Package holidays 包价旅游

 

　　不少人都喜欢通过度假来放松身心。比起自行搜索、比价并分别预订机票、酒店和目的地接送等其它服务，由旅行社或旅游网站提供的打包预订既方便又实惠。这种包价旅游受到一些英国旅客的青睐。本期 “随身英语” 讨论这种度假方式的好处。

　　词汇：holidays 假期

　　I'm sure most of us enjoy going on holiday. It's a break from the routine and a chance to jet off somewhere with friends or family. This might involve sightseeing and soaking up local culture in a new destination, or it could be kicking back and lazing by a pool or on a beach. But, whatever we choose, the most convenient way to do it is on a package holiday.

　　This type of vacation combines the flight, accommodation, transfers and sometimes the services of a rep, all into one booking. They were traditionally sold by travel agents on the high street, but as a few big-brand names closed, many are now purchased on websites. Travel journalist Simon Calder explains that the benefits of a proper package holiday are that "by booking flights and accommodation in a single transaction from a tour operator, you transfer all the risk to the company." This means it has to sort things out when things go wrong, and if the operator goes bust¹, you can get a refund².

　　This protection can give you peace of mind, but there are other benefits too. A package holiday can also be great value. A tour company can book airplane seats and hotel rooms in bulk which means that they can negotiate better discounts for its holidaymakers. There are often deals on food and drink too, with some companies offering all-inclusive packages – although, this can discourage someone from eating outside the hotel and sampling local cuisine³ and helping⁴ the local economy.

　　But with no-frills airlines offering cheap flights and websites offering cheap hotel accommodation, some of us have been tempted⁵ to be independent travellers or backpackers. While that might suit some, the package holiday offering has evolved, and, in the UK, for example, travel experts say the package holiday is growing in popularity, particularly among younger travellers. The Association of British Travel Agents told the BBC "there is a greater emphasis on personalisation, where holidaymakers can mix and match what they want to include instead of purchasing a pre-defined package." The only problem is deciding where to go!

　　词汇表

　　jet off 乘飞机旅行

　　sightseeing 观光，游览

　　soak up 充分体验

　　destination 目的地

　　kick back 放松

　　package holiday 包价旅游（游客从旅行社或旅游网站处打包预订机票、酒店和目的地接送等其它服务的旅游方式）vacation 假期，度假

　　accommodation 住宿

　　transfer （两地之间交通工具的）转乘

　　rep “representative” 的缩写，代表

　　travel agent 旅行社，旅游代理商

　　tour operator 旅行社，旅游公司

　　go bust 倒闭，破产

　　peace of mind 安心，心里踏实

　　in bulk 大量地，成批地

　　holidaymaker 度假者

　　all-inclusive （费用）全包的

　　no-frills 只提供必需品的

　　independent traveller 独立旅行者

　　backpacker 背包客

　　personalisation 个性化（安排）

　　mix and match 自行挑选组合

 

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