A Guide to Travel and Communication
Polite Questions
Here are some common polite questions and their alternatives:
- Sign Here: Could you please sign here? / Sign here, please.
- Wait in Reception: Please, wait in reception. / Would you mind waiting in reception, please?
- Don’t Smoke in Here: Smoking isn’t allowed in here. / Do you mind not smoking in here, please?
- Show Me Your Tickets: Could you please show me your tickets? / Could I see your tickets, please?
- Don’t Feed the Animals: Please don’t feed the animals. / Feeding the animals isn’t allowed.
Conference Facilities in a Hotel
Subject: Conference Facilities
Thank you for your email and your interest in my hotel. It’s my pleasure to send information on our conference facilities.
The conference centre is located on the ground floor and is able to accommodate up to 60 people. If you have any other questions, please let me know.
Requesting and Giving Advice
- Would you mind showing me your passport?
- Do you mind not smoking in the reception area?
- The tour guide told us that we must take a few precautions.
Identification
Here’s how to greet and identify yourself on the phone:
- Greet: Good morning, this is Jane speaking, from Worldview Travel.
- Ask for the Person: Can I speak to/ I’d like to speak to John.
- Explain Your Reason: I am calling regarding your booking of a 14-day trip to Spain.
- Request Details: Could you please send me your name, phone number, etc.?
- Ask About Payment: How would you like to pay?
Prepositions of Time and Place
- On: Days of the week, specific dates, addresses (e.g., on Monday, on July 4th, on Main Street)
- In: Months, years, seasons, countries (e.g., in July, in 2023, in summer, in Spain)
- At: Times, the weekend, night (e.g., at 3:00 PM, at the weekend, at night)
Comparatives and Superlatives
- Comparison of Equality: Subject + as + adjective + as + (subject) (e.g., I’m as young as you.)
- Superiority:
- For one-syllable adjectives, add -er (e.g., old – older, new – newer)
- For other adjectives, use “more” + adjective (e.g., beautiful – more beautiful)
- Superlative:
- For one-syllable adjectives, add -est (e.g., clever – cleverest, dark – darkest)
- For other adjectives, use “most” + adjective (e.g., intelligent – most intelligent)
Gerunds and Infinitives
Gerunds
Use gerunds (-ing form of the verb) after these verbs:
- like, dislike, love, hate, enjoy, detest, prefer, deny, miss, suggest, consider, finish, practice, spend, stop
Also use gerunds:
- As the subject of a sentence
- After prepositions
- After these verb phrases: can’t stand, can’t help, don’t/doesn’t mind, it’s no use
- After “be/get used to”
Infinitives
Use infinitives (to + base form of the verb) after these verbs:
- want, help, refuse, decide, promise, persuade, wish, learn, agree, choose, appear, seem, hope, expect, need, remember, try, hope, forget, refuse, would like
Also use infinitives:
- After adjectives and adverbs (e.g., My flat is easy to find.)
- With verbs that have a direct object as a person (e.g., I invited her to come home.)
Passive Voice
Here’s how to form the passive voice in different tenses:
- Present Simple: am/is/are + past participle (e.g., The letter is written.)
- Present Continuous: am/is/are + being + past participle (e.g., The letter is being written.)
- Past Simple: was/were + past participle (e.g., The letter was written.)
- Past Continuous: was/were + being + past participle (e.g., The letter was being written.)
- Present Perfect: have/has + been + past participle (e.g., The letter has been written.)
- Past Perfect: had + been + past participle (e.g., The letter had been written.)
- Future Simple: will be + past participle (e.g., The letter will be written.)
Exploring Paris: Transportation Tips
The best way to get around Paris is on foot or by metro, especially until you become familiar with the bus routes. Free maps are available at the Gare du Nord railway station, and you can always ask locals for directions.
The Paris metro is easy to use, clean, and fast. Buy a carnet of ten tickets to save money and remember to stamp your ticket in the machine before boarding.
The bus is a great way to travel with a view once you’re familiar with the routes. Central Paris is compact, and walking is the best way to explore it.
Taxis with a white light on the roof are available. Finally, several companies offer river tours down the Seine. It’s a touristy option, but it’s still fun.
Seville Tourist Route
Day 1:
Start at the Golden Tower (Torre del Oro), a symbol of Seville located on the banks of the Guadalquivir River. Take a boat trip with Cruceros Torre del Oro to sail under the city’s historic and modern bridges.
Day 2:
Enjoy a walk around the charming Santa Cruz neighborhood.
Day 3:
Explore Parque Maria Luisa, taking the green and yellow line for the best route and commentary. In the evening, dine at Rincón del Salvador for authentic Sevillian cuisine.
Day 4:
Hop on a topless double-decker tourist bus to see Seville’s historic landmarks, including Plaza de España and the pavilions of Expo 92.
Day 5:
Conclude your visit with dinner or drinks at El Palacio Andaluz, where you can enjoy a world-class flamenco show in a luxurious setting.
Hotel Description
This spacious 150-square-meter apartment is perfectly situated between 43rd Street and 8th Avenue, just five minutes from Times Square and most theaters, and a fifteen-minute walk from Central Park.
Located on the 19th floor of a new building, it features two bedrooms, a magnificent living room with a huge balcony, a kitchen/dining room, and two bathrooms.
Large windows provide abundant natural light during the day and breathtaking views of downtown Manhattan at night, especially on the 4th of July when you can see the fireworks!
The vibrant neighborhood is perfect for those who enjoy dining out, attending theater performances, or exploring clubs. A subway station is conveniently located on the street, and Grand Central Terminal is a ten-minute walk away. JFK Airport is less than half an hour away by taxi.
This apartment is ideal for couples. Please note: no children or pets allowed, and strictly no smoking.