Yesterday, I rented a car from Europcar at Frankfurt Airport. I had booked a Golf estate car and requested a diesel vehicle in the notes of my reservation. However, I was given an Opel estate car, which was diesel and automatic, and I had to pay a pre-authorization deposit of over 800 euros. The trunk could only fit two 28-inch suitcases and one 24-inch suitcase, along with some backpacks. The cover for the trunk couldn't be pulled up, and the luggage was exposed. Additionally, the previous renter had clearly broken one of the clips on the cover, so I took photos as evidence. I'm not sure if having exposed luggage will cause any issues when I go to Poland. Yesterday, I drove 400 kilometers, and the fuel gauge showed that I had used almost half of the fuel ?
Poland Q&A
Return and inspection of the car
1. Prepare the checklist provided by the rental company before
2. Rental agreement, insurance documents, deposit receipt
3. Wash the car before returning it, both interior and exterior. Otherwise, you may be fined up to 500 Swiss francs for car washing (e.g. in Switzerland)
4. All photos taken when picking up the car
5. Return the car with a full tank of gas. Otherwise, you may be charged for refueling, which can be expensive
6. Take a photo of the fuel gauge
7. Take photos of any potential scratches to avoid being overcharged
8. When the car is inspected, make sure to check what is written and any associated fees. If there are any objections, resolve them before signing. This can be a stressful time, especially if you are in a rush to catch a flight, and you may overlook certain issues. It can be difficult to resolve them once you have returned home
9. The deposit refund will depend on the rental company checking for any violations, parking tickets, or toll charges. It may take 1-2 months to receive the deposit refund, and there will be no notification. The charges will be automatically deducted
Additional information: Some gas stations offer automatic and manual car wash services. Both require self-operation.
Automatic car wash: Drive in, the brushes will automatically clean and dry the car. The cost varies from 10-29 Swiss francs, depending on the size of the car. Advantages: Quick, approximately 10-20 minutes. Disadvantages: Expensive, and the car may not be thoroughly cleaned. Vacuuming requires coins, approximately 1 franc for 10 minutes
Manual car wash: Advantages: Cheaper, more thorough cleaning, and can help identify any issues. Disadvantages: Tiring, limited time with the car wash hose, need to purchase car wash detergent. Indoor vacuuming requires renting a vacuum for approximately 1 franc for 10 minutes ?
Switzerland 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
The road conditions on Zakynthos are still good, but there are many winding roads. I rented a Peugeot 208, and sometimes it's quite difficult to climb steep slopes. There are many one-way streets in the town. Now, the price for Shipwreck Bay and Blue Caves is 20 euros per person. I first went to the Potamitis place to take a boat. There were hardly any people on Sunday. After waiting for a while, a lady asked us if we were going. I asked about the price, and she said it would be 80 euros for two people because it would be a private charter. If we went with others, it would be 20 euros per person. I thought it was too expensive and there were no other people around, so I went to Agios Nikolaos. There weren't many people there on Sunday either. I asked and was told that if we didn't wait and left immediately, it would be 100 euros for two people. If we waited for others, it would be 20 euros. Luckily, after waiting for about fifteen minutes, a couple arrived, and we went together. It took about an hour and a half. It's best to arrive at the Blue Caves between 12-2 pm. I arrived there at nearly 5 pm, and the sun was shining from behind, so it wasn't very visible. I hope this helps you. ?
Greece Q&A
I originally drove on the highway in southern France. Each section had a different toll. Some had toll booths where you had to take a card, while others required you to pay first without a card. Look at the signs above the toll booths to see if you need to take the ETC lane or the regular lane with the toll sign. There was a toll to get to Paris, and there was a toll on one section of the highway to Monaco. There were no tolls on the highways in southern France, but I remember there was an automatic machine at Nice airport that could exchange paper money for coins. I think the toll machines automatically counted the coins you put in, so you didn't have to count them yourself. There were a lot of one-way streets in France, especially in small towns, and the roads were very narrow. Also, always lock your car doors when you leave it, because we were waiting at a red light on a road in Gannat and someone opened our trunk. Fortunately, we had read in the guidebook to lock the car doors before getting out, so we didn't get stolen. This time, we picked up the car in Paris and drove to the Loire Valley ?
France Q&A
Driving in Australia is on the left-hand side of the road. If you are driving a manual car, you will need to be comfortable with driving on the left side of the road.
You should also be aware that the speed limits in Australia are generally higher than in many other countries. For example, the speed limit on most highways is 100-110 km/h (62-68 mph).
It is important to always wear your seatbelt and to follow the rules of the road. This includes obeying traffic lights, stop signs, and giving way to pedestrians and cyclists where necessary.
In addition, it is illegal to use your mobile phone while driving in Australia. This includes making calls, sending texts, and using social media.
If you are planning on driving in rural areas, be aware that there may be fewer services available, such as petrol stations and restaurants. It is also important to be aware of the potential for wildlife on the roads, particularly in national parks and reserves.
Finally, make sure you have appropriate insurance coverage for your vehicle before you drive in Australia. This will protect you in case of an accident or other unforeseen event ?
Australia Q&A
The enthusiasm of the people of Sicily, Italy, is a passionate and unrestrained one. In Rome, the enthusiasm you see is a refined routine. For example, when you go to a restaurant, the waiter will recommend two special dishes for the day. When you ask what they are, he will tell you about the volcano beef and swan roasted fish... The prices are all on the menu. Each dish is about 25 euros, not bad, right? When you're halfway through the meal, they will bring you a glass of ice wine, telling you it's complimentary, and shake hands with you... As for the swan roasted fish, they will enthusiastically ask if you need help opening it. I firmly say no, but they will still help you open it as if they didn't hear me... Let's talk about the bill. When you pay, they will tell you it's 293 euros, plus a 10% service charge, and fish is charged by weight (the fish is at most 1.5 pounds, and the beef is only the size of a fist, definitely not 2 pounds), and the water before the meal is 10 euros. Also, when taking a taxi, make sure to use the meter... And there are a lot of pickpockets there, so be careful of women wearing scarves. Even if you put your bag in front of you, it won't help. They will use the scarf to block your line of sight... They usually work in groups... Even so, Italy is still very, very beautiful. It feels like walking in a historical museum, and shopping is also very enjoyable... Wishing friends a pleasant journey ?
Italy Q&A
Regarding the recent flooding in the South Island, tourists with travel plans in the near future do not need to panic. The latest information we have is as follows: 1. The water levels in the high-water areas of Lake Wakatipu and Lake Wanaka in Queenstown have reached their peak, and the weather has cleared up. This week is expected to be mostly sunny, with no more rain predicted, so the flood risk has been alleviated. Businesses along the shores of Lake Wanaka have resumed operations. The famous Wanaka Tree will remain partially submerged for a while longer due to the still-high water levels. Queenstown is experiencing clear weather, and recent photos show that while the water levels are high, the risk of flooding has diminished. 2. The South Island highways, which were previously closed, have started to reopen. State Highway 72 has resumed traffic, although there is heavy congestion, so travelers should allow extra time if using this route. 3. There is still flooding at the Rangitata Bridge section of State Highway 1, but once the water recedes, traffic will be able to resume. There is also flooding at the intersection of State Highway 1 and State Highway 79. The Timaru District Council has stated on social media that there is no risk of the recently reopened bridges on State Highway 72 being closed again. 4. The goal is to reopen State Highway 6 on the West Coast before Christmas, but this is entirely dependent on the weather conditions. If the weather remains favorable, the road repair progress will be normal, but if there is another heavy rain, it will affect the repair schedule. Therefore, travelers planning to visit the West Coast of the South Island around Christmas and New Year's need to closely monitor the road repair progress. The New Zealand Transport Agency's update on December 10th at 4pm: SH6 - The past two days have been sunny, and road repair progress has been smooth. The agency has been working to clear the landslide section between Fox and Franz Josef towns, aiming to reopen the Hokitika - Makarora section before Christmas. The Whataroa - Harihari section, which has suffered the most damage, is still closed due to multiple landslides, and the agency is striving to reopen it before Christmas ?
New Zealand Q&A