Никоненко Тамара Петрівна

   Over 300 million people take holidays abroad every year, and a recent survey has shown that they would rather cut back spending on food and clothing than spend less on holidays. Choosing the ideal holiday is not always easy, but in this day and age there is a wide range of choice, and you should be able to find something to suit your taste and pocket.
   Some people like planning their holiday independently, while others prefer to book a package. It depends on where you’re going, how much money you have, and whether you’re travelling alone, or with friends or family.
   The obvious advantage of a package holiday is that it’s simple to organize. You book the holiday through a travel agent, and transport, insurance and accommodation are all arranged for you. All you have to do is pay the bill. If you take an independent holiday, on the other hand, you can spend a lot of time and a small fortune checking complicated timetables, chasing cheap flights, and trying to make hotel booking in a language you can’t even speak. What is more, package holidays are often incredibly cheap. For the price of a suit, you can have a fortnight in a foreign resort, including accommodation, meals, and air travel. A similar independent holiday, however, can work out much more expensive.
   Yet the advantages of planning your holiday yourself are considerable. You are free to choose exactly where and when you want to go, how you want to travel, and how long you want to stay. You can avoid the large resorts, whereas holiday-makers on package tours are often trapped among crowds of other tourists. You can eat the food of the region at reasonable prices in local restaurants, while they are served with “international” dishes and chips with everything. Besides, although package holidays are usually extremely good value for money, they are not always cheaper. If you’re willing to take a little trouble, you may be able to save money by fixing up a foreign holiday yourself.
   All things considered, I would prefer to plan my holiday independently. In my view, it’s safer to do it yourself!
Vocabulary
package – пакет угод
package holiday – комплексна туристична поїздка чи екскурсія
incredibly – неймовірно
to trap – ловити в пастки, капкани
to fix up – організувати, привести до норми
booking – розташування замовлень

Task 1. True or False Statements
1. People prefer to spend their holidays abroad.
2. People prefer to reduce their spending on food than on holidays.
3. It is only a travel agent who can choose a place for holiday for any holiday-maker.
4. In case of an organized holiday people book a package.
5. Both organized and independent holiday planning have advantages and disadvantages.
6. A travel agent is responsible for a package holiday.
7. An organized holiday-maker must speak a foreign language.
8. An individual holiday-maker has no right to choose an expensive resort.
9. Package holidays are usually cheaper than individual ones.
10. Package holiday is the synonym to holiday abroad.

Task 2. Multiple Choice Questions
Listen to the text again. Choose the one best answer А, В, С, D to each ques­tion.
1.  People prefer to have a holiday…
A. where they can eat food they like.
B. where they can wear clothes they like.
C. with other people of their own age.
D. that they can afford.
2.  To choose a place for a holiday…
A. is not an easy matter.
B. one must consult another holiday-maker.
C. one must buy a map.
D. one must have enough money.
3.  The choice of holiday depends on everything except…
A. where you want to go.
B. what weather is like today.
C. who you want to go with.
D. what means of transport you prefer.
4.  If you plan your holiday independently, …
A. you don’t organize it.             C. you organize it secretly.
B. you organize it thoroughly.    D. you organize it yourself.
5.  An organized holiday…
A. takes you a week or two.        C. is booked through a travel agent.
B. is controlled by your boss.      D. is arranged by your relatives.
6.  If you take an independent holiday, you may…
A. be a lucky person.
B. not feel fine.
C. spend a lot of money making arrangements.
D. have to run after planes.
7.  Package holidays…
A. demand the pay for the rent.
B. are not always cheaper than independent holidays.
C. are more expensive than independent ones.
D. never end.
8.  Planning the holidays on one’s own…
A. is incredibly boring.             C. is preferable for retired people.
B. has some advantages.            D. takes much time.
9.  An independent holiday-maker…
A. may choose the term of his staying at a place.
B. is forced to eat food of the region.
C. never avoids large resorts.
D. has no problems.
10. Planning holidays independently is safer because…
A. you return home reasonably satisfied.
B. you are classified as a tourist.
C. you depend on nobody.
D. you have to break a booking.

Сергєєва Г.Б. Підготовка до олімпіад з англійської мови. 10-11 класи. – Х.: Вид. група “Основа”, 2004. – С.9-12