Step by Step2000 Unit 6 From Place to Place

Unit 6 From Place to Place

Part II B Conversation 1 T-travel agent C1- Customer 1

T: Hello, Villa 1 Rentals 2, can I help you?

C1: Oh, hello. I do hope so. You see my husband and I are looking for a holiday villa and we’ve heard that you have some nice places in Italy, Iniscia.

T: Oh yes, madam. We’ve got several villas 3 on offer in Iniscia. How many people would there be in your party?

C1: Well. It’s just the family, you know, my husband and …the three children.

T: A party of five then, yes. And er… when would you want to be there?

C1: When? Erm…Oh well, it would have to be in September.

T: In September. Uh-huh. And for how many weeks?

C1: For two actually, the first two in September.

T: The first two in September. Oh, well, we’ve only got one place free then, madam. Oh, but it’s a very beautiful one, the Villa Delmonti.

C1: And it’s nice, is it?

T: Oh, it’s an absolute dream, madam. It’s set on a hilltop with a big garden and a beautiful view out over the sea towards Naples.

C1: It sounds as if you’ve been there.

T: Yes, for a couple of days last October on an inspection 4 tour. And I fell in love with it at first sight.

C1: Er, how many rooms has it got?

T: Well, on the ground floor there are two double bedrooms, both of them beautifully decorated, a single bedroom and all three have their own bathroom and toilet facilities. Then still on the ground floor there’s a large kitchen, a large dining room and a very big outside terrace. And then upstairs it’s got a very large sitting-room 5 with windows all around and a back garden with a big swimming pool.

C1: Mm, it does sound nice, yes. There is a maid or cleaner or something, is there?

T: Oh, yes, madam, six days a week.

C1: Oh, well, I dare say we can manage for the seventh. Em… what about distances? Is it far from the town and all that? Do you think we’d need a car?

T: Actually we do normally advise people to hire a car.

C1: And how much would a smallish car cost?

T: On well for a…

C1: You know, for a Metro 6 or a Renault five or a Ford 7 Fiesta, nothing grand.

T: Ah, for a Fiesta, it would be about ￡80 a week.

C1: And for the house for those two weeks?

T: For the period of September 4th till the 17th inclusive, it would cost, mm, you’re five people, let me see, um, ￡570 per person for the two weeks, including the return airfare.

C1: Mm, well, it could be worse. Yes well, I’d really like to see some photographs of this place or something. Can you arrange that?

T: Oh, of course, madam. We’ve got a video of it, so any time you care to come in, you could see it.

C1: Oh, right. I’ll be… I’ll be in this afternoon. Thank you for your help.

T: Don’t mention it, madam. I’ll look forward to seeing you.

C1: Good-bye.

T: Bye.

Conversation 2 T-travel agent C2- Customer 2

T: Hello, Villa Rentals, can I help you?

C2: Oh, hello. Em…I…I…I’m just calling because I’ve er…I’ve just seen your advert 8 about apartments and villas for rent. And erm…what…could you tell me more about them please?

T: Of course, madam. But could you tell me something about what you’re looking for? And…where’d you like to go? How many bedrooms you would need and so on?

C2: Ah, yes, well, erm, there’ll be the five of us. I mean, er, my husband and I and the two kids and my mother because she lost dad last year and it’s her first year without.

T: Fine, I see. And would you want a house or an apartment?

C2: Well. We’d like a house of course, if we can afford one, but I…

T: And whereabouts? Did you have any particular place in mind?

C2: Well. We wanted the Mediterranean 9, like Spain. Actually we thought of Minorea.

T: Well, we’ve got some lovely places in Minorea, madam.

C2: Oh!

T: For five you said?

C2: Uh-huh.

T: And when would you want to be there?

C2: Well, it would have to be in August because we are both off work then and it’s the school holidays, too.

T: Well, how about this?

C2: Uh-huh?

T: Minorea, Adia. Oh, that’s a beautiful place.

C2: Oh.

T: A little fishing village. A house for five for two weeks in August from August 5th to August 18th inclusive (Uh-huh) per person. ￡270 including return flight from Gatwick.

C2: Oh! Well, that’s not bad. Ho… how many rooms has it got?

T: One double bedroom, then a big bedroom with two single beds and a sofa, you know, a convertible 10 divan 11 downstairs, full bathroom, kitchen and a large living sitting room, and a beautiful terrace with a sea view.

C2: Oh! Have you got any photographs of it?

T: Yes! Actually we’ve got a video of it. So if you’d like to come into the agency…

C2: Yes, I would. In fact I’ll drop in this afternoon. Mm, when are you open until?

T: We close at eight tonight, madam.

C2: Right. I’ll be in about six. I expect. Oh, um, just one more thing. To hire a car on the island, how much would it cost, you know, for … for a smallish one?

T: Well, for a Fiesta, it would cost you ￡98 a week.

C2: Phew! Well, it’s probably worth it if you’re five. Well, I’ll… I’ll be in this afternoon then. Er, see you then. Er, bye-bye. Oh, and er, thanks.

T: Not at all, madam. Bye.

Part III It’s the only way to travel

A—Annabel C—Charles D—Douglas

D: Ah! That’s much better!

C: Ah! That’s yours. I think… er… Doug.

D: thank you very much, Charles.

C: Right. You have a good journey then, Douglas?

D: Yes I did, I did. I must say the plane was marvelous, marvelous.

C: Very quick, then?

D: Er… the plane journey was terrifically quick… er… I mean you…er… what…you met me about 9…er …what…er…10…10:45.

C: About 10:30.

D: Yes, the plane got in at…er… 10:30 and we left Gatwick at 9:15.

C: what time did you have to start though in the morning?

D: Well, that was…er… that was a different story, because I had to get to Victoria…um…at… you know, to get to Gatwick and it’s …er…from…er… Victoria to Gatwick’s three quarters of an hour. Then, I had to leave home at 7:30 and get up at 6:30.

C: Oh, gracious me!

D: so I’m not sure if you save much really.

C: Jet travel, my goodness me! It was worth the experience, though?

D: Oh, I mean, you know, I’ve never flown across the South of England and it really looked absolutely fantastic, especially as we approach…approached Plymouth, you know, with this sunshine and it looked really marvelous… marvelous.

C: Well, when you come up next time, would you be coming the same way?

D: Oh, I don’t think so. I don’t …to be honest… Hallo, isn’t that…Annabel!

C: Oh it is, it’s Annabel.

D: Over here, over here!

A: Hallo!

C: Nice to see you, my dear.

A: Hallo there, how are you?

C: Want a drink, my dear?

A: Yes, please.

C: Right. I’ll…er… fix them. You had a good journey?

A: Yes, I had a lovely time, I came by train…er…it was …er…

C: What time did you start then?

A: Oh, about 10:30 I think. Got here about 1:30. so it’s only …what…three hours. very quick.

C: Very good. Douglas came up by plane!

A: Oh, how fancy! Well, this was…er…this was a nice train, you know, very modern and comfortable. And of course loads of trains---about every hour I think.

C: Oh, great. Did you get something to eat on the train?

A: Yes thanks, yes, Had a nice lunch. Oh, it’s wonderful, you can sit there drinking your soup and watching the view go by, I like it…

D: I bet it’s a…it’s a hell of a lot cheaper than the plane.

A: Well, actually, I thought it was quite expensive…um… unless you’ve got, you know, a student card or something.

D: Oh, those days are long gone!

A: But it was quite…quite crowded. I was… I was glad I’d booked a seat., you know.

D: Yes, yes.