Travelling Grammar: The Present Simple, the Present Continuous or the Present Perfect).

Learn the active vocabulary of the unit.

to afford sth	convenient	destination	booking office
coach	luggage	available	long waits
departure time	to damage	dining car	in spite of
to depend on	to be delayed	a season ticket	traffic jam
rush hour	frequent	to grumble	to take off
economical	unlike	advantage	personal belongings
overnight journey	to check in	disadvantage	to board the plane
to miss the train	motorway	to get on/off	even though
to change trains	ferry	(public transport)	a single/ return ticket
means of transport	a day trip		to get into /out of (a car)

Text a The Best Way to Travel

Travelling depends on several factors: the distance, the time available, what you can afford and so on.

Air travel has obvious advantages if it is a long distance journey. No other means of transport is as fast. Some disadvantages of air travel are the difficulty of getting to the airport, long waits to check in, and even longer wait if your flight is delayed because of bad weather. Some people may panic when their plane takes off.

Sea voyages were more common in the past. Now a lot of people find this kind of travelling particularly attractive for certain kinds of holidays, such as cruises.

Trains are ideal for shorter overland journeys. Unlike airports, stations are generally located in the city centres. This is especially useful for sightseers and also makes rail transport the most convenient way for many people to get to work. In many countries trains are a very economical way of travelling. On long distance trains there is generally a dining car where you can order meals, drinks and snacks. You can travel direct to your destination but if there are no direct trains you will have to change. You will need to study the timetable carefully not to miss the departure time. You can book your ticket at the booking office. When you go on a day trip it can be cheaper to buy a return ticket than a single one.

For local travel there are buses. Buses with two floors are called “double-deckers” in Britain. If you have no car this is your only way of travelling around town. They are usually cheap and frequent and you can buy a season ticket. Coaches are long-distance buses which are faster and more comfortable. Travelling by coach may be almost as fast as rail transport, since they use the motorway, and a lot cheaper.

The most popular form of transport for daily use is the private car. We are now beginning to pay the price for its over-use. However, we still continue to use it for the shortest trip to the local supermarket as well as for long trans-European journeys. For longer journeys the car is slow, uncomfortable and tiring but it permits you to carry more luggage and to travel when you wish.

Many people want to return to the bicycle. It is certainly better for your health, it saves you money. Parking is not a problem, traffic jams are not a problem either. You do not pollute the atmosphere, damage people’s health or the ozone layer. But, certainly, it is up to you to decide what kind of travelling to choose.

Notes: since - оскільки

it is up to you to decide – вам вирішувати

ozone layer – озоновий шар