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GENERAL ENGLISH · GENERAL ISSUES · UPPER-INTERMEDIATE (B2-C1)

SOLO
TRAVEL
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1 Warm up

In pairs, discuss the following questions.

1. Where have you travelled to?

2. What do you think are the benefits of travelling alone?
3. What do you think are the negatives of travelling alone?

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2 Finding vocabulary

Find vocabulary in the article on page three which has the same meaning as the following definitions.

1. a great interest in and dedication to a particular activity (n, para. A)

2. feeling nervous and not brave (adj., para. B)

3. a list of experiences that you want to have before you die (n, para. B)

4. a plan for a journey including where you want to go and what you want to do
(n, para. B)
5. not wanting change and preferring to stick to more traditional values and
ways of doing things (adj., para. C)
6. copy the way someone does something because you appreciate their
knowledge and experience (v, para. C)
7. listen to information or conversation that wasn’t aimed at you (v, para. C)

8. the act of making someone feel uncomfortable with actions or words (n, para.
D)

3 Reading for gist

Skim the read the article and match the titles to the paragraphs A - D. There are more titles than
paragraphs.

1. Travelling safely as a woman

2. Ways to organise your travel
3. Tips to avoid unwanted attention
4. The benefits of solo travel
5. Useful items for travelling
6. Why I travel alone

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Amy’s Blog
Travelling solo

A.

Hi there! I’m Amy. Welcome to my blog! Back in 2009, I had booked a trip to the Grand Canyon with my partner. I
was so excited because I’d always wanted to see it and that trip was like my dream come true. Then, about a week
before the trip, the relationship ended. Not only was I upset over that, but I felt as though I’d lost my chance to
see the Grand Canyon. Then I realised that I’d paid, I’d booked the time off work, and I still wanted to go. I didn’t
need to go with someone. The idea terrified me, but I did it anyway. I had the time of my life and it started a love
affair with solo travel. This blog is about my trips and the lessons I’ve learned since then.

B.

If, like I was, you’re timid about the idea of going on an adventure by yourself, consider the benefits. First, you can
concentrate on what you want to do with your time. There’s no walking around a museum that only fascinates your
partner, or worrying that they won’t be interested in the waterfall that is on your bucket list. You are completely
in charge of your itinerary. Want to get up at 4am to see a sunrise, or stay in bed and watch TV all day? There’s no
negotiation required. Secondly, the hotel isn’t as good as you hoped, there are no arguments about who booked
it. You own your mistakes meaning that when your plans work out well, it’s all the more exciting. There’s also the
fact that you meet more people when you’re on your own than when you’re stuck with someone else. You can
join in with group activities if you like, or avoid them if not.

C.

I get a lot of questions about travelling alone as a woman. Fortunately, I’ve never had any problems, but of course
I have some tips to help. Do your research about dress before you leave. Some countries have quite conservative
dress codes, but even if they don’t, covering your arms and legs is smart. Not only will it protect you from the sun,
it will reduce unwanted attention. There are plenty of clothes you can wear which cover you and still allow you
to stay cool in warmer countries. Note what local women wear when you’re there and emulate them. When you
arrive at a hotel, ask the clerk to write your room number down rather than say it. If anyone is nearby, it will stop
them overhearing where you’ll be staying. Also, ask if you can be close to the lift so you can avoid walking down
long empty hallways alone when you enter and leave.

D.

Make sure you’re aware of your surroundings too. If you’re not sure, stay close to a family or a group of people,
even if you’re not with them. Some countries have areas for women only on public transport, so use them. Carrying
a book with you to deter people from talking to you is helpful too. If you do find yourself the target of harassment,
don’t be afraid to raise your voice. Even better, learn ‘leave me alone’ in the local language. This is likely to
embarrass men who are bothering you and they will back away. Of course, it’s important to make sure you’re in
places with plenty of people around as far as possible.

Sources: Smarter Travel, The Guardian

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4 Reading comprehension

Part A: Read Paragraph A and and decide if they are true (T), false (F), or not given (NG).

1. Amy broke up with her partner due to financial problems.

2. Amy’s relationship ended after she had paid for the holiday.

3. Amy didn’t really enjoy her trip to the Grand Canyon.

Part B: Choose the best ending to each of the following sentences.

1. A major advantage to travelling solo is...

a. the ability to decide how to spend your time.

b. the freedom to visit natural attractions such as waterfalls.

c. not needing to visit museums that don’t interest you.

2. A second advantage is...

a. you are able to book the kind of hotels that you prefer to stay in.

b. you are less likely to get into an argument.

c. you’re responsible for your own victories and failures.

3. Meeting people is...

a. a little more difficult when you’re alone.

b. easier than if you’re already with someone.

c. best avoided as a solo traveller.

4. According to Amy, women should dress...

a. in a way that suits the weather of the country.

b. in T-shirts and shorts as they’re on holiday.

c. in a way that respects the people of the country.

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5. Amy also advises that, in a hotel, women should...

a. stay in public areas and listen to people’s conversations.

b. not use a lift alone when no one else is around.

c. request a room close to the lift.

6. When women are out and about in foreign countries, it’s a good idea to...

a. stay close to families or groups of people.

b. only travel on transport where men are not allowed.

c. read a book in a public place.

5 Focus on travel vocabulary

Part A: Match the vocabulary to the definitions.

1. excursion (n) a. a short trip to somewhere for fun, often organised for a
group of people
2. all-inclusive (adj.) b. very comfortable and often expensive

3. touristy (adj.) c. aimed at parents and their children

4. family-friendly (adj.) d. not needing to pay for each individual item or activity

5. trek (n) e. during the time of the year when tourist areas are less busy
and usually cheaper
6. luxurious (adj.) f. a long walk in a natural environment for pleasure

7. hammock (n) g. popular and attracting a lot of tourists

8. low-season (adj.) h. a bed made from strong material and ropes that are tied
between two trees or posts

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Part B: Complete the following sentences with vocabulary from Part A.

1. The hotel wasn’t cheap but the room was so . I’ve never slept so well as I did there.

2. We went to Greece for our holidays. There’s so much to see and do and we were able to make
some to some of the smaller islands while we were there.

3. We’re going to spend five days on a in the Scottish Highlands, so I’ve bought some
new boots. I can’t wait!

4. They don’t have any children, so they often travel during . I’m quite jealous!

5. The hotel was very pretty, but it wasn’t very to be honest. There was dancing,
music and drinking going on all night and we didn’t get much sleep.

6. It was always on my bucket list to sleep in a on the beach. But when I did it, it
wasn’t actually that comfortable.

7. I always try to find quiet places to stay when I go on holiday, well away from all the
areas. It gives you a better feel for a place.

8. Well, the hotel was , and the food was fine, but they made the same thing every
day so we ended up going out to eat a few times.

Now in pairs, discuss the following questions.

1. Which are the most touristy areas in your country? Why are they popular?
2. What’s the most luxurious place you’ve ever stayed in? What did you like about it?
3. What do you think are the benefits and the negatives of an all-inclusive holiday?
4. Have you ever slept in a hammock? Where might people have them in your country?
5. When would be the low-season for people visiting your country? Why is that?
6. Where would be the best place to go on a trek in your country?

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6 Listening for details

Listen to an interview with two women about travelling. Put a tick next to each of the places which
are mentioned.

Argentina Bahrain

Costa Rica Dubai

Ecuador Finland

Greece Vietnam

Thailand Qatar

7 Listening comprehension
Decide who has had each of the following experiences by writing (A) for Amy, (M) for Meera or (N) if
neither of them mentions it.

1. Walking in Sri Lanka.

2. Visiting National Parks in the United States.

3. Sight-seeing in New York City.

4. Trekking in the desert near Dubai.

5. Travelling in women only sections of public transport.

6. Diving in Australia.

7. Eating fresh fish in Thailand.

8. Seeing castles in Scotland.

8 Talking point
In pairs, discuss the following questions.

1. Would you consider travelling alone? Why/why not?

2. Is your country a good place for people to travel alone? Why/Why not?
3. Which of the experiences Amy and Meera had were most interesting to you? Why?
4. Where would you like to travel that you have not already been to?
5. Do you think it is reasonable for people to expect to be able to travel so much? Why/why not?
6. Do you think that the amount of travel that people do will change in the future? Why?
7. What can be done to make it safer for women to travel alone?
8. What advice would you offer for women travelling alone in your country?

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9 Extended activity/Homework

Choose one of the following questions.

Statement 1

The way in which some people expect to travel around the world is unsustainable as it harms
the environment and communities around the world. Countries need to cut opportunities for
plane travel by at least 50% and people should be limited to one trip per year. With video
calls now widely available, there is no need for business trips. We need to give our planet a
chance to recover from the harm we have done.

To what extent do you agree with the above statement?

Statement 2

While it is clearly desirable to live in a world in which women can travel alone, we do not live
in that world. Women who travel alone are risking being the victims of crime and creating
problems for local police. They should either travel with a male companion or in groups of at
least three.

To what extent do you agree with the above statement?

You should:

• Write at least 250 words

• Check your grammar, spelling and punctuation

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Transcripts

6. Listening for details

Host: ...and today we’re talking to Amy, a blog writer on solo travel and Meera, a travel writer.
Both like to travel alone. Great to have us with you today. So Amy, can you tell us about
where you’ve been to?

Amy: Well, I’ve been travelling for over ten years alone. So, I’ve been to a few places: Asia, a
lot. Mainly Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam, although I’ve been on shorter excursions to
other countries there, such as a hiking trip in Sri Lanka. I’ve been to Peru and Argentina
and quite a few countries in Europe.

Host: Fantastic! Meera, what about you?

Meera: I’ve done a lot of travelling in the United States which is where I’m based, as well as
Canada, Central America - I loved Costa Rica - and the Middle East in places like Bahrain
and Qatar.

Host: So as a woman travelling alone, what do you do to stay safe?

Meera: I’ve personally not had any problems, but I do certain things that make it safer. In the US,
there’s a company called The Green Tortoise. It’s an all-inclusive bus tour that lets you
go to places all over the US and down into Mexico. There’s no fixed itinerary so they go
wherever makes the most sense. For example, if it’s raining somewhere, they can move
on to somewhere sunnier. There’s a group of you all together so it’s perfect for women
travelling alone. You’re always with people and they go through National Parks and places
that are less touristy, so you can see things that would be harder to see alone. I’ve been
to the Grand Canyon twice with them and also up to Alaska.

Host: What’s it like travelling in the Middle East?

Meera: Easier than you might think. It’s a very family-friendly place, and public transport usually
has separate places for women, like on buses in Dubai. I’ve also been able to get guides
to take me on a trek in the desert and again, there are tours you can take with groups of
people. It’s a great way to meet new friends.

Host: Amy, what’s been your most luxurious experience?

Amy: Oh, that’s easy. I stayed at this beautiful place in Koh Samui in Thailand. It was right on
the beach and it was fantastic. I extended my stay there because it was so beautiful. They
had hammocks that you could lie in and read all day and they brought food to you, all of
which was delicious, some really fantastic fish dishes there made with fish they catch on
the day. I had planned to visit as much as I could, but after the first day, I decided just to
spend a couple of days relaxing and enjoying the weather and the hotel. It was low-season
too, so it didn’t cost very much and it wasn’t at all busy.

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Host: Now, I really have to ask you both, what do you think about (fade)...

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Key

1. Warm up

5 mins.
This opens the lesson by asking the students to think about their own travel experiences and the concept of
travelling alone. These ideas will be further discussed in the reading article.

2. Finding vocabulary

5 mins.
This provides support with some of the vocabulary and highlights useful terms for the students to use.

1. love affair 2. timid 3. bucket list 4. itinerary

5. conservative 6. emulate 7. overhear 8. harassment

3. Reading for gist

5 mins.
You may want to set a strict time limit on this to encourage students to skim read rather than read in detail.
Answers to the article:

A. Why I travel alone

B. The benefits of solo travel
C. Travelling safely as a woman
D. Tips to avoid unwanted attention
Sources:
www.smartertravel.com/single-travel-tips-going-solo/
www.theguardian.com/travel/2018/oct/09/solo-trips-on-rise-travellers-opt-for-me-time-abta-report

4. Reading comprehension

10 mins.
Part A
Ask students to read the text more carefully and answer the questions. For Part 1, ask students to underline
where they find the answer. If they can’t, the answer will be Not Given. For Part 2, ask them to select the most
appropriate ending according to the article.

1. Not Given. She doesn’t specify what the reason for the end of the relationship was.
2. True. Then I realised that I’d paid, I’d booked the time off work, and I still wanted to go.
3. False. I had the time of my life and it started a love affair with solo travel.
Part B

1. a. 2. c. 3. b. 4. c. 5. c. 6. a.

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5. Focus on travel vocabulary

Part A
5 mins.
This looks at vocabulary in the listening activity. Ensure students can correctly pronounce the target words. Ask
them to complete the task unaided in the first instance, but allow them to use a reference later if needed.

1. → a. 2. → d. 3. → g. 4. → c. 5. → f. 6. → b. 7. → h. 8. → e.
Part B
10 mins.
Ask the students to complete the sentences with the target vocabulary and then discuss the questions. Circulate
and help as needed.

1. luxurious 2. excursions
3. trek 4. low-season
5. family-friendly 6. hammock
7. touristy 8. all-inclusive

6. Listening for details

5 mins.
This gives students the opportunity to hear the audio ahead of the main comprehension. You may want to extend
this by asking students if they have visited any of the places listed and if so, what their impressions were.

✓ Argentina
✓ Bahrain
✓ Costa Rica
✓ Dubai
✓ Vietnam
✓ Thailand
✓ Qatar

7. Listening comprehension

5 mins.
Ask students to complete the questions after the first listening and then listen again to check their answers.

1. A
2. M
3. N
4. M
5. M
6. N
7. A
8. N

8. Talking point

10 mins.
Ask students to discuss the questions in pairs or small groups. Circulate and help as needed.

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9. Extended activity/Homework

45 mins+.
Ask students to choose one of the questions, plan, write and edit it based on their discussions and work in the
lesson. Be sure to give them feedback on their work.

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