Lesson
B1ENSummer Holidays: How to Plan the Perfect Getaway
Practice essential vocabulary and expressions for talking about summer holidays, planning trips, and sharing travel experiences. Includes collocations, past experience narratives, and speaking practice around destinations and travel opinions. A practical B1 English lesson on holiday vocabulary, travel planning, and past experience storytelling. Ideal for adult learners, English tutors, and language schools.
Your Perfect Summer: Talk Time
Talk Time
- What does your perfect summer holiday look like?
- Describe the best trip you have ever taken. What made it special?
- Do you prefer active holidays (hiking, sightseeing) or relaxing ones (beach, spa)? Why?
- Have you ever had a holiday that went completely wrong? What happened?
- Would you rather travel to one place for a long time, or visit many places in a short trip? Why?
Holiday Vocabulary Essentials: Swipe Battle
Swipe Battle
Sightseeing
Visiting famous or interesting places as a tourist
All-inclusive
A hotel package that covers only the room and not food or drinks
Itinerary
A written plan of the places you will visit on a trip
Backpacking
Traveling cheaply with your belongings in a backpack, often for a long time
Resort
A large modern shopping centre popular with tourists
Layover
A short stop in an airport between flights
Culture shock
The confusion or discomfort you feel in a very different culture
Souvenir
An object bought to remember a place you visited
Jet lag
The nervous feeling before boarding a long-distance flight
Budget-friendly
A holiday that includes free extras like drinks and activities
Package holiday
A trip where flights, accommodation, and meals are included in one price
Breathtaking
Extremely beautiful or impressive
Off the beaten track
A tourist destination that used to be popular but is now closed
Road trip
A long journey made by car, often with several stops
Guided tour
A visit to a place led by an expert who explains what you see
How I Learned to Travel Slow: Jigsaw Reading
Jigsaw Reading
A New Approach
Last summer, I decided to change how I take holidays. Instead of visiting five cities in ten days, I chose one small town in Portugal and stayed there for two weeks. At first, I felt strange doing nothing. I had no long list of monuments to see, no strict itinerary, no rush from one place to another.
Unexpected Connections
But after a few days, something changed. I started recognising faces at the local bakery. The owner remembered my order. A neighbour invited me for coffee on her balcony.
Hidden Discoveries
I discovered a tiny beach that no guidebook mentioned. I learned to cook a local fish dish from my landlady. I finally read the novel I had carried around for two years.
Looking Back
When I flew home, I realised I remembered every single day of that trip. On previous holidays, everything blurred into a stream of photos and half-forgotten museums. Slow travel is not for everyone. But if you feel exhausted after your holidays, maybe try staying still for a change. Sometimes the best souvenir is the feeling that you actually rested.
Comprehension questions
- What was the main reason the author changed how they travel? | They were exhausted and couldn't remember their previous trips.
- How did the author's feelings change during the two weeks? | From feeling strange to enjoying local connections.
- Do you think slow travel is realistic for most people? Why or why not?
Talking About Trips — Grammar in Context
Lesson Board
Talking About Trips — Grammar in Context: Fill the Gap
Fill the Gap
- I went (go) to Spain last summer with my whole family.
- Have you ever been (be) to a country in Asia?
- We are going (go) to visit Greece next August.
- She has (have) never tried surfing before that trip to Bali.
- Last year we visited (visit) a small village near the coast.
- I was (be) going to book a hostel, but my friend found a cheaper hotel.
- They have already packed (pack) their suitcases for tomorrow's flight.
- We have been (be) to Turkey three times so far.
- My parents took (take) a road trip across France in 2019.
- Are you going to travel (travel) anywhere this August?
Sell the Perfect Destination: Elevator Pitch
Elevator Pitch
Useful phrases
- Imagine yourself...
- The best part is...
- You won't believe how...
- Just picture this...
- Trust me, you'll love...
Pitch a beach holiday in Thailand
You are a travel agent. Your client wants adventure and new experiences but is worried about safety and language barriers.
Convince a friend to join a road trip through Italy
Your friend prefers relaxing at home and doesn't enjoy driving long distances.
Sell a family holiday at an all-inclusive resort in Turkey
You are speaking to parents of two young children who have a limited budget and want everything organised.
Recommend a solo backpacking trip in Vietnam
You are speaking to a friend who has never travelled alone before and feels nervous about it.
Sell a walking holiday in the mountains
Your listener hates outdoor activities and prefers busy city breaks with shopping and restaurants.
Travel Collocations Speed Round: Speed Match
Speed Match
- Book a flight→Reserve a seat on a plane
- Check in→Register at the hotel or airport when you arrive
- Pack your bags→Put your clothes and items into your luggage
- Go sightseeing→Visit famous tourist attractions in a city
- Get sunburnt→Have red, painful skin from too much time in the sun
- Miss a flight→Arrive too late at the airport to catch your plane
- Rent a car→Pay to use a car for a short period of time
- Take pictures→Use a camera to capture memories from your trip
- Get lost→Not know where you are while travelling
- Have a great time→Enjoy yourself very much
Travel Opinions Up for Debate: Debate Roulette
Debate Roulette
Useful phrases
- I strongly believe that...
- On the other hand...
- That's a fair point, but...
- In my experience...
- I have to disagree because...
- It depends on...
- Staying at home is a better holiday than travelling abroad.
- Tourists ruin the places they visit.
- You should learn some of the local language before travelling to another country.
- Package holidays are boring and not real travel.
- Social media has made travelling worse.
- Children under 12 should not be taken on long-distance holidays.
- Solo travel is more valuable than travelling with friends or family.
- It is more important to relax on holiday than to see famous sights.