Holidays conversation questions

Holidays

• Are holidays really relaxing? What stressful things are involved in going on holiday?

• When your holiday is finished are you glad to get back to work (or school) or do you dread it? Why?

• Some people buy and read a guide book before going on holiday. What do you do to prepare for a
holiday?
Packing

• How many suitcases do you usually take with you on holiday?

• Do men take more clothes and suitcases than women?

• How many of the things that you pack do you actually wear?

• Who packs your things? You? Your parents? Your partner?

• Do you write out a list of things to pack?

• How often do you forget vital things?

• What do you think of the following advice? "Take half the clothes and twice the money."
Your last holiday

• Where did you go?

• How long did you stay?

• What did you do there?

• Who did you go with?

• What was the hotel or campsite like?

• What was the food like?

• What were the people like?

• Were you able to speak English?

• What was the weather like?

• How did you get there?

• Where are you going to go?

• How long are you going to stay?

• Who are you going to go with?

• Where are you going to stay?

• What special things do you plan to do?

• Do you plan to try the local food?

• Where did you use to go on holiday when you were a child?

• Do you still go back there? If so, has it changed since then? In what ways has it changed?

• What is the most memorable holiday you had when you were a child?
Your country

• What are the most popular destinations for tourists in your country?

• What makes them popular?

• Are they popular with both natives and tourists?

• Have you visited them? Why/why not?

• Is there any special period when tourists visit your country?

• What special provisions does your country make for tourists?

• How important is the tourism industry for your country?

• How far in advance do you like to plan your holidays?

• Which do you prefer: summer holidays or winter holidays? What are the advantages and
disadvantages of each?

• What are the advantages and disadvantages of buying a holiday with everything organised for you
compared with a holiday which you create fully by yourself?

• Do you organise your holiday over the internet or do you use a travel agent? What are the advantages
and disadvantages?

• Do you consider environment issues when you plan and take a holiday? Which issues do you
consider?

• What are the differences between a holiday you take with your family and a holiday which you take with
friends?
Types of holiday

• Do you prefer holidays which include a lot of activities or more relaxing ones? Why?

• Do you prefer to visit cities, the beach or mountains. Why?

• The Antarctic is a potentially dangerous place to visit. Can you think of any other dangerous parts of
the world for tourists? What makes them dangerous? What dangerous places would you like to visit?

• Would you like to go on a long cruise? Why/why not?

• Where would your ideal holiday destination be? You can spend as much money as you like!!

• Who would be your ideal holiday companion? What would you do?
In the mountains

• Do you like to go skiing? If you like skiing tell us what is enjoyable about it. If you don't like skiing - why
not?
• Have you ever been rock climbing? If so describe the experience.

• Do you enjoy trekking? If so, talk about routes you have enjoyed.

• Do you have any GPS equipment? How does it work?

• Have you ever been lost in the mountains? If so, talk about the experience.
Holiday problems
Have you ever experienced any of these holiday problems? If so, talk about them.

• Luggage lost at the airport.

• Flight cancelled or missed.

• Double-booking or overbooking.

• Car accident.

• Illness or personal accident.

• Sunburn.

• Getting lost.

• Problems with the hotel.

• Very bad weather.

• Belongings stolen.

• Running out of money.

• Do you eat more when you're on holiday? Do you put on weight or do you work it all off?

• Do you usually eat out every day when you're on holiday?

• If you're staying at a hotel, do you usually have full board or half board?

• Do you like to try local dishes or do you stick to "international" dishes like pizza, hamburgers, and so
on?
Vocabulary

• holiday

BrE: A period in which you are not working, especially if you are away from home. Vacation. AmE

A day in which one doesn't have to work.

• vacation

AmE: A period in which you are not working, especially if you are away from home. Holiday. BrE

A period when universities or courts of law are closed.