Tag: Travel & Holiday

The Only US State Highways Where Automobiles Are Banned

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In the U.S. state of Michigan, Highway M-185 is the safest road in America. It is the only state highway in the nation where motor vehicles are banned. The restriction dates back to 1898. Since the ban, only a few vehicles have driven on the asphalt, other than the city’s emergency vehicles.

Watch the video to know more and be able to answer the questions that follow:

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of a car-less highway?
  2. Would you like to live in this kind of state? Why?
  3. What are the advantages and drawbacks of living without automobiles in one’s place?

Harmful Tourism

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Tourism is one of the world’s largest industries. It generates jobs and revenue for the country or the local government. Travelers love being in foreign lands but the same cannot be said completely for the local residents.

Let’s listen to the podcast and learn some tourism vocabulary too.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-190912

Discussion Questions:

1. What are the harmful effects of tourism discussed in the podcast?

2. What are your thoughts on this?

3. Do you like to travel? How often do you so?

4. Do you like visiting other countries or do you prefer traveling in your country?

5. What does Disneyfication mean?

Longest Luxury Cruise Sets Sail

B1 – Intermediate

One way of enjoying your holiday is going on a cruise. There are many things to love about cruise travel.

The Ultimate World Cruise, a 245-day trip has started, stopping at 111 ports in 51 countries on six continents.

Read about the longest luxury cruise below:

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1909/190902-luxury-cruise-1.html

Discussion Questions:

1. What do you think of the longest luxury cruise? Would you like to go on this cruise?
2. Have you ever been on a cruise? If so, talk about your experience. If not, would you like to go one day? Why or why not?
3. What is your ideal/dream holiday?
4. Talk about your most memorable trip.

Best Beaches in Europe

B2 – Upper Intermediate

It is summertime again and what better way to cool off on a hot summer’s day than to go to the beach?  If you find yourself in Europe this summer, here are ten beaches that would make your vacation a memorable one.

Let’s read the article and start a discussion about it. Please it through the link below:

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2017/may/18/europe-beaches-france-portugal-greece-italy-spain-readers-tips

Discussion Questions:

1. Have you ever been to the beaches listed in the article? If not, which beach would you like to visit and why?
2. What’s the nicest beach you’ve ever been to? Please share your experience.
3. What’s your favorite activity to do at the beach? Why?
4. What do you think is the best way to spend your summer vacation?
5. Do you prefer summer or winter vacations? Why?

A Permanent Vacation

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Have you ever been on a holiday and just fell in love with the place that you started contemplating on not leaving?

If it sounds crazy or incredible, it doesn’t have to be. For some, packing up their lives and moving to a dream destination has become a reality.

http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20140916-permanent-vacation

Discussion Questions:

1. If you were to go on a holiday now, where would you want to go? Where is your dream destination?
2. Would you ever consider packing up and leaving your current career to go on a permanent vacation in your dream destination?
3. Have you experienced living in another country for at least a year?

Spain’s Best Museums

B2 – Upper Intermediate

On top of most tourists’ destination in Spain are Galleries like Prado and Reina Sofia. But there are still a whole lot more to see. The not-so-famous museums in Spain deserve to be paid a visit. Here are top ten of them.

https://www.thelocal.es/galleries/Culture/spains-best-museums

Discussion Questions:

1. What’s the best/most interesting museum you’ve ever been to?
2. What do you like most and least about museums?
3. Do you think it should be free to enter museums?
4. If you had lots of money to start your own museum, what would you exhibit in it and what would you call it?

Swap Homes for Holidays

B2 – Upper Intermediate

If you’ve seen the movie The Holiday you may be familiar with the concept of “Home Exchange”.

Read the article below to know more about this kind of accommodation.

https://www.thelocal.es/20141101/travel-live-like-a-local-with-home-exchange-tlccu-2/

Discussion Questions:

1. Is Home Exchange interesting to you? Why or why not?
2. What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of participating in this kind of service?
3. What accommodations do you prefer when you travel?

Annoying Tourists Habits for Spaniards

 B2 – Upper Intermediate

Spanish are known to be very easygoing. However, even the most patient locals could have some tourists actions or behaviors that tick them off.

Find out some things that tourists do that displease the locals.

http://www.thelocal.es/galleries/travel/twelve-things-tourists-do-that-annoy-spaniards-spain-tourism

Discussion Questions:

1. Which habits annoy you? Which habits do you find tolerable?
2. What tips can you give tourists for them to enjoy your country?
3. Share some of your travel experiences.