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Group tours

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English for Beginners: Group Tours

Dialogue

Alice: Hey Bob, how was your trip to Italy? I saw your photos – lots of people in matching hats!

Bob: Oh, Alice! It was amazing! I went on a group tour. Best decision ever!

Alice: A group tour? Really? I thought you liked exploring on your own.

Bob: Well, for Italy, it was perfect! We had a guide, a bus, and a super packed schedule. No stress!

Alice: “No stress”? Bob, I saw a picture of you running to catch a bus with 50 other tourists. That looked like a marathon!

Bob: (Laughing) Okay, maybe it was a fast-paced schedule. But we saw everything! Colosseum, Venice, Florence… all in five days!

Alice: Wow, five days? I prefer to take my time. I like to wander and discover things at my own pace.

Bob: But with a group tour, you don’t have to worry about anything! The travel agency planned everything. Hotels, food, even souvenir shopping stops!

Alice: Souvenir shopping stops? Sounds like my worst nightmare! What if I wanted to skip a museum or stay longer in a cafe?

Bob: You can’t really do that. We had an itinerary. But I met so many new people! Like Brenda from Canada, she was hilarious!

Alice: Brenda from Canada sounds nice. But I’d rather choose my own friends on a trip, not have them assigned to me.

Bob: Oh, Alice, you’re so dramatic! It’s fun! And it’s often cheaper than independent travel.

Alice: Cheaper, maybe. But I like the freedom. What if I just want to sit on a bench and eat gelato for an hour?

Bob: You can eat gelato on a group tour! But probably for ten minutes, then we move to the next historical site!

Alice: See? That’s the difference. I want to relax with my gelato. Not race with it!

Bob: Well, maybe next time you should sign up for a “Gelato-Eating-and-Bench-Sitting” group tour, Alice! I’d join that!

Alice: (Smiling) Now that sounds like a group tour I could actually enjoy, Bob!

Current Situation

Group tours are organized trips for multiple people, often covering transportation, accommodation, and activities. They are planned by a travel agency and follow a fixed itinerary. Many people choose group tours because they offer convenience, can be cost-effective, and provide opportunities to meet new people. You often don’t have to worry about anything because all the details are handled for you. However, group tours can also mean a packed schedule and less flexibility, which might not suit everyone who prefers to travel at their own pace. There are many different types of group tours, from cultural trips to adventure holidays, and their popularity continues to grow.

Key Phrases

1. Group tour: An organized trip for a group of people.

Example: My grandmother loves group tours because she doesn’t have to plan anything.

2. Independent travel: Traveling without an organized tour, planning everything yourself.

Example: I prefer independent travel so I can decide where to go each day.

3. Travel agency: A company that helps people plan and book trips.

Example: The travel agency booked all our flights and hotels.

4. Itinerary: A detailed plan for a journey, including places to visit and times.

Example: Our itinerary for the trip was very busy, with something new every day.

5. Packed schedule: A timetable that is full of activities.

Example: We had a packed schedule on our group tour, but we saw a lot.

6. Meet new people: To make new friends or acquaintances.

Example: One good thing about group tours is you can meet new people.

7. Worry about nothing: To not have any concerns or problems.

Example: With a group tour, you can just relax and worry about nothing.

8. At my own pace: Doing something as quickly or slowly as one wants.

Example: I like to explore museums at my own pace.

9. Sounds like a nightmare: An expression meaning something sounds very unpleasant or difficult.

Example: A week-long camping trip in the rain? That sounds like a nightmare!

10. Sign up for: To register or enroll for something.

Example: I’m going to sign up for an English class next month.

Grammar Points

1. Simple Present Tense (for preferences and habits)

We use the Simple Present to talk about things we like, dislike, or do regularly.

  • Form: Subject + verb (base form) or verb + -s/-es (for he/she/it).
  • Examples:
    “I prefer to take my time.”
    “She loves group tours.”
    “Bob likes exploring.”

2. Simple Past Tense (for completed actions in the past)

We use the Simple Past to talk about actions that started and finished in the past.

  • Form: Subject + verb (past form – regular verbs add -ed, irregular verbs change form).
  • Examples:
    “How was your trip?”
    “I went on a group tour.”
    “We saw everything.”

3. “To be going to” (for future plans)

We use “to be going to” to talk about plans or intentions for the future.

  • Form: Subject + am/is/are + going to + base verb.
  • Examples:
    “I am going to sign up for an English class next month.”
    “They are going to visit Paris next year.”

4. Comparatives (comparing two things)

We use comparatives to show how two things are different.

  • Form: adjective + -er (for short adjectives) OR more + adjective (for longer adjectives).
  • Examples:
    “It’s often cheaper than independent travel.”
    “It’s more relaxing to travel independently.”

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Choose the correct key phrase to complete each sentence from the list below:

group tour, itinerary, independent travel, worry about nothing, packed schedule, at my own pace

  1. I like to visit museums and spend as much time as I want, __________.
  2. We had a very __________, so we had to wake up early every day.
  3. My parents always book a __________ because they don’t like planning.
  4. If you book a complete package, you can just relax and __________.
  5. I prefer __________ because I love the freedom to change my plans.
  6. The travel agent gave us a detailed __________ for our holiday.

Exercise 2: True or False

Based on the dialogue, are these statements True (T) or False (F)?

  1. Bob prefers independent travel. ( )
  2. Alice thinks a packed schedule sounds fun. ( )
  3. Bob met new people on his group tour. ( )
  4. Alice wants to eat gelato quickly. ( )
  5. Group tours are sometimes cheaper than independent travel. ( )

Exercise 3: Make it a question!

Change these statements into questions.

  1. Bob went on a group tour.
    -> __________________________________________?
  2. Alice prefers independent travel.
    -> __________________________________________?
  3. They had a packed schedule.
    -> __________________________________________?
  4. He met new people.
    -> __________________________________________?
  5. She wants to sit on a bench.
    -> __________________________________________?

Exercise 4: Simple Present vs. Simple Past

Choose the correct tense (simple present or simple past) for the verb in parentheses.

  1. Last year, I (go / went) to Spain.
  2. Alice always (prefer / prefers) independent travel.
  3. Bob (like / liked) his group tour to Italy.
  4. We (see / saw) many historical sites yesterday.
  5. I (love / loves) to relax on my holidays.

Answers

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

  1. at my own pace
  2. packed schedule
  3. group tour
  4. worry about nothing
  5. independent travel
  6. itinerary

Exercise 2: True or False

  1. F
  2. F
  3. T
  4. F
  5. T

Exercise 3: Make it a question!

  1. Did Bob go on a group tour?
  2. Does Alice prefer independent travel?
  3. Did they have a packed schedule?
  4. Did he meet new people?
  5. Does she want to sit on a bench?

Exercise 4: Simple Present vs. Simple Past

  1. went
  2. prefers
  3. liked
  4. saw
  5. love

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