Episode 2

EPISODE 205
LEVEL A1.2/A2.1

READING COMPREHENSION

 

ACCOMMODATION

When I go on holiday, I like to stay at different kinds of places each time. It’s very different when you are staying at an expensive hotel and a simple hostel (= a cheap hotel where you sleep in a room with many other people).

Last year I spent two weeks at a very nice guest house (= a private house where a family rents rooms) on the coast – the atmosphere there was very informal and the hosts (= the people who own the house and rent the rooms) were very friendly people. If you want to stay in such a place, however, it’s good to book the room in advance (= reserve before you come), because these places are at the same time inexpensive and comfortable, so lots of people stay there. On the other hand, sometimes my trips are rather spontaneous, and then I either go by car and stay at motels (= hotels by the side of a road, usually with spaces for cars next to each room), or take a tent (= something which you carry with you and sleep in at a campsite or in the forest), go by train and stay at campsites.

 

More contexts for the new words:

You use the word ‘live’ when you talk about your flat or house or a place which you is your home for a longer time.

• I live and work in London.

 

You use the word ‘stay’ when you talk about places where you are for a short time.

• I like to stay at different kinds of places each time.

 

 

EXERCISE 1

 

Complete the missing letters in the words.

• Let’s take a t _ _ t and stay at a _ _ m _ s _ _ _ .
• I prefer h _ s _ _ _ s to h _ t _ _ s because they are so much cheaper.
• I have my favourite _ u _ _ t _ _ _ se at the seaside – the hosts are really friendly people, I love it there.
• She likes to have everything planned, so she usually b _ _ _ s all rooms in a _ _ _ n _ _ .
• If you travel long distances by car, a _ _ t _ l is the best accommodation.

 

EXERCISE 2

 

Complete the questions with the words from the text. Then answer the questions yourself.

1. Do you like spending holidays in a tent at a _________ ? Why (not)?
2. Do you usually book hotel rooms in __________ ? Why (not)?
3. Have you ever travelled by car and stayed at a __________ by the side of a road? Where was it?

 

ENGLISH IN USE 

 

Let’s look at prepositions which you can use with types of accommodation.

 

With types of accommodation which are buildings, you usually use ‘at’:

 

… when you are staying at an expensive hotel …

I spent two weeks at a very nice guest house.

I go by car and stay at motels.

 

You also use ‘at’ with ‘a campsite’. With ‘tent’, you use the preposition ‘in’ only.

 

I stay in a tent at campsites.

 

IDIOM CLOSE-UP

 

 

A/ I can’t believe how much he knows about different cultures and places around the world!

B/ Well, you know, he travels a lot and TRAVEL BROADENS THE MIND. 

 

When you use the phrase ‘travel broadens the mind’, you say that when you travel, you learn things about the people and places you see.

 

 

PHRASAL VERBS CLOSE-UP

 

 

1. When you arrive at a hotel, you need to CHECK IN – go to the reception, give your name, fill in a form and take the key to your room.

 

Let’s check in really quickly, leave our luggage in the room and go to the beach, I want to see the sea!

Hello, my name is Kowalski. I have a reservation and I would like to check in.

 

2. When you leave the hotel, you need to CHECK OUT – go to the reception, say that you are leaving, pay for the room and leave the key.

 

Excuse me, what time do I need to check out?

On the last day of your stay, please check out before 11am.

 

 

EXERCISE 3

Complete the sentences using words from the idiom/phrasal verbs you have learned in the correct form.

 

1. When I arrived at the hotel, I ___________ in and went straight to my room, I was really tired.
2. People say travel ___________ the mind, but if you only go sunbathing to the beach, the results may not be as obvious.
3. When you check ___________, ask if we can leave our bags somewhere for a few more hours, we could around the city once again before catching our train.

 

 

NEWS

 

THREE-STAR LUXURIOUS HOTELS

The hotel industry has seen fewer and fewer guests since the recession started. Travellers decided not to spend money on five-star hotels and use less luxurious accommodation instead. As a result, these hotels decided to lower their standards and prices and advertise as three- or four-star hotels. This decision gives them a chance of attracting less wealthy guests and making money. Experts say hotels which do not lower their standards and keep their five stars and high prices, may go bunkrupt as a result.

 

GLOSSARY

– few (comparative: fewer) – not many

– to lower – to make lower, to decrease

– to attract somebody – to make somebody interested in something

– wealthy – rich

 

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