📌 B2EN

Planning a Trip to Croatia

A ready-to-use B2 English lesson — reading, questions and answer key, built by teachers on TeachIn.

This lesson has 3 sections in total — including the full answer key.

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🎬 Interactive video — script & questions

NARRATOR: Listen to a conversation between two friends, Mia and Jake, who are planning a trip together. SPEAKER 1: So, have you decided where you want to go for our trip in September? SPEAKER 2: I've been thinking about it a lot, actually. I'd love to go somewhere in Southeast Asia, like Vietnam or Thailand. I've heard the food is amazing and it's really affordable. SPEAKER 1: That sounds tempting, but isn't September the rainy season there? I read somewhere that it can pour for days. SPEAKER 2: Hmm, good point. I hadn't checked that. What about Portugal instead? The weather should still be lovely, and flights are much shorter from here. SPEAKER 1: I actually went to Lisbon two years ago. It was fantastic, but I'd rather see somewhere new this time. SPEAKER 2: Fair enough. How about Croatia, then? I've never been, and everyone says the coastline is stunning. SPEAKER 1: Now that's an idea. My cousin went last summer and said the old towns were beautiful, and it wasn't too crowded either. SPEAKER 2: Perfect. Let's look at flights tonight. If we book soon, we might get a good deal before prices go up. SPEAKER 1: Agreed. Should we stay in a hotel or try an apartment? I'd prefer somewhere with a kitchen so we can save money on meals. SPEAKER 2: Definitely an apartment. And let's rent a car too — I want to explore the smaller villages, not just stay in one city. SPEAKER 1: Sounds like we finally have a plan!

Why does Speaker 1 have doubts about Vietnam or Thailand?
- a) The flights are too expensive
- b) It might rain a lot in September
- c) The food isn't very good
- d) It's too far to travel
Why doesn't Speaker 1 want to go to Portugal?
- a) The weather is bad in September
- b) The flights are too long
- c) She has already been there
- d) It's too expensive
What does Speaker 1 say about her cousin's trip to Croatia?
- a) The old towns were beautiful and not crowded
- b) The hotels were too expensive
- c) The weather was disappointing
- d) The flights were delayed
Why does Speaker 1 prefer an apartment over a hotel?
- a) It's closer to the beach
- b) It has more rooms
- c) They can save money by cooking meals
- d) It has better views
Why does Speaker 2 want to rent a car?
- a) To avoid public transport strikes
- b) To explore smaller villages
- c) Because taxis are too expensive
- d) Because the airport is far from the city

🗣️ Speaking — discussion

Context

Cities like Venice, Barcelona, and Kyoto have introduced measures to limit tourist numbers due to overcrowding.
Venice now charges day-trippers an entry fee during peak periods to reduce crowding in the historic center.
Some local residents complain that tourism has driven up rents and pushed them out of city centers.
Social media platforms like Instagram are often blamed for turning quiet spots into viral, overcrowded attractions.
Tourist boards are increasingly promoting 'hidden gem' destinations to spread visitors more evenly.

Themes

Tourism vs. Local Life — The tension between the economic benefits of tourism and its negative impact on residents' quality of life.
Sustainable Travel — How travelers can make more responsible choices about when, where, and how they visit popular places.
Social Media's Influence — The role of platforms like Instagram and TikTok in creating overnight tourist hotspots.
Authenticity vs. Convenience — Whether tourists should prioritize authentic local experiences over easy, packaged ones.

Personal Response

Have you ever visited a place that felt overcrowded with tourists? How did it make you feel?
Would you be willing to pay an extra fee to visit a famous city if it meant fewer crowds?

Themes & Ideas

Why do you think some destinations become suddenly popular?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of tourism for a local economy?

Critical Thinking

What solutions could help balance tourists' desires with residents' needs?
Do you think limiting the number of visitors to a place is fair? Why or why not?

Cultural & Social Topics

How has social media changed the way people choose travel destinations?
Should governments have the right to control how many tourists enter a city?

Advanced (C1 level)

To what extent should tourists adapt their behavior to respect local culture, rather than local culture adapting to tourists?
Is it possible to have 'ethical tourism' in the age of mass travel, or is this a contradiction?

🎭 Classroom activity

Role-play: One student plays a local resident of an overcrowded tourist city, and another plays a tourist planning a visit. They negotiate a compromise — for example, discussing when to visit, how to behave, and what to see — then present their solution to the class.

✏️ Questions

If I ___ (know) that the flight was delayed, I would have booked a later taxi to the airport.
By the time we finally reached the hotel, we ___ (travel) for over twelve hours.
The tour guide told us that the museum ___ (close) at 5 p.m. every day.
Neither of the two travel agencies ___ (offer) refunds for cancelled tours.
This time next week, I ___ (relax) on a beach in Thailand instead of sitting in this office.
You must have been exhausted after such a long journey; I ___ (think) you would need to rest immediately.