrid. Two people drive, it's not too tired ?
Spain Q&A
1. Left-hand driving: You can get used to it quickly, and even if you violate it, because everyone can see each other, it generally does not cause consequences. Of course, affecting others will be despised and scolded. 2. GIVE WAY and STOP: Most important! Must be strictly enforced! At intersections with GIVE WAY and STOP signs, you must stop and look carefully before entering the main road. Vehicles on the main road (including roundabouts) will absolutely not slow down to let vehicles from the side road enter. 3. Speed limit: If you cannot see the speed limit outside the city or when there is no speed limit, follow the maximum of 100, otherwise follow the speed limit. 4. Curves have suggested speeds, as stated in the driving promotional video for newcomers to New Zealand: 'If you feel uneasy when you see the speed limit, you can slow down.' 5. Speeding: In the North Island, you can drive at the speed limit +10 (on holidays +5), and there are few slow vehicles on the road. The maximum speed for vehicles with trailers may be 80, but everyone can silently follow along... 6. Overtaking: Very few people overtake on most ordinary roads. Highways have sections with overtaking lanes, which are uphill, and vehicles with good power will overtake at this time. (The gentle GL made me give up the idea of using the overtaking lane). There will be signs on the highway indicating the distance to the next overtaking lane, so there is no need to rush to overtake. 7. Windshield wipers and turn signals: Opposite to the right-hand driving position, this is what I am least accustomed to. Every time the windshield wipers resolutely swing in front of my eyes when turning, I can feel the concerned and disdainful looks from the surroundings... And, even if you turn on the turn signal, you may not be able to stop the windshield wipers immediately... 8. Crossing lines: From observation, all the lines here can be crossed, but no one drives on the lines for a long time. 9. Parking: Most parking in the North Island is free. I only parked in a paid parking lot twice, and it was quite expensive. 10. Haven't paid any tolls ?
New Zealand Q&A
We arrived in Paris on the 13th and stayed for 6 days, then drove to Fontainebleau, Lyon, Nice, Monaco, Genoa, Florence, and arrived in Rome yesterday. We were on edge the whole way... First of all, the temperature here is not hot. The wind is quite cold. We have to wear down jackets and woolen hats to keep warm. It is not recommended to drive in the city of Paris. It is difficult to find parking spaces on the road surface. The entrances and exits of underground parking lots are too narrow and difficult to find. Navigation mainly relies on the map built into the Apple phone, which is actually a collaboration with Tom Tom and is very accurate. The maps we downloaded at home are not very reliable, including Google Maps. We were misled several times, even guided to a snow-covered mountain road at night. Maybe it's because we didn't enter the address accurately. Remember to enter the postal code of the region. Google Play needs to be installed to have offline maps, so you must have wireless WiFi. The high-speed rail here is very fast. France is 130 and Italy is 110. I think this is the lowest speed. There will always be cars following me to drive. After all, the car company gave me a top-of-the-line Mercedes-Benz E200 station wagon, black German license plate, which is too eye-catching. This caused me to park in the underground garage and dare not park on the road, for fear that my car windows would be broken and my bag would be stolen. All overtaking must be done from the left side, and then the left lane must be given up. It is forbidden to occupy the left lane for a long time. Right-hand overtaking is strictly prohibited, which is very dangerous! Highways need to prepare some 50, 20, 10, 5, 2, 1, and 0.5 euro banknotes and coins in advance. Do not enter the electronic payment channel by mistake. France and Italy have many dark tunnels that are relatively narrow. Overtaking and turning do not slow down. It feels like you're driving a race car, so small cars are popular here. Their control performance is good. Remember not to rent big cars! My Mercedes-Benz is too long, and the city control is really a bit difficult. Those streets, tunnels, and parking lot passages are really narrow! Bring fewer luggage when you go out ?
France Q&A