Lesson 3: Holiday Vocab/Grammar

Exercise 1: Choose the correct words from the box to complete the
conversation
airport shuttle Room rates transfer
booking up and running wakeup call

arranged

temporary finalize available

Hotel clerk: Good morning, Four Seasons Hotel, how may I help you?

Man: Hello, I’m calling to ask about your ___________. We’re a family of four and we’ll be staying
there from the 15th to the 23th of Dec. I tried to the ____________ online, but your website doesn’t
seem to be working.

Hotel clerk: Yes, we’re sorry about that. It’s only __________, our website should be
_______________the end of the week. So, how many rooms will you be needing?

Man: 2 rooms, one with a queen size bed and the other with two single beds.

Hotel clerk: Yes, unfortunately, for those dates, we only have a king size room ___________ It’s
more expensive, about 20 dollars more than the queen size room…

Man: Yes, that’s fine. Is the breakfast buffet included in the price?

Hotel clerk: Yes, it is. The breakfast is included in the accommodation rate. You also have access to
free parking, Wi-Fi and our health club facilities.

Man: Can I book an _____________ _________? My family and I need to be at Auckland airport by
10am on the 23th.

Hotel clerk: Yes, we can do that. I’ve _____________ for a shuttle to drop you off at the airport on
the 23th. Would you like a _____________ at a certain time?

Man: Yes, that would be good. At 6am please.

Hotel Clerk: Great, I’ve arranged that for you now Sir. Now, I just need to take down some your
details to _____________ the booking…

Exercise 2: Match up the English term with the German term

breath-taking view Bügelbrett
complimentary Empfangshalle
hair dryer Decke
To get away from it all lokales Kunsthandwerk
Iron malerisch
Ironing-board Sehenswürdigkeiten ansehen
Linens Freizeit
Blanket Gemischtwarenladen/“Kiosk“/Tanke
 Pillows Gratis/Kostenlos
Lobby Allem zu entfliehen
Holiday of a lifetime Kissen
Local crafts Bügeleisen
Picturesque Bettlaken
To go sightseeing Atemberaubende Sicht
downtime Urlaub eines Lebens
Convenience store (called a “dairy” in NZ or Fön
Australia)

Exercise 3: Hiring a car in Australia and New Zealand – Choose the

correct words from the box to complete the information
convenience bargains agencies make a claim

contribute hiring policy vehicle

tourists

topping up unexpected

Booking a Car on the Internet

If you want the _____________of having a vehicle anytime you want when you’re on holiday, then
it’s worthwhile considering _________ a car.

There are multiple Internet sites that provide you with tons of information on the varying hiring
options.

You can find real ________ on the Internet, but be sure to read the fine print, so you're not suddenly
faced with ____________ charges.

Generally, it's best to stick with the better-known car hire __________, such as Hertz, Avis, and
Thrifty, or a company someone you know has used and was happy with.

The most common extra charge __________ face when on holiday are fuel charges, as a result of not
_______________ the fuel tank before returning the __________. You usually receive your hired car
with a full tank of fuel and are expected to return it likewise.

Note that if you're charged for fuel, they charge you the cost of fuel at their own estimated rate plus
a service fee.

What is car insurance excess?

Car insurance excess is the amount you will be required to pay when you ____________on your
policy. In other words, it’s the amount you agree to _____________ towards the cost of a claim, with
the insurer covering the remaining amount.

For example, if your policy has a $500 excess and you make a claim for $3,000 worth of damage to
your vehicle, you’ll cover the first $500 of the repair costs and the insurer will foot the bill for the
remaining $2,500.
However, the amount of excess payable varies depending on a number of factors. Not only does the
excess differ according to the ____________ you select, but you can also adjust your excess higher
or lower to vary your premium amount. In addition, specific drivers such as those under 25 years of
age, may be required to pay a higher excess amount.

Exercise 4: Match the English terms with their definitions

Excess obtain the temporary use of (something) for an
agreed payment.
Waiver A contract between a policy holder and an
insurer, which determines the claims which the
insurer is legally required to pay.
Loss damage waiver is a control panel usually located directly in
front of the driver, displaying instrumentation
and controls for the vehicle's operation.
Hire the sheet of flat or curved glass that forms the
window of a motor vehicle designed to protect
the occupants inside.
Insurance policy a small cupboard or shelf in the front of a car,
used for storing small things.
G.S.T. an agreed amount of money that you, the
policy holder, is liable to pay towards a claim
you make on your car insurance policy. For
example, if the excess on your car is $500 NZD,
and the damages amount to $1000 NZD, the
car insurance will pay the remaining $500 NZD
once you have paid your excess first.
Dashboard is a type of insurance coverage which is often
offered when you are hiring a vehicle. It is an
option that relieves your financial
responsibility for any loss or damage incurred
to the rental vehicle, provided you have not
violated the Rental Agreement’s Terms and
Conditions.
Windshield A compartment most often located at the rear
of the vehicle for keeping things in.
Glove compartment an agreement that you do not have to pay or
obey something.
Trunk (US)/Boot(British) Goods and Services Tax is a value-added tax
levied on most goods and services sold for
domestic consumption. The GST is paid by
consumers, but it is remitted to the
government by the businesses selling the
goods and services. In effect, GST provides
revenue for the government. (Applies in
Australia and NZ).
Exercise 5: Holiday vocabulary – which word does not fit
1. Please read the ____ for more information about this holiday.
 brochure
 schedule
 excursion
 itinerary

2. The most impressive water features in this area are the ____.
 Lagoons
 Cliffs
 Geysers
 Canals

3. There are many cafes beside the ____ where you can have a coffee while watching the boats
come in and out.
 Marina
 Quay
 Glacier
 Harbour

4. You can take an excursion to the top of the peak by ___.

 jeep
 ferry
 cable car
 pony

5. Our hotel room had a beautiful view of the surrounding mountain ____.
 slopes
 scenery
 sprawl
 landscape

6. We went on a lovely ___ around the local wineries.

 excursion
 route
 trip
 tour
Exercise 6: Present Simple vs Present Continuous – underline the
correct word or phrase in each sentence
1. I work in this office all this year/all the time.
2. Emerson is currently/for long top of the driver’s league.
3. I’m not making much money these days/so far this year.
4. The food tastes even worse now/presently. You’ve put too much salt.
5. Normally/previously we get in touch with customers by post.
6. Pete was ill, but he is getting over his illness soon/now.
7. I always stay on duty since/until six o’clock.
8. I’m often/forever picking your hairs out of the bath!
9. Fortunately, the baby now/recently sleeps all night.

I work in a large office with about thirty other people, most of whom I (1)__Know__ (know) quite
well. We (2) ____________ (spend) most of the day together, so we have all become friends. In fact,
most of my colleagues are so interesting, that I (3) ______________ (think) of writing a book about
them! (4) ______________ (take) Helen Watson, for example. Helen (5) _____________ (run) the
accounts department. At the moment she (6) ______________ (go out) with Keith Ballantine, one of
the sales representatives, and they (7) __________ (seem) very happy together. But everyone –
except Helen apparently (8) ________ (know) that Keith (9) _________ (fancy) Susan Porter. But I
(10) _________ (happen) to know that Susan (11) ________ (dislike) Keith. “I can’t stand people who
never (12) __________ (stop) apologising all the time!” she told me. “And besides, I know he (13)
_____________ (deceive) poor Helen. He (14) _____________ (see) Betty Wills from the overseas
department.” And plenty of other interesting things (15) ____________ (currently/go on). For
instance, every week we (16) __________ (experience) more and more problems with theft –
personal belongings and even money has been stolen. When you (17) ___________ (realise) that
someone in your office is a thief, it (18) _______________ (upset) you at first. But I (19)
____________ (also/try) to catch whoever it is before the police are called in. I’m not going to tell
you who I (20) ______________ (suspect). Well, not yet anyway!

Exercise 7: Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar

meaning to the first sentence, using one of the words in bold. Do not
change the word in bold.
1. Charles and his farther are exactly alike in appearance.
Looks/looking
Charles looks just like his father.

2. Take all your possessions and walk slowly to the exit.

Belongs/belonging
Take everything _______________________________ and walk slowly to the exit.

3. I’m finding it really enjoyable to work here.

Enjoy/enjoying
I ______________________________________________ here.

4. I take work home regularly because of my new responsibility at work.

 Means/meaning
My new responsibility at work ________________________________________ work home
regularly.

5. In my cycling group there’s George, Tom, Harry and me.

consists/consisting
My _____________________________________________________ George, Tom, Harry
and me.

6. In your opinion, who’s going to win the Cup?

Think/thinking
Who do _________________________________________________________ win the Cup?

7. I’m seeing how wide the door is.

Measure/measuring
I ____________________________________________________________ the door.

8. Neil always forgets his wife’s birthday.

Remembers/remembering
Neil ______________________________________________________ his wife’s birthday.

9. What’s on your mind at the moment?

think/thinking
What __________________________________________________________ at the
moment?