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
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
We arrive in San Francisco on the 30th, we go from San Francisco to Las Vegas on the 1st to the 3rd, start the Grand Canyon on the 27th, originally planned to go around the Grand Canyon for seven or eight days to Arches National Park, now considering whether it will snow especially in Bryce Canyon, just go to Antelope Canyon and then back to Las Vegas, then go to San Diego, and finally go to Los Angeles on the 15th to return home ? United States Q&A
Hello everyone, Starting from October 1, 2019, winter tires are required for most highways in British Columbia, Canada. According to the BC government website, these tires must be marked with the Mountain Snowflake symbol or the Mud and Snow (M+S) symbol. I'm wondering if all car rental agencies at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) provide vehicles with at least M+S tires (all-season tires) as standard equipment. Thank you for your replies ? Canada Q&A
Is Singapore suitable for solo travel ? Singapore Q&A
The whole journey is Road trip without buying train tickets, and then I heard that only trains are allowed to enter and leave scenic spots such as the Maiden Peak. I really want to ask my friends how to arrange it, such as 1/ where to stay (it is best to recommend a hotel name, I am really very grateful) 2/ what kind of train tickets to buy is cost-effective and convenient for freedom. We are one adult and one child. Thank you very much. Thank you very much ? Austria Q&A
American West Coast Road Trip for 9 days and 8 nights - seeking recommendations! Happened to book a reasonably priced independent travel group, the travel agency provided air tickets and hotels, which is somewhat restrictive compared to pure independent travel, but it is very attractive to me for the first American car rental experience in terms of price! Time: February 18th to February 26th, Flight: Arrive at 8 am on February 18th, fly in the early morning on February 25th Cities to stay in: 2 nights in Los Angeles, 3 nights in Las Vegas, 2 nights in Los Angeles Hotels: In Los Angeles, all are staying at the Holiday Inn near the airport; staying at the Asandu Metropolitan Hotel in Las Vegas Travel purpose: Experience the fun of Road trip, appreciate the famous natural scenery, experience local cuisine and attractions Requirements: 1. Recommend suitable Road trip routes (I really want to go to the Grand Canyon and Antelope Valley) 2. Required currency ? United States Q&A
What are the tickets for the must-visit attractions on the Road trip in the United States that need to be purchased online in advance? My Road trip route in the United States this time is from San Francisco to Yosemite National Park, Stanford, Highway 1, Hearst Castle, Solvang, Los Angeles, Universal Studios, Kodak Theatre (Hollywood Walk of Fame), Grand Canyon South Rim, Upper Antelope Canyon, Hoover Dam, Las Vegas, fly to Washington, Lincoln Memorial, all museums around the White House and Capitol, Times Square, Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, Broadway shows, Wall Street, Columbia University, United Nations headquarters. Among these parks and attractions along the way, which ones are free to enter? Which ones are very necessary to buy tickets or make reservations online in advance to save queuing time? Where to buy tickets separately? Please experts and travel enthusiasts give detailed guidance!!! Thank you very much! ? United States Q&A
Can you tell me if there are any requirements in Australia for children to travel in cars? Is it necessary for an 8-year-old child to be equipped with a car seat ? Australia Q&A
Can anyone tell me... My child is in junior high school, and we hadn't considered applying for autonomous admissions before. There are nearly 80,000 students in our city, and only 350 are admitted. We used to think it was impossible, so we booked our summer vacation flights in February. Now, the best high school in our area is holding autonomous admissions for 120 students, with a 1:5 ratio, selecting 600 students to participate in the interview. My daughter unexpectedly made it... What should we do? Have any of you ever booked flights with China Airlines? What is the probability of rescheduling due to the airline's own reasons? I've already confirmed that I can't get a refund, except for the flight. I've also booked a non-refundable hotel for 6 nights, which adds up to about 15,000 yuan ? United States Q&A