A ‣ Booking travel and holidays

Here are some choices you may make when booking travel or holidays.

A scheduled flight is a normal, regular flight; a charter flight is a special flight taking a group of people, usually to the same holiday destination. Some airline tickets may have restrictions (e.g. you can only travel on certain days). Such tickets can offer good value for money but, if you cancel, they are non-refundable¹ or you may have to pay a cancellation fee. Some tickets allow a stopover². A package holiday normally includes accommodation and transfers, e.g. a coach or a shuttle bus to and from your hotel. An all-inclusive holiday includes your flight, accommodation and all meals, drinks and snacks in the hotel.

¹ you can’t get your money back
² you may stay somewhere overnight before continuing to your destination

Sea travel is normally on a ferry, and the journey is called a crossing, but you can have a holiday on the sea if you go on a cruise. For some people, a luxury cruise is the holiday of a lifetime¹. You may decide to book a berth in a shared cabin², or to have a single or double cabin. For more money, you can often get a deluxe cabin, perhaps on the upper deck³. Cruises often go to exotic⁴ islands where you can get away from it all⁵.

¹ one you will always remember
² a bed in a cabin with other people
³ the higher part of the ship, which is often bigger and more comfortable
⁴ unusual or exciting
⁵ escape your daily life and routines

Train travel allows you to relax as you travel and look at the countryside through the windows of your carriage. Railways link major towns but you may have to change trains¹ if you are not able to get a through train².

¹ get off one train and on to another
² or direct train, one which takes you directly to your destination

Car hire is another way of getting around¹. When you book it, you may have to choose whether you want unlimited mileage². There may also be extras to pay, such as accident insurance. If you hire a car, it gives you the freedom to come and go as you please³.

¹ travelling to different places; informal
² /ˈmaɪlɪdʒ/ you can travel as many miles as you like for the same price
³ go where you want when you want

B ‣ Accommodation when travelling

Some people like camping¹ while others prefer hotels. Or you can have a self-catering² holiday, such as staying in an apartment or chalet³. You can also choose to stay in a guest house⁴ or an inn⁵. Some types of accommodation offer half board⁶ or full board⁷.

¹ sleeping in a tent or a caravan
² where you do your own cooking
³ /ˈʃæleɪ/ small cottage or cabin specially built for holiday-makers
⁴ small, relatively cheap hotel
⁵ similar to a pub, but also offering accommodation; sometimes in an attractive old building
⁶ usually breakfast and one other meal
⁷ all meals