Vocabulary
buckle up: put on seatbelt
giblets: organs inside turkey
gobble gobble: what turkeys say in written English
throttle: the lever that controls the engine

Learn English with Stories

Thanksgiving messages on the highway

My friend Carol and I decided to have a short break at the seaside for a few days. We made a reservation at a hostel in South Wales where the prices were very reasonable. We were looking forward to a few days of sunbathing, seeing the sights and eating delicious food. However, it turned out that the hostel was in a very remote location with no beaches, cafes or facilities nearby. Seeing the heavy rain, we headed home the following day.

English Mini Lessons

Seaside break

When you' re camping, don't try and put up a tent unless the ground is completely level.
Choose campsites with a good variety of facilities and entertainment in case the weather is terrible and you can't spend much time outdoors.
If you wane to explore the countryside and you're hiking during the day, be sure to have a small backpack for water, maps, lunch, etc.

Camping

It doesn't matter if you travel for business or pleasure, the choice of ticket is an important one. Most of us can't afford to travel first class, but business class is less expensive and has certain advantages over economy class. Pay more, and you get the following benefits:
• board more quickly
• enjoy a higher standard of food
• enjoy greater luxury
• be served by very experienced flight attendants
• have more private space
• have access to a greater variety of entertainment

Choosing your seat

1 Do you always look for the cheapest airfare? ·-···· .. ··--· ................ --..........
2 At the airport check-in, are there often long queues? ................................................................ .
3 What kinds of things do you do in the departure lounge? ·-··-·-······-·-··-················-····-···
4 On a flight, do you prefer take-off or landing?----·---·-·-··-·--·--.... ·-·-·········-····-··-
5 In the cabin, do you prefer to sit near the wing or the tail? ............ -........................... -.
6 Do you keep your seatbelt fastened throughout the flight? .... -........... -................................ .
7 Have you ever been airsick? .. .................................................................................. ..
8 Did the last flight you took leave and arrive on schedule? ......... -........................................... .
9 Have you ever flown in a helicopter? If not, would you like to? .........

Air travel

If there is a direct train, it is usually the fastest way to travel from A to B in Britain.
A stopping train stops at a lot of smaller stations between main stations. An express (train) provides a faster service to your destination, and avoids the problem of traffic jams on the bus services.
For rail travel, you might need a single or a return ticket. Many people buy a travel card, which allows them to travel on any bus or train in a specific area for a period of time for less money. A bus pass lets you do the same for bus routes. You can buy rail tickets online, from a ticket machine or at the ticket office I booking office in the station.
If you get a train or bus In time, you catch it. If you are late, you may miss it. You may need to change trains or buses.