📖 Reading
Last summer, my sister Rosa and I decided to do something different for our holiday. Instead of flying to a beach resort, we took a slow train across northern Spain. We had never travelled this way before, and we wanted to see small towns that most tourists never visit.
The journey was not always comfortable. Our train was delayed twice, and one night we had to sleep in a tiny hostel with no air conditioning. However, every town we stopped in had something special: an old market, a quiet church, or a café where the owner told us stories about his grandfather. We also met a group of cyclists from Germany who were riding across the country. They shared their food with us, and we talked for hours about our different journeys.
By the end of the trip, Rosa said she felt as if she had learned more about Spain in two weeks than she had in all her previous holidays there. I agreed. If we had flown straight to the coast, we would have missed all these small, memorable moments.
Now, when friends ask us for travel advice, we always say the same thing: choose a slower way to travel if you can. You might arrive a little tired, but you will arrive with much better stories to tell.
🗣️ Speaking — discussion
Context
- A staycation is a holiday where you stay in or near your home instead of traveling far away.
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people discovered the joy of staycations when international travel became difficult.
- Staycations can include day trips to nearby towns, visiting local museums, staying in hotels in your own city, or simply relaxing at home.
- This trend has grown in popularity because it is often cheaper, less stressful, and better for the environment than long-distance travel.
- Many people now mix staycations with traditional vacations, creating a more balanced approach to holidays.
Themes
- Rediscovering Your Own City — Many travelers ignore attractions and experiences in their own hometown. A staycation offers the chance to see familiar places with fresh eyes and appreciate what is already nearby.
- Sustainability and Travel — Long-distance travel produces significant carbon emissions. Choosing local holidays is an environmentally conscious decision that still provides relaxation and enjoyment.
- Stress and Well-being — Staycations reduce the stress of airport queues, long flights, and expensive hotels. They allow for a more relaxed pace and time for genuine rest.
- Budget and Accessibility — Not everyone can afford expensive international vacations. Staycations make holidays accessible to more people and allow families to save money.
Personal Response
- Have you ever taken a staycation? What did you do, and did you enjoy it?
- What attractions or activities are available in your city or region that you have never visited?
Themes & Ideas
- Do you think staycations are as enjoyable as traveling to other countries? Why or why not?
- How has your opinion about holidays changed during recent years?
Critical Thinking
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of staycations compared to international travel?
- How might the growth of staycations affect the tourism industry in popular holiday destinations?
Cultural & Social Topics
- In your culture, is taking a staycation seen as a positive or negative choice? What do people usually expect from a 'real' holiday?
- How do social media and travel websites influence our holiday choices and expectations?
🎭 Classroom activity
Staycation Planner: In small groups, students plan a one-week staycation for their city. They must research local attractions, restaurants, and activities, and present their itinerary to the class. This encourages speaking about places, giving recommendations, and justifying choices.
✏️ Questions
- If the weather ___ nice tomorrow, we will go to the beach.
- By the time we arrived at the airport, our flight ___ already (leave).
- The tour guide ___ (show) us the old castle since nine o'clock this morning, and we still have more to see.
- Every passenger on this flight ___ (need) to show a valid passport at the gate.
- Our hotel room ___ (clean) every day by the staff, so it's always tidy when we return.
- The guide said that the museum ___ (close) at five o'clock that evening.
- Why did Rosa and the narrator choose to travel by train instead of flying?
- a) They wanted to see small towns that tourists usually do not visit
- b) They could not afford plane tickets for the summer
- c) Their flight was cancelled at the last minute
- d) They wanted to travel with the German cyclists
- What problem did the sisters experience during their trip?
- a) Their train was delayed twice
- b) They lost their luggage at a station
- c) They got lost in a small town
- d) They missed their connecting train
- Who were the German cyclists?
- a) People the sisters met and shared food with during the trip
- b) Friends who had planned the trip with Rosa
- c) Hostel owners who gave the sisters a room
- d) Tour guides who showed them around Spain
- What does Rosa imply when she says she learned more about Spain in two weeks than on all her previous holidays?
- a) This slow trip gave her a deeper understanding of the country
- b) She had never visited Spain before this trip
- c) Her earlier holidays in Spain were badly organised
- d) She preferred staying in modern hotels
- What does Rosa say would have happened if they had flown straight to the coast?
- a) They would have missed small, memorable moments from the journey
- b) They would have arrived with more energy for sightseeing
- c) They would have saved a lot of money on tickets
- d) They would have met the German cyclists sooner
- In the final paragraph, what does the word 'memorable' mean?
- a) Easy to remember because it is special or unusual
- b) Expensive and difficult to arrange
- c) Short and quickly forgotten
- d) Dangerous and slightly frightening