Holidays — Unit 10, Beginner English
Holiday types, transport, accommodation, activities, weather, and useful travel phrases.
Reading: A Beach Holiday
Last summer, my family went to a beautiful beach resort in Spain. We stayed in a small hotel near the sea. The weather was hot and sunny every day. In the mornings, I went swimming in the sea. The water was warm and blue. My sister liked to sunbathe on the beach. She wanted to get a tan. My parents relaxed on the beach and read books. In the afternoons, we went for walks along the coast. We took many photos of the beautiful views. In the evenings, we ate at restaurants near the beach. The food was delicious. I bought some souvenirs for my friends. I got a small shell necklace and some postcards. I had a wonderful holiday. I didn't want to go home.
My father booked the hotel in February, because it is cheaper in winter. We had half board, so we ate breakfast and dinner in the hotel and we had lunch on the beach.
We flew from London. The plane took off at six in the morning, so we got up at three. At the airport we checked in and we went through customs. My little brother lost his boarding card, but a woman found it on the floor.
In Spain my father hired a car for three days. We filled it up with petrol and we went on a trip to the mountains. The weather changed there — there was a lot of cloud and some rain. On the way back we got lost for an hour, but my mother had a map on her phone.
On the last day we checked out at ten o'clock. I was sad. My mother said, "We can come back next year."
Vocabulary from this unit
| Word / phrase | Pronunciation | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| holiday | /ˈhɒlɪdeɪ/ | time away from work or school for travel | We had a great holiday in Italy. |
| resort | /rɪˈzɔːt/ | a place where many tourists go | We stayed in a beach resort in Spain. |
| sunbathe | /ˈsʌnbeɪð/ | sit or lie in the sun | She spent the day sunbathing on the beach. |
| rent | /rent/ | pay to use something temporarily | We rented a car for the week. |
| go sightseeing | /ˈsaɪtsiːɪŋ/ | visit interesting places as a tourist | We went sightseeing in Istanbul. |
| take photos | /ˈfəʊtəʊz/ | make photographs | I took hundreds of photos on holiday. |
| get lost | /ɡet lɒst/ | not know where you are | We got lost in the old city — no map! |
| relax | /rɪˈlæks/ | rest and enjoy yourself | I just want to relax on the beach. |
| Word / phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| fly (PT: flew) | travel by plane |
| check in | arrive and register at the airport |
| boarding card | your card to get on the plane |
| take off | when the plane leaves the ground |
| land | when the plane reaches the ground |
| go through customs | passport/bag check |
| luggage | your bags and suitcases |
| passport | your travel document |
| Word / phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| take the train / bus | use public transport |
| hire a car | rent a car for travel |
| single ticket | one way |
| return ticket | there and back |
| book / reserve | arrange in advance |
| timetable | a list of times |
| platform | where you wait for a train |
| fill up with petrol | put fuel in the car |
4 more vocabulary sections in the full unit.
This is the free sample from this unit. The full unit adds 1 more reading passage, comprehension questions with an answer key, the listening exercises, flashcards for the vocabulary above, and a speaking task — with your progress tracked so the next unit unlocks when you are ready for it.
Common questions
What level is this unit?
Beginner — roughly CEFR A0–A1. If you are not sure of your level, the course places you with a short diagnostic before you start rather than making you guess.
Do I need to pay to use this?
The reading passage and vocabulary on this page are free to read. The rest of the unit — the remaining passages, the exercises, the listening, the answer key and the progress tracking — is part of the paid General English course.
Is this British or American English?
British English spelling and vocabulary, which is what most learners in Azerbaijan are taught and what IELTS expects, though both are accepted in the exam.