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Making plans
Amy and John start planning their next holiday.
John: So, let’s make plans! First, we need to decide on a destination. With the possibility of Covid travel restrictions, it’s probably safer to choose somewhere here in the UK.
Amy: Definitely. We don’t want to book a package holiday to the sun and then have to quarantine for two weeks.
John: Or we book a cruise and we’re stuck on the ship the whole time. A staycation somewhere near here would be much simpler. We can find our own accommodation online.
Amy: What sort of accommodations are you thinking of? Hotel or self-catering? Or bed and breakfast?
John: I don’t mind. What about you?
Amy: Anything except camping.
John: What about glamping? You know, luxury camping. That’s very popular at the moment.
Amy: In summer, maybe, but not now, out of season.
John: Anyway, the main question is: where do we want to go?
Booking accommodation
John sees an interesting website that offers holiday accommodation.
John: How would you feel about a week in the country?
Amy: Sure, why not? I love the English countryside.
John: There’s a website here called Farm Stay, which specializes in farm holidays in the UK.
Amy: Could we stay in a farmhouse? A traditional thatched cottage?
John: Maybe. A lot of these farms have converted their old farm buildings into holiday accommodation with modern amenities like Wi-Fi and underfloor heating. Look at this one.
Amy: Oh, that’s beautiful!
John: “Brookfield Farm, Jersey. Barn
conversion. Sleeps two. King-size bed, en suite, kitchen-diner, lounge. The house is surrounded by fields and has a private garden with a hot tub.”
Amy: Look at the view! And it’s in Jersey.
I’ve always wanted to go to the Channel Islands.
John: Me, too. I’ll check the availability and, if it’s still available for our dates, I’ll book it and pay the deposit.
Preparing to travel
Amy talks to a friend who’s planning a much bigger trip.
Amy: I hear you’ve booked a trip to India. Lucky you!
Lizzie: Yes, I found a travel agent with some really good online package deals, so I booked.
Amy: Aren’t you worried about travel restrictions because of Covid?
Lizzie: If I have to cancel, the costs will be reimbursed.
Amy: That’s great.
Lizzie: Yes, I received the confirmation this morning with all the travel details – the flights, the hotels, the itinerary...
Amy: Itinerary? Aren’t you staying in one place?
Lizzie: No, it’s a tour, so we’ll be staying in a few different places. Everything’s included in the price, even all the excursions – the Taj Mahal, lots of amazing temples...
Amy: So, you won’t need to organize your own day trips or rent a car?
Lizzie: No, everything’s been arranged for me. All I need to do is renew my passport, apply for a visa, check my travel insurance, get my vaccinations and malaria tablets and, last but not least, find a dog-sitter.
Amy: Well, I can help with that last job. Your lovely dog can come stay with us for a little doggie vacation. I’ll send you a booking confirmation and her full itinerary!
Hiring a car
Amy and John have decided to hire a car for their time on the island of Jersey.
John: I’ve found a car hire company that’s really cheap.
Amy: If it’s cheap, there’ll probably be a lot of extra costs. Have you read the terms and conditions?
John: Oh, no one reads the Ts and Cs.
Amy: OK. Have you checked the insurance?
John: Yes, it’s included.
Amy: Is there a deductible? If we have an accident, do we have to pay for some of the damage?
John: Er, I’m not sure.
Amy: And what about gas? Do we have to fill the tank before we give it back?
John: Er...
Amy: If they have to fill it, they’ll charge us. And is there unlimited mileage, or will they charge us extra if we drive more miles than we’re allowed?
John: It’s unlimited... I think...
Amy: And what about when we return the car? What if we want to return it
after hours?
John: Oh, yes, you can definitely do that. It says so here: 24-hour drop off service.
Amy: Ah, well, be careful. If we drop the car off and leave it in their parking lot overnight, then we’re responsible for the car until they check it the next morning.
John: I’m sure it’ll be OK.
Amy: Yes, hopefully, but what happens if they find any damage on the car?
It’s much better to get them to check the car with you when you drop it off. Because if there’s the slightest damage – a little scratch or the smallest dent – they’ll charge you for it.
John: This is all too complicated. Jersey’s so small – only nine miles by five. Let’s just walk everywhere!
Taking the train
It’s departure day. Amy and John take the train to the airport.
Ticket agent: Next!
John: Hello, Southampton airport, please.
Ticket agent: Single or return?
John: Return, please.
Ticket agent: When are you coming back?
John: Next Saturday.
Ticket agent: Then I’ll give you an off-peak ticket. How many passengers?
John: Two. Two adults.
Ticket agent: Any railcards?
John: No.
Ticket agent: OK, that’s £44, please.
John: When’s the next train?
Ticket agent: Well, there’s a direct train at half past two, but it’s better to take the fast train to Portsmouth and change at Southampton Central.
John: OK.
Ticket agent: The Portsmouth train departs at 14.07 from platform 4.
John: That’s in two minutes! Let’s run and hope it’s been delayed.
Air travel
Amy and John are at the airport terminal for the flight to Jersey.
John: Now, where do we go?
Amy: Ah, we’re in arrivals. We need to go to departures.
John: Oh, yes, I see it, over there.
Amy: I hope it isn’t too busy at check-in.
John: We don’t need to check in. I did it online last night.
Amy: Oh, well done!
John: And I’ve got the boarding passes on my phone.
Amy: Where are we sitting?
John: We’re in economy, I’m afraid.
Amy: Yeah, I realized that. No, I mean which seats are we in?
John: 12B and 12C. Middle and aisle. Do you mind if I take the aisle seat?
Amy: Sure. You need the extra legroom.
John: Thanks. So, we just need to find the luggage drop.
Amy: OK. Then we can go through security and get a coffee in the departures lounge before they call us to our gate. Will there be an in-flight meal?
John: No, you only get a meal in business class or on a long-haul flight these days. On a short hop to Jersey, it’ll be a bag of crisps – if we’re lucky!
Tourist information
In Jersey, Amy and John would like some recommendations for the best things to do and see during their stay, so they pay a visit to the tourist information office.
John: Why are we in here? I have an app for this, with information about all the tourist attractions. It shows you the location on the map and gives you directions.
Amy: I don’t think we’re going to get lost here. It’s so small.
John: And you can read reviews from other visitors.
Amy: I want to spend the day looking around, not reading reviews. I’m going to speak to the woman at the desk.
Tourist info: Hello. Can I help you at all?
Amy: Yes. This is our first time here. Is there anything you’d particularly recommend?
Tourist info: There’s Jersey Zoo, of course, and the Maritime Museum, the Jersey Heritage Centre and Elizabeth Castle. If you like military history, you should do a guided tour of the German bunkers from the Second World War.
Amy: And what’s your personal favourite?
Tourist info: My personal recommendation is to go to the cafe on the seafront and buy an ice cream to take away. It’s made with local Jersey milk. Then sit on a bench on the seafront, or walk along the beach or the coastal path.
John: That sounds perfect.
Amy: You see? A personal recommendation is always best.
On the beach
Amy and John enjoy a walk along the beach.
Amy: It’s good to feel the sand under your feet, isn’t it?
John: Yes, it is. A million miles away from home and work.
Amy: There’s nothing but sand and sea and sky all the way to the horizon.
John: There are more hours of sunshine here than on the mainland, even in winter – but not enough for sunbathing at this time of year.
Amy: Oh, that’s a pretty shell. I used to collect shells.
John: Once, when I was a boy, I found a dead crab and took it home... and then forgot about it... Eww! The smell!
Amy: Oh, dear!
John: We used to catch crabs, too – live ones, I mean – with a line. And we built sandcastles, really big ones, with a system of canals for the seawater.
Amy: We used to climb on the rocks. Did you?
John: Oh, yes. It was probably quite dangerous.
Amy: We should come back here this evening. It’s the perfect place to watch the sunset.
John: Good idea.
Amy: Do you remember that beautiful sunset in Greece?
John: Oh, yes, at the nudist beach.
Amy: Well, it wasn’t officially a nudist beach, I don’t think. There were just a few people who didn’t have any clothes on.
John: Back home, it’s usually so cold on the beach that we don’t take our clothes off – we put on an extra pullover!