(海外渡假飯店的魅力)- (7)

Justin Lai 散文集

The Glamour of Hotels Overseas

(海外渡假飯店的魅力)- (7)

【Note】: 註解

【flaunt = ostentatiously attract attention; proudly show off. (宣揚、炫燿) 。connoisseur=one who has 【keen discrimination of…(鑑賞家)。】

There are connoisseurs of wine, liquor, food and artistic things.  But is there a connoisseur of travel? This ad tells us even a travel expert thinks highly of Bellagio. 】 (有精於分辨酒品、食物和藝術品的專家，但有飯店的鑑賞家? 本廣告指即使飯店專家也推崇本飯店)

Therefore, check in, stay and show off to others that you stayed in Bellagio, which is recommended by travel experts. 【因此就住進來，並向他人跨耀你曾住過貝拉喬飯店，它是飯店專家所推蔫的】

【It seems that most renowned hotels in the world spare no efforts nor expense to advertise for business.  With no exception of motels, especially franchised ones.  Most motels in the US provide for convenience, serving as a temporary rest place, more for a necessity than luxury for lodgers. But, whatever its names are, Best Westerns, Holiday Inn, or Comfort inn, they are affiliated with travel agencies or credit card companies, and therefore, they do put up an ad in magazines, TV, online or on papers. 】

似乎世界上大部分著名飯店都不遺力與不惜重金作廣告。即使汽車旅館也不例外，尤其是連鎖經營的。在美國大多數的汽車旅館提供方便，對住宿者充當臨時住宿處，與其說是設備豪華，不如說是應付旅客的需要。不論名字叫什麼，Best Westerns, Holiday Inn, or Comfort inn, 等等，它們是旅行社或信用卡公司的附屬機構，因此他們的確在報章、雜誌、電視與網路做廣告。

【What is advertised as a commercial may not turn out to be true or exactly as what the advertisers say.  In fact, you are just lucky when you have found everything (after checking in) complies with what is said in the advertisement.  If not, it is not a big deal.  Anyway, an ad is nothing but an ad. 】

商業廣告不一定真實，或完完全全符合廣告詞。事實上，你住進去之後，當你發覺一切都與廣告吻合時，算你運氣好。若非如此，也沒有什麼大不了。反正廣告就是廣告。

The following advertisement is put up by one of the most distinguished credit card companies, American Express：

下列是最著名的信用卡公司之一，美國運通的廣告：

【“From Paris to New York, from Amsterdam to Montreal, from Beijing to Chicago.” 】(從巴黎到紐約；從阿姆斯特丹到蒙特婁；從北京到芝加哥) 

【“Pair-off to Paris. Couple-up to Cairo. Or fly two to Tokyo.” 】『讓我們成雙去巴黎。配對去開羅。双人行赴東京』。

(簡單一句話，把世界三個旅遊景點涵蓋一起。另外用pair-off, couple-up和two不同詞句表達相同意思，是廣告商絞盡腦汁的精心傑作，令人激賞。)

Unusual Motels in Taiwan 不一樣的台灣汽車旅舘

【However, one thing most noticeable is the booming business of motels in Taiwan.  As a matter of fact, motels there can be interpreted as one of the most flourishing businesses in Taiwan.  One of its special features of motels in Taiwan is the same as those in the US.  But some of its features are different.  The pricing of a motel may be as high or even higher than a good hotel in Taiwan. 】

儘管如此，一件最值得注意的是，台灣汽車旅館的蓬勃發展。事實上，它是台灣最繁盛的事業之一。它的主要特點之一與美國沒有兩樣，但有些特點則不同。在台灣汽車旅館的訂價也許與好的飯店相同或更貴。

【Unbelievably, a good motel may be located in downtown area rather than in the suburban areas for privacy.  Astonished by many Chinese mainland tourists is its unique feature. It is that the lodger(s) can be charged by the night as well as by the hour, for the latter they are better known. As for its interior decorations, they are said to be unique; some are superior to those of a luxurious hotel.  Some are provided even with mini-swimming pools for each room.】

不可思議的是，好的汽車旅館也許位於市中心，或為了隱私而設在郊外。許多來自中國觀光客感到驚呀的是，它獨一無二的特點是，旅館房間可以論住宿的天數，也可以依停留(休息-日語-きゆけい) 的時數來計算，尤其以後者的計法更有名。至於內部裝璜， 據說更獨特，有些甚至比豪華飯店更高檔 (級) 。有些旅館的每一房間甚至還設有小型游泳池。

【Some people say,“Necessity creates demand.” Others hardly believe that with so small square footage, Taiwan really needs so many motels. It takes barely two hours to get from Taipei to Kaohsiung by High Speed Transit Railway. Still others doubt that it is something to do with “illegal business”, such as prostitution or extra-marital affairs. Well, it might be related to some of the above.  】

【One thing unusual is that the most motels rarely put up ads in magazines or online. But newer motels are springing up on end. One newly-married business executive, living in Hsin Chu claims that each time he comes back to Taiwan by plane, his wife comes to pick him up. An then they would enjoy living in a luxurious motel on the way home for one night. In fact, Hsin Chu is so close to Tao Yuan Terminal. Asked why, the executive replied, “My wife and I just can’t wait to be home in Hsin Chu…..” 】

有人說，『需要創造需求』。有些人則幾乎不相信台灣面積這麼小，為何需要如此多的汽車旅館。乘坐高鐵從台北到高雄不足兩小時。還有人懷疑是否與非法營業有關，例外色情業或婚外情。或許如此吧。台灣汽車旅館不尋常的一點是，很少在公共塲所、雜誌或網路上登廣告，但新旅館卻一家又家地開張。有位新婚的某商業人員聲稱，每次他出差搭機回台灣，太太來接機。未到家之前，他們總喜歡在途中的豪華汽車旅館先住一晚。事實上，新竹很近桃園機塲，有人問他為什麼? 他答說，『我們就是等不及回到新竹家中…… 』

【 “Necessity is the mother of invention.”  Motels were by no means invented by the Taiwanese, however, they manage them rather successfully. Well, “to see is to believe”! To stay in one of them and experience those characteristics on ad..】

『需要為發明之母』。汽車旅館絕非台灣人發明，但他們却經營得有聲有色。百聞如一見。有機會去住住看，來體會廣告上登的一些特點。

全文完

Justin Lai 編撰/翻譯

10/15/2013

校友會

AACHW13