Travel & Culture - Giving Helpful Travel Advice (Upper-Intermediate)

Activity 1: Let's Get Started! 🤔 (Warm-up Discussion)

Let's discuss the art of giving useful and responsible travel advice.

What is the difference between good travel advice and bad travel advice? What factors make advice helpful (e.g., specificity, considering the person's interests)?
When giving advice about a place you love, how can you manage the other person's expectations to ensure they aren't disappointed if their experience differs from yours?
Discuss the responsibility involved in giving travel advice, especially regarding safety or cultural norms. Why is it important to be cautious and clear?

Activity 2: New Words & Phrases 🗣️ (Vocabulary Expansion)

Enhance your vocabulary for giving thoughtful travel advice at an upper-intermediate level.

1. Recommendation (noun): A suggestion that something is good or suitable for a particular purpose or person.

Example: "Based on your interest in history, my top Recommendation would be to visit the old quarter."

2. Caveat (noun): A warning or proviso of specific stipulations, conditions, or limitations.

Example: "I highly recommend that restaurant, with the Caveat that you must book a reservation well in advance."

3. Tailor (verb): To make or adapt for a particular purpose or person.

Example: "It's best to Tailor your advice to your friend's specific interests and travel style."

4. Manage expectations (verb phrase): To ensure that someone understands what is likely to happen, preventing disappointment.

Example: "It's important to Manage expectations; while the beach is beautiful, it can also be very crowded."

5. First-hand experience (noun phrase): Experience gained by doing something yourself or being in a place or situation yourself.

Example: "She could only speak from her First-hand experience, which might be different from others'."

6. Overrated (adjective): Rated or valued too highly.

Example: "In my opinion, that famous tourist spot is a bit Overrated; the smaller, local parks are much nicer."

Activity 3: Reading - Advice from an Experienced Traveler 📖

Read this account of a traveler giving nuanced advice to a friend.

When Liam's friend, Chloe, asked for advice for her upcoming trip to a city Liam knew well, he was happy to help. However, he wanted to give her more than just a list of places. He decided to Tailor his recommendations to her interests, which he knew were art and quiet cafes. "Based on your love for modern art, my top Recommendation is the City Gallery," he started. "However, I'll add a Caveat: it gets extremely crowded after 11 AM, so I'd advise going right when it opens." He was careful to Manage expectations, explaining that while the city was beautiful, it could also be chaotic.

He continued, "Speaking from my First-hand experience, I think the most famous market in the city is a bit Overrated. It's mostly for tourists. I'd suggest the smaller neighborhood market on Elm Street for a more authentic feel." By providing this specific advice, complete with a Caveat and an honest opinion about something being Overrated, Liam was being a truly helpful resource. He wasn't just telling Chloe what to do; he was giving her the context to make her own informed decisions. He knew that the best travel advice is not a rigid set of instructions, but a thoughtful sharing of one's First-hand experience, tailored to the other person's personality.

Questions about the Story:

Answer these questions:

How did Liam Tailor his advice for Chloe?
What was the Caveat Liam added to his Recommendation for the City Gallery?
What did Liam think was Overrated, and what did he suggest as an alternative?
Why is it helpful to Manage expectations when giving travel advice?
What kind of experience was Liam drawing from when giving his advice?

Activity 4: Role Play - Recommending a Destination 🎭

Let's pretend! One person is Maria (Asking for advice), and the other is Kenji (Giving advice).

Maria: Kenji, you've traveled all over the region. I'm looking for a quiet, relaxing destination for a short break. Any recommendations?

Kenji: Based on what you've told me about your travel style, I would definitely recommend the town of Port Blossom. It's beautiful and not too touristy.

Maria: Port Blossom sounds lovely. Is there anything I should know before I book it?

Kenji: Yes, I should add a Caveat: it's quite remote, and public transport is infrequent. Renting a car is almost essential. I try to Manage expectations so you're not surprised.

Maria: That's a very important Caveat, thank you! I'll look into car rentals. Is this based on your own First-hand experience?

Kenji: Absolutely. I spent a week there last year. I can Tailor some more specific recommendations for you if you'd like, such as restaurants and hiking trails.

Maria: That would be amazing! I've heard the main beach can get a little crowded. Do you think it's Overrated?

Kenji: In my opinion, yes, it's slightly Overrated. But there's a smaller, more secluded cove just a 15-minute walk away that is far more peaceful. That would be my top Recommendation.

Maria: This is exactly the kind of advice I was hoping for. It's so much better than just a generic list.

Kenji: Of course. The key is to Manage expectations and provide details based on First-hand experience. I'm happy to help!

Let's Talk About It:

After you read, talk about this:

What was the important Caveat Kenji gave Maria about Port Blossom?
How did Kenji try to Manage expectations about the main beach?

Activity 5: Let's Practice - Giving Thoughtful Advice ✍️

Help Sofia (Experienced Traveler) complete her part of a conversation where she's giving travel advice to her friend, Alex. Use words and phrases from Activity 2!

Alex: Sofia, you went to that mountain town last year, right? I'm thinking of going. What are your thoughts?

Sofia: I did! It's beautiful, but I should my advice to your interests. What are you looking for?

Alex: Mostly hiking and nature.

Sofia: Okay, then my main is to hike the "Eagle's Peak" trail. The views are incredible. I'll add the that you need to start very early to avoid the afternoon storms.

Alex: That's a great tip. Is it as amazing as everyone says?

Sofia: It is, but I should ; it's a very strenuous hike. This is based on my own , and I found it quite challenging.

Alex: I appreciate the honesty. What about that famous waterfall restaurant everyone posts online?

Sofia: Personally, I think it's a bit . The food is average and it's very crowded. I can recommend a smaller, local place with better food instead.

Show Answers! (Activity 5) ✨