Section 1
Global bicycle tours. May I help you?
Yes, thank you. I'd like to sign up for a bicycle tour.
Which tour will you be interested in? We have the River Valley tour coming up in June and the mountain tour in July.
The river valley tour was in June. I thought it was on May.
It actually takes place the first week of June.
Oh, I see. Well, I can still do that. The river valley tour is the one I want.
Splendid, Just let me take your information. May I have your name please?
Karla Schmidt. That's Karla with "K", not "C", K-A-R-L-A.
Thank you, Miss Schmidt. Address?
Do you need a street address? Or can I give you my post office box?
The post office box is fine.
It's P.O.Box, 257, Manchester.
Thank you. Okay, next, uld you bring in your own bicycle? Or do you want to rent one from us?
I'll bring my own.
Excellent. Now, we provide all the meals. So we need to know if you have any diet (dietary) restrictions.
I don't think so. What do you mean?
I mean if there's any food you can't eat? Some people have food allergy (allergies) or vegetarian or have t avoid dairy products. Things like that.
Oh, I see. Yes, I'm a vegetarian and never eat meat.
All right. I'll make a note of that. Now the total cost of the tour is $750.
That much?
The price includes everything: food, hotel, transportation. Everything.
Everything?
Yes, everything. The only other thing is you have (want) to tip the tour guide. We usually recommend 5% the total tour cost.
A five percent tip. I guess that's reasonable.
In order to reserve your space on the tour. I'll need a 30% deposit.
Do you need that right away?
We generally ask for the deposit at least 4 weeks before the tour begins.
The River Valley tour begins, let me see, 6 weeks from now, so you need to pay the deposit in 2 weeks.
I think I can do that. I nder if you could tell me something how will luggage be transported. Do we carry it on our bicycles?
No, you leave that to us. We have a van that carries your luggage from hotel to hotel each day. So you don't have to rry about it.
Great. I have a luggage track for my bike. But I guess I n't have to bring that.
No, you n't. But there are a few items we recommend that you bring. We can't control the weather, so you should bring a raincoat or a rain gear.
Yes, that's a good idea. And I should have my own spare tire too, shouldn't I?
Actually, you don't need that. As our guide always carries some and of course, you n't need maps either, since our guide has the route all planned.
What about a water bottle? I'll need that, n't I?
Yes, you should definitely have a water bottle. A camera uld be a good idea too, since the tour goes through some very scenic areas.
I have a guide book of that area. I nder if I should bring it along.
We don't recommend guide books. It uld just be extra way and the tour guide knows a great deal about that area.
Yes, I see. Is there anything else I need to know?
I think we've covered the important points. I'll send you a tour brochure and you can call again if you have any questions.
Thank you very much.