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Listen and Read: Listen to the recording, answer the questions, and then read along with the audio recording.

Before I go on vacation, I always make hotel reservations in advance so I have a place to stay. I usually look online for cheap hotels or other accommodations. Sometimes, I book a nice hotel that has a number of amenities like a swimming pool, exercise room, or kitchenette. These rooms often come furnished with a microwave oven and a small refrigerator. If I eat at a restaurant at the hotel, I just have the meal billed to the room and pay for the room charge and meals at the same time. Other times, I just look for cheap hotels or motels that provide the basic necessities. If I really want to save money, I reserve a bed at a youth hostel. The price is cheaper, but I have to share a room with other patrons, which doesn’t bother me at all.

Discussion

What are the main factors that determine where you choose to stay on your vacation (e.g., price, location, hotel amenities, room decor, hotel reputation, etc.)? Rank these things from highest to lowest and discuss your reasons.

Online Investigation

Let’s suppose you are going on a week’s vacation to the destination of your choice. Use the internet and find the most expensive and cheapest place to stay in that city and compare the advantages and disadvantages of each accommodation.

Online Listening Practice (from www.esl-lab.com and EZSlang.com):

• Hotel Reservations: Listening Conversation
• Hotel Check-In: Listening Conversation
• Budget Hotels: Listening Conversation
• Hotel Reservations: Vocabulary Building