How Holidays Have Changed: Then and Now
1 How It Used To Be
Fifty years ago, planning a holiday used to be quite different. People would visit their local travel agent with a pile of colorful brochures. Margaret remembers how she would spend hours looking through pictures of package holidays to Spain and Greece. ‘We used to book everything months in advance,’ she explains. ‘The travel agent would help us choose a suitable resort, arrange our flights, and plan our itinerary. We used to get excited about staying in the same hotel every year – it was like a second home! Transport to the airport used to be by coach, and we would always pack enormous suitcases. Evening entertainment at the resort used to be simple – usually just a hotel quiz night or some local music. We used to write postcards to everyone back home, and there was always a long queue at the hotel reception to use the telephone.’
Key Terms
- travel agent
- a person whose job is to arrange holidays and travel for customers
- brochures
- books with pictures and information about holidays
- package holiday
- a holiday where transport, accommodation, and meals are all included in one price
- resort
- a place where people go on holiday
- itinerary
- a plan of places to visit and things to do
💬 Section 1: At the Travel Agent's (Past)
A customer booking a holiday in the 1970s
2 How It Is Now
Today, holiday planning looks completely different. Tom, Margaret’s grandson, does all his booking online. He often finds last-minute deals on his smartphone and can compare hundreds of different options instantly. Instead of using travel agents, he relies on review websites and travel apps to plan his trips. He prefers staying in small bed and breakfast places or unique Airbnb properties rather than big hotels. ‘I like to be flexible,’ he says. ‘I often book my flights and accommodation separately to get the best deals. I use my phone for everything – from checking in to finding local restaurants. We share our holiday photos instantly on social media, and video call home whenever we want. The entertainment is different too – we look for local experiences and adventures rather than organized hotel activities.’
Key Terms
- booking
- arranging and reserving holiday services
- last-minute deals
- special cheap offers available just before the holiday date
- review websites
- websites where people share their opinions about holiday places
- bed and breakfast
- small hotels where you stay and have breakfast
- accommodation
- a place to stay during holiday
💬 Section 2: Modern Holiday Planning
Two friends discussing holiday plans using modern methods
🔍 Grammar & Structure Focus
Used To
Form: used to + base verb
Usage: Describes past states and habits that are no longer true
- “People used to visit travel agents.”
- “Holidays used to be more structured.”
Would
Form: would + base verb
Usage: Describes repeated actions in the past
- “We would spend hours looking at brochures.”
- “People would book months in advance.”