Booking Tours and Chatting on Sightseeing Activities.

In this lesson you enjoy the fun side of travelling: sightseeing and meeting people. You learn language for asking about tours, excursions and attractions, including opening times, prices, what is included and how long things last. You practise booking tickets at a desk and online, and confirming meeting points and transport details. At the same time you develop small talk skills for chatting with other travellers and locals in hostels, on buses or during group activities. You learn useful questions about work, studies and travel experiences and simple phrases to give opinions about cities, food and sights. Listening tasks show you how guides give short explanations and practical instructions. By the end you can book activities that fit your interests and join friendly conversations without feeling stuck for words.

1. Arriving at the hostel tour desk.

Let us imagine you have just arrived in a new city after a long journey. You check in at your hostel, leave your bag in the room, and then you go back to reception. There is a small tour desk with colourful posters: city walking tour, river cruise, food tour, bike trip. You are interested, but you need information before you decide. In this block we will focus on that first short conversation at the tour desk. You will hear a model dialogue between a traveller and the receptionist, and you will listen for four key details: time, price, meeting point and what is included. While you listen, try not to write every word. Just focus on those practical details. After that, you will answer some questions in full sentences, as if you are telling a friend about the tour. This will help you to use very useful chunks such as, What tours do you recommend for tomorrow, How long does the tour last, and Is transport included in the price. Ready to start exploring the city in English?

Scene: You at the hostel information and tour desk.

You are in the reception area of a friendly hostel in Lisbon. On the wall you see signs for:

• Old Town Walking Tour
• Sintra Day Trip
• Fado Evening Experience

You walk up to the desk and speak to the receptionist.

> You: Excuse me, what tours do you recommend for tomorrow?

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> Receptionist: For tomorrow, the most popular one is the Old Town Walking Tour.

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> You: Oh, that sounds good. How long does the tour last?

>

> Receptionist: It lasts about three hours, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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> You: Is transport included in the price?

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> Receptionist: No, you meet the guide in the main square, but it is only a ten-minute walk from here.

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> You: OK, and how much is it?

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> Receptionist: It is twenty euros per person. The price includes the guide and a coffee break.

From this short dialogue, you can already get the key information you need to decide:

• Time: from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Price: €20 per person.
• Meeting point: the main square.
• What is included: guide and coffee break.

Notice the useful question chunks:

• What tours do you recommend for tomorrow?
• How long does the tour last?
• Is transport included in the price?
• How much is it?

These are very flexible. You can change tomorrow to on Saturday, or change the tour to the boat trip.

In the listening activity below you will hear a different conversation at the same hostel tour desk, about another activity. Listen carefully for:

1. The name of the tour.
2. The time.
3. The price.
4. The meeting point.
5. What is included in the price.

Then you will write complete sentences to show what you understood.

Practice & Feedback

Listen to the short conversation carefully. You can listen more than once. Do not try to write every word. Instead, focus on the five key points we discussed: the name of the tour, the time, the price, the meeting point and what is included in the price.

After listening, write 5–7 full sentences explaining the information, as if you are telling a friend about the tour you just heard about. For example, you might start with: There is a sunset boat tour. It starts at… Use your own words, but try to include phrases like It costs…, The meeting point is…, The price includes…. This will help you practise clear travel English you can really use.

2. Asking clear questions about tours.

Now that you have listened for basic information, let us move to the next step: asking your own clear questions. When you are booking tours or activities, it is very common that the sign or the website does not tell you everything. Maybe you are not sure if lunch is included, or if you need to book in advance, or if the guide speaks English. If you stay silent, you may be disappointed later. So in this block we will focus on building a small toolkit of polite, flexible questions you can use at any tour desk. You will see an example advert for an evening tapas tour, and then you will think like a smart traveller: what do I still need to know? To help you, we will look at some useful patterns such as, How long does it last, Is transport included in the price, and Do I need to book in advance. After reading, you will write a few of your own questions, using these patterns. This will prepare you for speaking in real life, because the same questions work for boat trips, city passes, museum tickets or day excursions.

Useful question patterns for tours and activities.

When you saw the hostel dialogue in the previous block, you heard some very typical questions. Here is a small tour question toolkit you can adapt for almost any situation:

• What tours do you recommend for tomorrow / for the weekend?
• How long does the tour last?
• What time does it start / finish?
• Is transport included in the price?
• What is included in the price?
• Where is the meeting point?
• Do I need to book in advance?
• Is it suitable for children / older people?

You can make these questions more polite by adding softeners such as:

• Excuse me, could you tell me…?
• I am interested in this tour. Can I ask, …?

Example advert: Evening Tapas Tour.

> EVENING TAPAS TOUR

> Discover the best local bars with a small group and an expert guide.

> Time: 19:00–22:00

> Price: €45 per person

> Includes: 6 tapas, 3 drinks, English-speaking guide

> Group size: maximum 12 people

> Starting point: Plaza Mayor, in front of the fountain.

This advert gives a lot of information, but you probably still have questions. For example, it does not say:

• If vegetarian options are available.
• If you can pay on the day or only online.
• If you can cancel or change the date.

Here are some good follow-up questions:

• Do you have vegetarian options on the tour?
• Can I pay in cash at the start, or do I need to pay online?
• What is your cancellation policy?

In the task below you will practise writing your own questions like these, using the advert again as your support.

Practice & Feedback

Read the Evening Tapas Tour advert again in the text above. Imagine you are really interested in this tour, but you want to check a few things before you book.

Write 4–6 polite questions to the tour company. Use the question patterns from the toolkit, and think about what is not clear in the advert, for example: payments, languages, vegetarian or vegan options, cancellations, or if children can join.

Start with a short opening line such as: Hello, I am interested in the Evening Tapas Tour. I have a few questions. Then write your questions, each on a new line. Try to use at least two of these phrases: How long does…, Is … included in the price, Where is the meeting point, Do I need to book in advance. Focus on being clear and polite, not perfect.

3. Booking and confirming a tour.

So, you have asked your questions, and you feel happy with the answers. The next step is actually booking the tour and confirming all the details. This might happen face to face at a desk, or it might happen in a short message or email. In this block we will focus on clear language for saying that you would like to book, and for checking the important points one more time: the date, the time, the price, the meeting point and what is included. You will see a model dialogue for booking at a tour desk, and then a short written confirmation message from the company. Notice how similar the key phrases are in speaking and writing: they use the same simple patterns. After that, your task will be to write a short message to a friend explaining what you have booked for tomorrow. This is great practice because if you can explain it clearly to a friend, you can also confirm it clearly with staff.

Model dialogue: booking a city walking tour.

> You: Hi, I would like to book the Old Town Walking Tour for tomorrow, please.

> Staff: Of course. How many people is that for?

> You: Two people.

> Staff: No problem. The tour starts at 10 a.m. and finishes at 1 p.m. The price is twenty euros per person.

> You: Great. Where is the meeting point?

> Staff: You meet the guide in the main square, by the big statue.

> You: Is anything included in the price?

> Staff: Yes, the price includes the guide and one coffee.

> You: Perfect. Can I pay now?

> Staff: Yes, please. Cash or card is fine.

> You: Card, please.

> Staff: Thank you. Here is your receipt and your ticket.

Useful chunks from this dialogue:

• I would like to book the… for tomorrow, please.
• How many people is that for?
• The tour starts at… and finishes at…
• The price is … per person.
• Where is the meeting point?
• The price includes…

Example written confirmation from the tour company.

> Subject: Confirmation – Old Town Walking Tour

> Dear Anna,

> Thank you for your booking. This email is to confirm your Old Town Walking Tour tomorrow, Tuesday 12 June, for 2 people. The tour starts at 10:00 and finishes at 13:00. The meeting point is the main square, by the big statue. The price is €20 per person and you have already paid online. The price includes an English-speaking guide and one coffee.

> We look forward to seeing you tomorrow.

> Best regards,

> Lisbon Tours

Notice how the confirmation repeats the same key points clearly. There is no complicated grammar, just simple present and basic time expressions. In the activity you will explain similar details to a friend.

Practice & Feedback

Imagine you have just received the confirmation email above for the Old Town Walking Tour. Your friend is arriving later and does not like reading long emails, so you want to send them a simple message with the main information.

Write a short message (about 5–8 sentences) to your friend using easy, clear English. Include:

• the name of the tour,
• the day and time,
• the meeting point,
• the price,
• what is included.

You can start with something like: Hi, I booked the Old Town Walking Tour for us tomorrow. It starts at… Try to use some of the useful chunks from the dialogue, such as The tour starts at…, The meeting point is…, The price is…, The price includes…. Focus on clarity and complete information.

4. Making small talk on the tour bus.

Booking the tour is only half of the experience. The other half is the people you meet. On a bus, in a queue, or walking between sights, you often have small conversations with other travellers or with local people. These short chats can be very friendly and make your trip much more interesting. In this block we will practise exactly that: simple small talk on the way to a sightseeing activity. Imagine you are on a minibus going to the river cruise. You sit next to another traveller. What can you say? Typical topics are where you are from, your job or studies, if this is your first time here and what you have visited so far. You also hear and give simple opinions, for example, The old town is really beautiful, or You should try the local food. You will read a short model conversation between two travellers, then you will write your own mini chat. This is a simulation, but try to make it feel real. Think about your life, your city and your travel experiences when you answer.

Model small talk: two travellers on a minibus.

> Alex: Hi, is this your first time here?

> You: Yes, it is my first time in this city. What about you?

> Alex: I have been here once before, two years ago. I really love it.

> You: Nice. Where are you from?

> Alex: I am from Warsaw in Poland. And you?

> You: I am from São Paulo in Brazil.

> Alex: Oh, great. I would love to visit Brazil one day. What do you do? Do you work or study?

> You: I work as an engineer. I am here on holiday for a week.

> Alex: Sounds good. How long will you stay?

> You: I will stay for seven days. I am visiting some friends and doing a few tours.

> Alex: The old town is really beautiful. You should try the local food there.

> You: Thanks, that sounds amazing.

Useful small talk questions and answers.

Small talk often uses easy question patterns:

• Is this your first time here?
• Where are you from?
• What do you do?
• How long will you stay?
• What have you visited so far?

And simple answers:

• I am from Warsaw in Poland.
• I work as an engineer.
• This is my first time here.
• I will stay for two weeks.
• Yesterday I visited the old town. It was amazing.

You can add friendly opinions and recommendations:

• The old town is really beautiful.
• You should try the local food.
• The museum is very interesting.
• The views from the castle are fantastic.

In the activity below you will write a short chat-style conversation between you and another traveller on the tour bus. You can use the names you like, but keep the language simple and natural.

Practice & Feedback

Imagine you are sitting on a minibus going to a city tour. A traveller called Alex is sitting next to you. Write a short chat-style conversation between you and Alex.

Write 8–10 lines. Use the format:

• You: …
• Alex: …

Include small talk questions and answers about:

• where you are from,
• your job or studies,
• how long you will stay,
• your opinions about the city or the tour.

Try to use at least three of these chunks: I am from…, I work as…, This is my first time here, I will stay for…, The old town is really beautiful, You should try the local food. Make the conversation friendly and realistic, as if you are really on the bus.

5. Giving opinions and recommendations.

After a day of sightseeing, people naturally talk about what they liked and what they recommend. This is another very common situation in hostels, on tours, and in cafés. You might say what you thought about the old town, a museum or a boat trip, and you might give simple recommendations to other travellers. In this block we will focus on easy language for giving opinions and making suggestions. You do not need complicated adjectives. Simple phrases like It was really beautiful, It was very interesting, or It was a bit expensive are enough. For recommendations, structures like You should visit…, You must try…, or I really recommend… are very powerful. First, you will read a short message from one traveller to another describing a favourite activity. Then you will write your own short review or recommendation, about a real or imaginary place. This helps you build confidence to talk about your home city and your travel experiences in a natural way.

Talking about what you liked.

Here is a simple message from Alex to a new friend from the tour:

> Hi, it was nice talking to you today on the river cruise.

> This is my second time in this city and I really love it. Yesterday I did the Old Town Walking Tour and it was great. The guide was very friendly and the old streets were really beautiful. The views from the castle were amazing too. It was not very expensive and the group was small, so it felt personal. You should definitely visit the old town if you have time. You should also try the local food in the market – the fish is fantastic.

> See you, enjoy your trip!

Useful opinion and recommendation phrases.

To give your opinion, you can say:

• It was really beautiful / interesting / relaxing.
• The guide was very friendly.
• The museum was a bit boring.
• It was quite expensive, but it was worth it.

To recommend something, use:

• You should visit the old town.
• You should try the local food.
• You must see the castle at sunset.
• I really recommend the river cruise.

You can also talk about your home city or country, for example:

• The old town in my city is very beautiful.
• You should visit the beaches near my home.

In the task below you will write a short paragraph like Alex, giving your opinion and recommendations about one place or activity. It can be a real experience or an imaginary one. The important thing is to use clear, friendly language.

Practice & Feedback

Think of one place or activity you know well. It could be:

• a tour or attraction from a real trip you made, or
• something in your home city that you often recommend to visitors, or
• an imaginary tour you would like to do.

Write a short paragraph of 6–10 sentences giving your opinion and some recommendations, like Alex did. Include:

• what the place or activity is,
• why you like or do not like it,
• at least two positive or negative opinions,
• at least two recommendations for the reader.

Try to use some of these phrases: It was really…, The … was very…, It was a bit…, You should…, You must…, I really recommend…. Imagine you are writing to another traveller from your hostel who asked, What do you recommend here?

6. Full practice booking a tour and chatting.

You have now practised the key pieces of language for this lesson: asking about tours, booking and confirming details, making small talk with other travellers, and giving opinions and recommendations. In this final block, you will put everything together in one integrated task. Imagine it is your second day in the city. You want to do something in the evening, so you send a message to a tour company to ask about and book a tour. Later, on the way to the meeting point, you chat with another traveller about the plan and about your trips. You will first read a short description of a new tour: the River Boat and Old Town Evening Tour. Then, in your answer, you will do two parts. Part A is a short message to the tour desk asking questions and booking. Part B is a short chat-style conversation with another traveller on the way to the tour. Try to recycle as many useful chunks from the lesson as you can, such as What tours do you recommend for tomorrow, How long does the tour last, Where is the meeting point, I am from…, I work as…, The old town is really beautiful, and You should try the local food. Take your time and enjoy creating your own realistic travel story.

Final scenario: River Boat and Old Town Evening Tour.

You see this information in your hostel WhatsApp group:

> RIVER BOAT AND OLD TOWN EVENING TOUR

> Discover the city from the water and on foot.

>

> Time: 18:00–22:30

> Price: €55 per person

> Includes: 1.5-hour river boat trip, 1.5-hour old town walking tour, English-speaking guide, 1 drink, small snacks

> Meeting point: in front of City Bridge, next to the big clock

> Transport: you go to the meeting point by yourself

You are free tomorrow evening and you are very interested, but you still have some questions. You want to know, for example, if there are vegetarian options for the snacks, if you can pay at the meeting point, and if you need to book in advance because it might be busy.

Later, after you book, you are on the tram to the meeting point. A traveller called Mia is standing next to you and you start to chat.

In the activity you will:

• Part A: write a short message to the tour company asking 2–3 questions and saying that you would like to book for a specific day.
• Part B: write a small chat between you and Mia on the tram, using small talk, opinions and recommendations.

Use this block as a chance to bring together everything from the lesson and show yourself what you can do.

Practice & Feedback

Work through this final task in two parts in one answer.

Part A – Message to the tour company

Write a short message (about 5–7 sentences) to the River Boat and Old Town Evening Tour company. Include:

• a polite opening,
• the day you would like to go,
• how many people,
• 2–3 clear questions (for example about vegetarian options, payment, booking in advance),
• a polite closing line.

Use phrases like I am interested in…, How long does the tour last, Is … included in the price, Do I need to book in advance.

Part B – Small talk with another traveller

Then write a short chat-style conversation (about 8–10 lines) between You and Mia on the tram to the tour. Use the format:

• You: …
• Mia: …

Include questions and answers about where you are from, your job or studies, how long you will stay, and your opinions or recommendations about the city or tours.

Label Part A and Part B clearly in your answer so it is easy to read.