Secrets of Web Travel Sites

Booking a trip on an online travel siteis convenient, but comes with its own set of problems.

1 They who's on a Mac and who's on a PCand who's going to spend more.

Last year, US travel research companyOrbitz tracked people's online activities to test out whether Mac users spendmore on travel than PC users. On average, Mac users lay out US$20-30 more pernight on hotels and go for more stars. according to the Wall Street Journal. Asa result, online• travel sites show these users more expensive travel optionsfirst. To avoid inadvertently paying more, sort results by price.

 Their software doesn't always hook up to thehotel's system.

A guaranteed reservation is almostimpossible to come by anywhere — but the risk of your flight or hotel beingoverbooked increases with third-party providers. The middle-man's softwareisn't immune to system errors, so always call the hotel or airline to make sureyour booking was processed.

 Don't be fooled by packages: Often, they'relow-end items grouped together.

Ever notice how travel sites recommend ahotel, a rental car, and tour package all in one click? These deals usuallyfeature travel that no one wants, like flights with multiple layovers.

Check the fine print.

 You could miss out on loyalty points.

Third-party providers can get betweenyou and frequent flyer miles or points. Many hotel loyalty programmes don'trecognise external sites, others award only minimum points and exclude specialoffers, like double points on hotel stays.

 Once your trip is purchased, you're on yourown.

An online travel agency can't provideassistance the same way an agent can if a flight is cancelled or a room issubstandard. Basically, when you arrive at the airport or hotel, you're justanother client who booked at the lowest rate.

阅读理解

AVOID PUBLIC WI-FI

    Free Wi-fi offered in public places is often poorly secured. Hackers need only ordinary tools to access mobile phones linked to the network and the information the devices store.

DON'T OVERSHARE ONLINE

    Internet users can let their guard down when chatting with strangers on social media, letting slip their names, family details, workplace addresses and job titles to their new “friends”. Some parents even share photos of their children online, forgetting to hide details that can disclose their names, schools or where they live.

AVOID ONLINE SURVEYS

    Some questionnaires try to attract people with small rewards or a chance to take part in a “lucky draw”. But to qualify, people must fill in their names, phone numbers and home addresses. Check the website where the survey is being hosted and consider whether it's reliable.

KEEP ONLINE RESUMES BRIEF

    Internet users often do not hesitate to provide detailed personal information in their online resumes, thinking it can only help probable employers to contact them. Some job site operators even require applicants to list their family members' information. China's Ministry of Public Security says people should give only the information necessary.

TRACK COPIES OF YOUR ID CARD

    Banks, telecommunications operators and other service providers often require photocopies of your identity cards to open accounts or perform other business. Dishonest employees might then try to sell them to scammers (骗子).

    I recently posted a picture on Facebook from the movie Mad Max, a film where two groups race through the desert in steam punk vehicles, and wrote, “Actual picture of my way to work today.” It was meant to be a joke because of the sandstorms in Beijing, but one of my friends from back home thought it was real.

    I couldn't imagine how they could think that is actually what China is like. China has so many more conveniences and advantages than the West, and many of my friends agree. “I don't know how I will be able to deal when I go back home,” said a friend who is about to end her gap year in Beijing. “I've become so spoiled in China.

    China seems to be leading the way in innovation and convenience for daily life. Back home I could never shop, pull out my phone and scan a QR code to pay.

    There have been rumors of starting bike sharing in my hometown for years with little success while bike sharing suddenly appeared in Beijing overnight. I just step outside and scan a code, and I am on my way.

    Going out to eat with a group of friends back home was troublesome for both the group and the servers. Splitting checks and swiping (刷) 10 different cards or making change for each person in the group can be a pain. But with China's WeChat, you can quickly send your friends your part of the bill.

The list goes on...

    When I first arrived in Beijing, I was dead set on leaving in a month. That month has come and gone. Now, when someone asks me when I'm coming back, I think to myself, “Who knows?”

    While my friends think I'm riding through the desert on a motorbike, I am actually taking a “Didi” for what is the equivalent of $5 in the US.

    With all the conveniences and technology here, I may never want too go back.

    Pop music is the name for different forms of popular, commercial (商业) music. It had its beginning in the USA and spread throughout the whole world during the 1950s and 1960s. It is widely liked by the young people. The best known early form of pop music was “rock' n' roll”; another was “blues”. A more recent development is “folk-rock”.

    Pop music has taken the place of native music in many parts of the world; it has caused the number of people for jazz to become much smaller than it was in the 1950s and earlier, and it has now begun to rule musical stage productions. It's a big industry. Much pop music is without artistic value, but the work of some pop singers, e.g. the Beatles, Bob Dylan, the groups like Floyd and Crosby, Stills and Nash, is on a higher musical level. And there is still a great interest in it today. Pop music concerts and festivals take place all over the world.

    AHerb Garden

    A delightful walled garden with old varieties of fruit trees and flower borders, Herb Garden is planted with over 200 medical and culinary(烹饪用的)herbs. Dogs on leads(狗链) are welcome to woodland walks. Children's activity sheets are available.

    Open Time: 10:00a. m—5:00p. m, daily except Mon. and Tue.

    Tearoom: 11:00a. m—4:30p. m

    Shop:10:00a. m—5:00p. m

    Price: Adult:￡3 Child: ￡1. 50

    The Beatrix Potter Gallery

    Original sketches(素描) and watercolors by Beatrix Potter for her children's tales. This year's exhibition will feature The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Wrinkle and The Tale of the Pie. Also on display is information on Beatrix Potter's life. Children's quiz sheets and goods bags are available.

    Open Time: 10:30a. m—4:30p. m, daily except Thur. and Fri.

    Price: Adult:￡3.50 Child: ￡1.70

    Hill Top

    Beatrix Potter wrote and drew for many of her famous children's stories in this farm house. You can view her personal treasures and step into the garden which is planted with flowers and vegetables, just as it would have been in Beatrix Porter's time.

    Please note that this is a small and popular house, which gets very busy especially on school holidays. At peak time there are queues and by the end of the day not all visitors may be able to visit the house. Please collect a timed ticket from the park for your car parking on your arrival. Tel: 051394 36269

    Open Time: 10:30a. m—4:30p. m, daily except Thur. and Fri.

    Shop and garden: Thur. and Fri. ,10:00a. m—5:00p. m

    Price: Adult:￡5 Child: ￡2

After years of travel it was bound to happen. Waiting by the moving belt, I watched the suitcases make mocking(嘲弄的) rounds. My companions, exhausted after16hours in the plane, were sympathetic and relieved. They were all thinking: at least it wasn't me. Any moment now, I told myself, swearing at the happy vacationers busy collecting their things. What about my necessities (必需品)?

For millions of travelers a year, it happens. Their missing bags stolen, sold in blind auctions(拍卖), or gone forever without any explanation. Today it was my turn, in a crowded Indian airport, as far from home as I'd ever been.

So, while the airline hunted for my belongings with no any order or plan and asked whether I would rather have $200– I found myself wandering the hot streets of Delhi in an orange dress and a pair of blister-producing ballet flats. Equipped with my carry-on (contents: eyeglasses, a paperback, an ancient tube of Chapstick), I was forced to "manage".

Day two, good news. The bag had been found! Bad news: it is still sitting in Toronto. Did it miss me as much as I missed it?

But then, a twist. I survived. By day three, I was secretly enjoying myself. What to wear? Hello, orange. Make-up today? Not an option. With almost nothing, I found better things: a new understanding of necessity, a short break from my obsession(痴迷) with stuff, stuff and more stuff, and a new appreciation for what does matter (the Taj Mahal) , when my bag finally made its way back to me.

That's right, my jam-packed blue suitcase resurfaced – on day four – and I suddenly had a rainbow of ten dresses to choose from. I decided to wear my orange dress once more, for good luck. It worked: nothing went missing on my journey home.