Travel English: Transportation
Alice: Hey Bob, have you looked at the train schedules for our trip to the coast yet?
Bob: Hey Alice! Schedules? I was thinking of a more… epic mode of transportation.
Alice: Epic? What does that mean? Are we chartering a private jet?
Bob: Even better! A hot-air balloon! We could just float there. Imagine the views!
Alice: A hot-air balloon? Bob, that’s a three-hour drive. We’d end up in a different country depending on the wind! And we can’t pack our suitcases in that tiny basket.
Bob: Details, details. We could just tie the suitcases to the outside.
Alice: Right. Let’s get back to reality. Did you check the direct train, or do we have to transfer somewhere?
Bob: Fine. I checked. There’s a direct train that leaves at 8 AM, but I was thinking we could take the scenic route. It involves three buses and a short ferry ride.
Alice: Why would we do that? That sounds like a nightmare for getting around.
Bob: For the adventure! And the ferry has a snack bar.
Alice: The high-speed train has a dining car, which is basically a five-star restaurant compared to a ferry snack bar. I think we should just book our tickets in advance for the 8 AM train.
Bob: Okay, you win. The high-speed train it is. But when we get there, I’m in charge of local transport.
Alice: Oh no. What do you have in mind? A unicycle?
Bob: A tandem bicycle! We can pedal in perfect harmony through the seaside town.
Alice: I’ll book the train tickets, and you can look into renting a normal bicycle. For yourself.
Current Situation
Planning transportation for a trip has changed dramatically with technology. In the past, travelers often relied on travel agents to book flights and trains. Today, most people plan their own journeys using websites and apps like Skyscanner, Google Flights, Trainline, or Omio. This gives travelers more control and a wider variety of options, from budget airlines to high-speed trains and ride-sharing services.
Within cities, public transport is more accessible than ever. Apps like Google Maps or Citymapper provide real-time bus and subway schedules, making it easy for tourists to navigate like a local. Ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Lyft, along with bike and scooter-sharing services, have also become popular alternatives to traditional taxis, offering convenience at the tap of a button. The challenge for the modern traveler is choosing the best option that balances cost, time, and the desired travel experience.
New Phrases
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Mode of transportation | A way or method of traveling (e.g., car, train, plane). |
| To charter a jet | To rent an entire airplane for private use. |
| Depending on the wind | Used to say that the outcome is uncertain and will be affected by external factors. |
| Get back to reality | To stop dreaming or imagining things and focus on what is practical and real. |
| To transfer somewhere | To change from one train, bus, or plane to another during a journey. |
| Scenic route | A longer path taken during a journey to see more interesting scenery. |
| Getting around | Traveling from place to place, especially within a town or area. |
| High-speed train | A type of passenger train that operates significantly faster than conventional trains. |
| Book tickets in advance | To buy or reserve tickets before the day of travel, often to get a better price. |
| Tandem bicycle | A bicycle designed to be ridden by two people, one behind the other. |
Grammar Point: Modal Verbs for Suggestions
In the dialogue, Alice and Bob discuss different travel plans. When making suggestions, we often use modal verbs like could, should, and can. They have slightly different meanings:
- Could: Used for making a gentle or hypothetical suggestion. It presents an option without pressure.
Example: “We could just float there.” (Bob is suggesting a possibility).
Example: “We could take the scenic route.” - Should: Used for giving advice or a stronger suggestion. It implies that the action is a good or recommended idea.
Example: “I think we should just book our tickets in advance.” (Alice is giving strong advice). - Can: Used for suggesting a simple possibility or ability. It’s often used in questions to ask for suggestions.
Example: “We can pedal in perfect harmony.” (Bob is describing a possibility).
Example: “What can we do in the city?”
Quick Tip: Use could for brainstorming ideas, should for recommending the best idea, and can for stating what is possible.
Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Fill in the blank with ‘could’, ‘should’, or ‘can’.
Choose the best modal verb for each sentence. Sometimes more than one answer is possible, but one is often a better fit.
- The train is full. We _______ try to take the bus instead.
- You _______ really book your flight soon, or the price will go up.
- From the airport, you _______ take a taxi or the subway to get to your hotel.
- A: “I’m bored of walking.” B: “We _______ rent some scooters for an hour.”
- To avoid traffic, we _______ leave for the airport an hour earlier than planned.
Exercise 2: Match the phrase to its definition.
| Phrase | Definition |
|---|---|
| 1. Scenic route | A. To reserve a seat or ticket before you travel. |
| 2. Getting around | B. Changing from one form of transport to another. |
| 3. Book in advance | C. A longer, more beautiful way to travel. |
| 4. High-speed train | D. Moving from place to place within a city or area. |
| 5. To transfer | E. A very fast train connecting major cities. |
Answers
Exercise 1:
- could (This is a suggestion or possibility.)
- should (This is strong advice.)
- can (This describes the available options/abilities.)
- could (This is a gentle suggestion to solve a problem.)
- should (This is a strong recommendation to achieve a goal.)
Exercise 2:
1 – C, 2 – D, 3 – A, 4 – E, 5 – B
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