Today we’re going on a virtual journey to talk all about traveling – what to pack, how to plan, and fun things to do on your trip
lesson plan, b1
Let's set off for a journey!
warm up
Read each question and choose the option you prefer
Let’s kickstart with a small “Would you rather” game
Vocabulary: Traveling essentials
Before you see the real numbers, try to guess the correct percentages and amounts
Here are some fun facts about what people pack (and forget!) when they travel
- People usually forget ___ important things every time they pack!
- ___ out of 10 travelers take a portable charger on a city trip.
- People spend about $___ to buy things they forgot.
- ___% of women pack their partner’s bag — only ___% of men do!
- ___ out of 10 people pack too much — and ___% don’t even wear all the clothes they bring.
- People usually forget 2 important things every time they pack!
- 8 out of 10 travelers take a portable charger on a city trip.
- People spend about $53 to buy things they forgot.
- 75 % of women pack their partner’s bag — only 59% of men do!
- 7 out of 10 people pack too much — and 40% don’t even wear all the clothes they bring.
Look at the pictures of handbag essentials
Match them with the vocabulary
Say, "I guess we’ll starve tonight" (sarcastically)
Tell them, "This is the third time this week — what happened?"
Talk about solutions like a shared shopping list
Tell them, "This is the third time this week — what happened?"
Talk about solutions like a shared shopping list
5. Your partner was supposed to buy groceries but came home empty-handed. Do you…
Think about your handbag or backpack when you travel – what’s always inside?
Say, "I guess we’ll starve tonight" (sarcastically)
Tell them, "This is the third time this week — what happened?"
Talk about solutions like a shared shopping list
Tell them, "This is the third time this week — what happened?"
Talk about solutions like a shared shopping list
5. Your partner was supposed to buy groceries but came home empty-handed. Do you…
Here are some extra traveling essentials. Is there something missing?
Say, "I guess we’ll starve tonight" (sarcastically)
Tell them, "This is the third time this week — what happened?"
Talk about solutions like a shared shopping list
Tell them, "This is the third time this week — what happened?"
Talk about solutions like a shared shopping list
5. Your partner was supposed to buy groceries but came home empty-handed. Do you…
Can you recognize these iconic TV characters?
Take a guess: What is their dream travel destination? What things would they bring with them?
Say, "I guess we’ll starve tonight" (sarcastically)
Tell them, "This is the third time this week — what happened?"
Talk about solutions like a shared shopping list
Tell them, "This is the third time this week — what happened?"
Talk about solutions like a shared shopping list
5. Your partner was supposed to buy groceries but came home empty-handed. Do you…
Reading: How to plan a trip
Give each tip a score from 1 to 5 (1 = not useful, 5 = very useful)
Read these travel planning tips from real Reddit users
Does anyone have any tips or advice on how to plan vacations or trips? For example, how to plan for day 1 on a trip, day 2, places to visit, etc. Whenever I travel outside of the country, my friends usually do the planning, and I just tag along. However, I’m now planning on going out of the country for the first time with my partner, and I’m pretty clueless.
noodlesarmpit: have a lazy day every fourth or fifth day. Don't schedule a damn thing. Go to the spa, go to the beach, sleep in, eat ice cream, have no specific plans. You'll be able to live like a local and chillax, reset yourself before the next cuckoo day of planning.
ADCarter1: I create a Google Map of the country I'm visiting and add pins to it as I research places. When you tap the pin, it'll bring up the Google result for it so you don't have to write down the address, opening times, admission fees, etc.
BillfredL: Google Docs. Or notes on your iPhone, if you prefer. Share with the people traveling and have them fill in things that interest them as well.
bahahaha2001: Few thoughts. Figure out what you enjoy. I don’t like viewing city vistas from observatories for example so always skip that. I love nature and art so always go to parks and museums.
For an itinerary guess what everyone has been everywhere. Itineraries exist - pull from Google, or get some guide books from your local library.
Figure out a realistic budget and location. Then see what common itineraries include and follow suit.
Nomad_88_: If I wrote all my tips it would be way too long to probably be bothered to read.
I'll try to keep it short for some basic tips:
1. for researching, YouTube videos (and even TikTok these days) are great for '.... Days itinerary in .....'. If you're travelling multiple places in a country then check group tours and use their route. That'll help show what there is to see/do, how long to stay...
2. for accommodation: pick a good central location. It can be more expensive but I'd rather be in walking distance to stuff than be a little outside and have to get a taxi everywhere (which adds up).
3. for me, 3 nights is an ideal minimum amount per place. It gives you 2 full days plus maybe 1/2 an afternoon/morning. Usually long enough to do most of the basic things/sights.
RainInTheWoods: Have two activity lists, one for good weather and one for poor weather. Pick and choose as needed.
zinky30: I buy a guide book, read it on the plane ride, circle the things I want to do, and then do the tourist thing when I arrive. You don’t need to overthink it.
noodlesarmpit: have a lazy day every fourth or fifth day. Don't schedule a damn thing. Go to the spa, go to the beach, sleep in, eat ice cream, have no specific plans. You'll be able to live like a local and chillax, reset yourself before the next cuckoo day of planning.
ADCarter1: I create a Google Map of the country I'm visiting and add pins to it as I research places. When you tap the pin, it'll bring up the Google result for it so you don't have to write down the address, opening times, admission fees, etc.
BillfredL: Google Docs. Or notes on your iPhone, if you prefer. Share with the people traveling and have them fill in things that interest them as well.
bahahaha2001: Few thoughts. Figure out what you enjoy. I don’t like viewing city vistas from observatories for example so always skip that. I love nature and art so always go to parks and museums.
For an itinerary guess what everyone has been everywhere. Itineraries exist - pull from Google, or get some guide books from your local library.
Figure out a realistic budget and location. Then see what common itineraries include and follow suit.
Nomad_88_: If I wrote all my tips it would be way too long to probably be bothered to read.
I'll try to keep it short for some basic tips:
1. for researching, YouTube videos (and even TikTok these days) are great for '.... Days itinerary in .....'. If you're travelling multiple places in a country then check group tours and use their route. That'll help show what there is to see/do, how long to stay...
2. for accommodation: pick a good central location. It can be more expensive but I'd rather be in walking distance to stuff than be a little outside and have to get a taxi everywhere (which adds up).
3. for me, 3 nights is an ideal minimum amount per place. It gives you 2 full days plus maybe 1/2 an afternoon/morning. Usually long enough to do most of the basic things/sights.
RainInTheWoods: Have two activity lists, one for good weather and one for poor weather. Pick and choose as needed.
zinky30: I buy a guide book, read it on the plane ride, circle the things I want to do, and then do the tourist thing when I arrive. You don’t need to overthink it.
Match the definitions with the words in the text
Say, "I guess we’ll starve tonight" (sarcastically)
Tell them, "This is the third time this week — what happened?"
Talk about solutions like a shared shopping list
Tell them, "This is the third time this week — what happened?"
Talk about solutions like a shared shopping list
5. Your partner was supposed to buy groceries but came home empty-handed. Do you…
Use the words from the box to complete the sentences
Say, "I guess we’ll starve tonight" (sarcastically)
Tell them, "This is the third time this week — what happened?"
Talk about solutions like a shared shopping list
Tell them, "This is the third time this week — what happened?"
Talk about solutions like a shared shopping list
5. Your partner was supposed to buy groceries but came home empty-handed. Do you…
schedule | opening times | admission fees | city vistas | clueless | cuckoo | itinerary | tag along | chillax | overthink | accommodation
1. Before we go on holiday, we need to plan our ___________ so we know where we are going each day.
2. The museum’s ___________ are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., so we should go in the morning.
3. We stayed in a small hotel. Our ___________ was clean and close to the beach.
4. Don’t ___________ the trip. Just enjoy it and have fun!
5. My sister wanted to ___________ when we went to the market, even though she had nothing to buy.
6. The ___________ for the theme park is €15 for adults and €10 for children.
7. On top of the hill, we stopped and looked at the beautiful ___________.
8. I had no idea how to buy a train ticket. I was totally ___________!
9. Our tour has a busy ___________. We visit 3 cities in 5 days!
10. After a long day of walking, we went back to the hotel to ___________ and watch TV.
11. He talks to his suitcase. I think he’s a little ___________!
2. The museum’s ___________ are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., so we should go in the morning.
3. We stayed in a small hotel. Our ___________ was clean and close to the beach.
4. Don’t ___________ the trip. Just enjoy it and have fun!
5. My sister wanted to ___________ when we went to the market, even though she had nothing to buy.
6. The ___________ for the theme park is €15 for adults and €10 for children.
7. On top of the hill, we stopped and looked at the beautiful ___________.
8. I had no idea how to buy a train ticket. I was totally ___________!
9. Our tour has a busy ___________. We visit 3 cities in 5 days!
10. After a long day of walking, we went back to the hotel to ___________ and watch TV.
11. He talks to his suitcase. I think he’s a little ___________!
1. Before we go on holiday, we need to plan our itinerary so we know where we are going each day.
2. The museum’s opening times are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., so we should go in the morning.
3. We stayed in a small hotel. Our accommodation was clean and close to the beach.
4. Don’t overthink the trip. Just enjoy it and have fun!
5. My sister wanted to tag along when we went to the market, even though she had nothing to buy.
6. The admission fees for the theme park is €15 for adults and €10 for children.
7. On top of the hill, we stopped and looked at the beautiful city vistas.
8. I had no idea how to buy a train ticket. I was totally clueless!
9. Our tour has a busy schedule. We visit 3 cities in 5 days!
10. After a long day of walking, we went back to the hotel to chillax and watch TV.
11. He talks to his suitcase. I think he’s a little cuckoo!
2. The museum’s opening times are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., so we should go in the morning.
3. We stayed in a small hotel. Our accommodation was clean and close to the beach.
4. Don’t overthink the trip. Just enjoy it and have fun!
5. My sister wanted to tag along when we went to the market, even though she had nothing to buy.
6. The admission fees for the theme park is €15 for adults and €10 for children.
7. On top of the hill, we stopped and looked at the beautiful city vistas.
8. I had no idea how to buy a train ticket. I was totally clueless!
9. Our tour has a busy schedule. We visit 3 cities in 5 days!
10. After a long day of walking, we went back to the hotel to chillax and watch TV.
11. He talks to his suitcase. I think he’s a little cuckoo!
Pack your (imaginary) bags – you’re off to New York City!
Have a look at the map and answer the questions below
Say, "I guess we’ll starve tonight" (sarcastically)
Tell them, "This is the third time this week — what happened?"
Talk about solutions like a shared shopping list
Tell them, "This is the third time this week — what happened?"
Talk about solutions like a shared shopping list
5. Your partner was supposed to buy groceries but came home empty-handed. Do you…
Listening: Travelling in Italy
Watch these two short videos about funny travel accidents
Sometimes trips don’t go perfectly — and that’s okay! Mistakes and surprises can become the best travel stories
Where do you think these stereotypes about Italians come from?
Let's discuss!