Your checklist for travelling abroad

What you should do before setting out...

Make sure your passport is valid.

Finalise plans with your travel agent. Check date of departure, time of travel etc.

Visit your doctor to find out if any vaccinations are needed for the region you are visiting.

Pack suitable clothes and other necessities.

Change some money into appropriate foreign currency and buy traveller’s cheques.

Label your luggage.

Speaking

Ex 9. Susan Bennet goes to travel agent’s to ask for information about a holiday in Holland. The travel agent recommends a trip to Amsterdam in June. Susan says she would prefer July or August when it is warmer. She adds that she doesn’t mind the coast. Then she asks the agent about the length of the trip and quality of the hotel accommodation. She also wants to know if the cost includes meals at the hotel and is surprised to learn that it includes only breakfast. Then she asks for a brochure, thanks the travel agent and leaves to think it over, discuss it with her husband and return later.

Writing

Ex 10.What is the most important while planning a holiday? Write an essay using the information in this unit.

Lesson 2.3.3. Types of holiday. Ways to travel

Lead-in

1. What different type of holiday can you think of? What sort of holiday would you like to go on and why? What makes a perfect holiday?

2. Have you ever travelled? Where did you go? What did you see there?

Reading

Ex 1. Read the text, try to explain the words in bold. Finally, answer the questions below.

People travel from a very early age. Years ago people travelled on horseback, by horse and buggy, or by stagecoach. Later they moved about in cars, buses and trains. Nowadays men and women travel by land, sea and air. Great changes have taken place in transportation. Today some people have gone to the Moon in spaceships. Other have gone to distant lands in submarines.

The second half of the 20^th century has seen great increase in all kinds of travelling. Owing to road improvements, increased popularity of cars, availability of air transportation with low-cost fares, comfort and convenience of modern means of transport tourism has become a big business. Statistics show that the majority of tourists travel by plane. However some of them prefer other means of transportation such as car, motor coach, railway, helicopter, or ship. Some young people like to travel by motorcycle or bicycle. But in our hurry to get from one place to another we sometimes fail to see anything on the way. Air travel, for instance, give you a bird’s eye view of the world. When you travel by car or train a blurred image of the countryside constantly smears the window. Car drivers, in particular, are forever obsessed with the urge to go on and on. And as for the sea travel, its peculiarity is perfectly summed up in the words of the old song: “I joined the navy to see the world, and what did I see? I saw the sea.”

The tourist trade is booming nowadays. Superb system of communication by air, sea and land make it possible for us to travel in different countries at a moderate cost. What was once available only for the very rich, is at present within everybody’s grasp. Today travellers enjoy a level of comfort which the lords and ladies on grant tours in the old days couldn’t dreamed of. Many trips are being planned by tourist organizations: family trips, package tours, charted flights, trips for youngsters and many others.

Everybody understands that travelling can be educational and pleasurable for all. So travel agents do everything they can to offer their clients a wide choice of tours. Even if it is impossible for parents to take their children with them, there are special hotels for infants in many large cities. They are well-staffed with responsible housekeepers, teachers and nurses who offer special education and recreational programmes.

Young people also have a good opportunity to travel. But they go to Europe and the USA not only to travel but to study. Many countries attract students by giving scholarships. Organizations, such as civic groups, airlines and national tourism councils, grant aid to them to study abroad. Most travel agencies have information about scholarships. Many airlines offer fare reductions for those under thirty to encourage them to travel.

Ex 2. Answer the following questions.

1.How do most people travel nowadays? What is the most popular mode of travelling in your country? 2. Which way do you prefer to travel? Why? 3. What has helped to make tourism a big business? 4. How do changes in transportation influence travelling? 5. What “old-fashioned” modes of travelling are still in use nowadays? Which of them have you tried? 6. How do you think people will travel in future? 7. Have your parents ever taken you on a trip, journey, or voyage? Do you remember anything about it? How old were you then? 8. Why do people travel? Give your reasons for being fond of travelling? 9. Do you think that tourism will be flourishing in future? Why? 10. What kind of accommodation do most people / your parents/you personally prefer when you are on holiday? Why?

Language Development

Ex 3. Put the words given below into the correct sentences. Use each word only once: flight, trip, travel, voyage, tour, cruise, package tour, journey, outing, excursion, run.

1. We visited a number of famous towns and cities on our American … last year. 2. Before the invention of the airplane, the …from Britain to America took several weeks, or even months. 3. The plane which is now arriving is … SAS 343 from Copenhagen. 4. The first thing that I did when I arrived in Paris was to go on a sightseeing … 5. In my opinion, the best way to … is certainly by air. 6. How long does the train … from London to Glasgow take? 7. Last year my sister went on a Baltic … and was seasick practically the whole time. 8. One of the main advantages of going on a … is the price, of course. Besides, you don’t have to plan everything beforehand, find hotels, buy air tickets, etc. Everything is done for you. 9. Do you want to come for a … in my new car on Sunday?

10. Last month I spent a couple of days in London and I went on a very interesting … to the British Museum. 11. We’d like to go on a day’s … to the Zoo in Berlin. I’m sure the whole family will love it.

Ex 4. Agree or disagree.

Two hundred years from now people will be able

a) to travel in space freely;

b) to spent weekends on other planets alone as well as with their friends and relatives;

c) to fly private helicopters and small planes;

d) to travel faster than light in space in time.

Ex 5. Read the following short texts and fill in the table below with the information given. Then say what the advantages and disadvantages are as in the example:

• As a tourist the fastest and perhaps the most comfortable way to travel long distances is by air. You can sit back and relax, read, or even watch a video. Of course you have to pay more money and run the ridk of being delayed. Some people refuse to fly for fear of accidents. However, according to statistics it’s a safe way to travel.

• Travelling by ship is often the cheapest form of travel. Unlike other means of travel you have the chance to move around on or below deck. Large ships often have shops,T.V. lounges and restaurants so there’s plenty to do. However, a sea voyage is the slowest way to get to your destination and should be avoided if you suffer from sea sickness.

• Perhaps the most convenient way to travel is by car, simply because you decide when and where to stop. You have the freedom to organize your own timetable so there’s no danger of missing appointments. However, you may need somebody else to help share the driving, a good map reader and petrol money. There is also the possibility that the car will break down or you will feel travel sick.

• A train journey is often the best way to see a country. You can sit back and enjoy the view or have a meal in the restaurant car. For long journeys you can reserve a bed in a sleeping compartment. However, you may be delayed, or miss your connection. It’s also not the fastest or cheapest way to travel.

MEANS OF TRANSPORT	ADVANTAGES	DISADVANTAGES
by aeroplane	fast, comfortable	expensive, flights are often delayed
by ship
by car
by train

e.g. Travelling by plane is the fastest and most comfortable means of transport. However, it is expensive and flights are often delayed.

Ex 6. Fill in the gaps with one of the words from the list below: campsite, bed & breakfast, five-star hotel, holiday camp

1. It took us a long time to find a space for our tent at the ….

2. We like to go to a … because there are organized activities for our children.

3. They’re very rich so they always book a room in a ….

4. They enjoy a homely atmosphere while on holiday, so they stay at

… places.

Ex 7. Fill in the gaps below with one of the words from the list below: rough sea, limited, dangerous animals, historical, adventurous, cheap, lively nightlife, exciting, injury, expensive

TYPES OF HOLIDAY ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

Package holiday on the cheap flight and little historical or cultural

Costa Brava accommodation, interest, noisy and

modern hotels, crowded

safe bathing

Cruise in the fresh air, organised expensive, possibility of

Mediteranean activities, . ....................................

............................

Tour of famous convenient public noise and pollution, ........

monuments in transport, ............. .................accomodation

Paris ...............interest

Camping in Scotland .............., easily risk of bad weather, need

organised, close to to buy/hire equipment,..

nature ...............................basic

facilities

Skiing in the active and............. risk of...........................,

Pyrenees attractive surroun- winter season only

dings, good social

life

Safari in Kenya ............................, tiring, vaccinations

exotic atmosphere necessary, ......................

Ex 8. Look at the types of holiday in Exercise 7. Then say here you would like to go. Use the expressions listed below:

I’d like/love to… I’ve always wanted to… Since On the other hand

I’d prefer but however

e.g. I’d love to go on a package holiday on the Costa Brava. You can find cheap flights

and accommodation. There are also modern hotels and you can swim safely. However, I’m a little worried as the resort may be a bit noisy and crowded. There aren’t many interesting places to see.

Ex 9. Which of these places do you usually visit or go to when you are on holiday?

museums art galleries churches and cathedrals tourist shops

concerts discos/nightclubs castles/palaces/temples the cinema

markets restaurants bars the theatre

Speaking

Ralph and Jane Anderson live in Britain and have two weeks’ holiday in summer. They’re interested in archaeology and history but they don’t want to spend too much money. In pairs discuss which would the best holiday destination for them and why.