2011年ESL之旅行交通购物 02 Staying in a Vacation Rental（在线收听）

02 Staying in a Vacation Rental

GLOSSARY

vacation rental – a home that one can pay to stay in for a short period of time,usually during one’s vacation

* They bought a second home on the beach so they can stay there in thesummer and use it as a vacation rental during the rest of the year.

to book – to make a reservation; to make arrangements to use or havesomething at a particular time in the future

* Please book one nonsmoking room with a queen-sized bed for next Thursday.

pet-friendly – willing to accommodate people who live or travel with animals,normally dogs and cats

* This is such a pet-friendly hotel where dogs can swim in the pool and there isdog food in each room!

kid-friendly – willing to accommodate people who live or travel with children,offering special features and services that children need and like

* Do you know of any good kid-friendly restaurants in town that have toys for kidsto play with, small silverware, and cups that don’t spill?

to sleep – to have places for a certain number of people to sleep

* With one queen bed and two twin beds, this house sleeps four peoplecomfortably.

amenity – a characteristic that makes something more comfortable, enjoyable,and attractive

* This retirement center has many nice amenities, including an entertainmentroom, a swimming pool, and exercise equipment.

to have the run of the place – to be able to do whatever one wants in aparticular place without being supervised, controlled, or observed

* When Tanya’s parents went away for the weekend, she was really happy tohave the run of the place, until she realized she would have to clean up the messbefore they came back home.

adjoining – adjacent; next to something else, sharing a wal

l* In this hotel suite, each bedroom has an adjoining bathroom.

proximity – nearness; closeness; a short distance to something

* I really like this apartment because of its proximity to work, but the otherapartment has a better view and a bigger kitchen.

last-minute – without advance notice; happening immediately before somethingelse happens

* There has been a last-minute change in the schedule, so we’re meeting at 4:00instead of 2:30.

low season – the time of year when there are few customers, low demand, andfew sales

* Our company sells swimsuits and beach balls, so the winter months are our lowseason.

home away from home – a place other than one’s home where one feels verycomfortable and relaxed

* Jackie is a workaholic who treats her office as a home away from home.

scarce – not common; rare; difficult to find or obtain

* Large wild animals are becoming scarcer as we continue cutting down forests.

affordable – inexpensive; with a low price that one can pay easily

* Trent dreams of owning a sports car, but for now he has to drive a moreaffordable car.

cleaning fee – money paid to cover the cost of cleaning an apartment or home,especially when one moves in or moves out

* Everyone who moves into this apartment building has to pay a $300 cleaningfee that covers the cost of cleaning the rooms, washing the carpets, and paintingall the walls.

refundable deposit – a large amount of money that one pays when moving intoan apartment or home with the expectation of getting that money back unlessone damages the building, in which case the money needed to make repairs issubtracted from the amount paid back

* They paid a $500 security deposit when they moved in, but their dog caused$200 of damage to the wood floors, so they only got $300 back when they movedout.

too good to be true – something that appears to be very good and favorable,but actually has problems or disadvantages

* If anyone says you can become a millionaire by working just five hours perweek, the offer is probably too good to be true.

fine print – the very small type at the end of a legal agreement that is difficult toread and often filled with important pieces of information that make theagreement less attractive or less fair

* Getting this credit card sounds like a great opportunity, but if you read the fineprint, you’ll see that you have to pay $100 per year just to have the card, and20% interest on the balance.

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COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1. What does Marnie mean when she says, “Before I booked this unit….”

a) Before I read about this vacation rental in a guidebook….

b) Before I made a reservation for this vacation rental….

c) Before I wrote about this vacation rental in my book….

2. According to Marnie, why is this vacation unit a good deal?

a) Because it is next to a lot of other vacation rentals.

b) Because it is one of only a few rentals near the beach.

c) Because it is really far from the nearest town.

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WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN?

to sleep

The verb “to sleep,” in this podcast, means to have places for a certain number ofpeople to sleep: “A queen bed is designed to sleep two adults, but when we werekids, my five brothers and sisters all slept in one queen bed.” The phrase “sleeptight” is said to children before they fall asleep: “Sleep tight, Pedro. I’ll see you inthe morning.” The phrase “to sleep like a log” or “to sleep like a baby” means tosleep very well: “Our new mattress is so comfortable! I slept like a log.” Finally,the phrase “to not be able to sleep a wink” means to be unable to sleep at all:

“The neighbors had a loud party all night and I couldn’t sleep a wink!”

scarce

In this podcast, the word “scarce” means not common, rare, or difficult to find orobtain: “In our economics class, we learned that when goods are scarce, theybecome more expensive.” Or, “Local fresh fruits are really scarce in the winter.”

The phrase “to make (oneself) scarce” means to leave a place, often because itis uncomfortable to be there: “Mom and Dad are really mad at you. You shouldtry to make yourself scarce for the next few hours until they forget about what you’ve done.” Finally, the word “scarcely” means hardly or barely: “We hadscarcely recovered from the last storm when another storm came that was evenstronger than the first one.” Or, “I could scarcely believe what I was hearing.”

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CULTURE NOTE

A “vacation rental” is a “fully furnished” (with all basic furniture and equipment)home or apartment. It normally includes sofas, beds, tables, and chairs, as wellas “appliances” (refrigerators, coffee makers, microwaves, etc.), “cleaningsupplies” (brooms, mops, cleansers) and basic “toiletries” (things needed in thebathroom, like towels, toilet paper, and soap). The kitchen normally has pots,pans, dishes, and silverware, as well as cooking oil and maybe some “spices”

(dried seeds and leaves used to flavor foods). Renters need to bring their ownfood to cook with, but almost everything else is provided.

Most vacation rentals also provide entertainment, such as CDs, DVDs, videogames, or books. A kid-friendly vacation rental may provide toys for children. Ifthe home is in an area with many “bicycle paths” (special roads only for bicycles,not for cars), it may provide bicycles.

Because vacation rentals usually are not part of a large “complex” (a group ofrelated buildings), the guests are responsible for many of the services that areprovided in a traditional hotel. For examples, there is no “maid service” (cleaningservices) in a vacation rental and renters are supposed to “clean up afterthemselves” (clean up the mess one makes) throughout their “stay” (the period oftime when one is at the vacation rental). Professional cleaners clean the homeonce the renters leave, but the renters may be asked to put their towels and/or“sheets” (bedding) into the washing machine before they leave.

If something breaks, guests are supposed to call the owner or “propertymanagement company” (a company that takes care of the property, especiallywhen the owners live far away), but unfortunately there is often a “delay” (aperiod of time spent waiting) before things are repaired.

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Comprehension Questions Correct Answers: 1 – b; 2 – b

COMPLETE TRANSCRIPT

Welcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 655: Staying in aVacation Rental.

This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode 655. I’m your host, Dr.

Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development inbeautiful Los Angeles, California.

Our website is eslpod.com – eslpod.com. Go there to download a LearningGuide for this episode that will make your life a little happier, a little brighter, alittle longer.

This episode is called “Staying in a Vacation Rental.” This is when you go onvacation but you don’t say in a hotel, you stay in someone else’s house orapartment. Of course, you pay them money to do that. Let’s get started.

[start of dialogue]

George: I’m kind of nervous staying in a vacation rental for the first time.

Marnie: Don’t worry. Before I booked this unit, I checked it out thoroughly. It’spet-friendly and kid-friendly, and it sleeps six, so it’ll be perfect for the wholefamily.

George: But there won’t be the same amenities or services as a hotel.

Marnie: We won’t need any of those. Just think, we’ll have the run of the placeand there are no adjoining units. The proximity to town is great and I got a lastminuteprice that’s even lower than their low season rate.

George: Everything sounds good, but…Marnie: It’ll be our home away from home. Units this close to the beach arescarce, and this one is really affordable.

George: A little too affordable, if you ask me. You said that it’s just $60 a night?

Marnie: That’s right.

George: Are there any taxes or cleaning fees?

Marnie: I didn’t ask about that.

George: Do they require a refundable deposit?

Marnie: I didn’t check that either.

George: Then maybe it’s too good to be true. Before we get too excited, let’s goread the fine print.

[end of dialogue]

George says to his wife Marnie at the beginning of the dialogue, “I’m kind ofnervous,” meaning I’m a little nervous – “I’m kind of nervous,” that’s an informalway of saying a little bit. He’s kind of nervous staying in a vacation rental for thefirst time. A “vacation rental” is a home, condominium, or apartment that yourent; it could also be a room in someone’s house. You rent it for a short period oftime just like a hotel room, although usually you have a kitchen and it’s more likea regular house. Vacation rentals have become very popular. People rent outtheir houses or their apartments to people who are visiting that area. I’ve stayedin vacation rentals many times, and really find it much better than staying in ahotel, and often even a little cheaper.

Marnie says to George, “Don’t worry. Before I booked this unit, I checked it outthoroughly.” “To book” (book) as a verb means to make a reservation, to call oremail or write someone and say I want to stay in your hotel or your vacationrental for this day through this day. “To book” means to reserve. Marnie says,“Before I booked this unit,” meaning this vacation rental – sometimes a unit refersto an apartment or a condominium that is also a vacation rental, or just a regularrental. Marnie says she “checked it out,” meaning she investigated it, shechecked it out thoroughly. “It’s pet-friendly and kid-friendly.” “Pet-friendly” is aplace where you can take your dog or your cat, or perhaps your pig or goat if youhave those as pets, and you can bring them with you on vacation. If you bring acow with you, for example, you don’t have to pay for milk, so that’s something tothink about! Pet-friendly, then, is a hotel or a vacation rental where you can bringyour favorite pet, like a snake. “Kid-friendly” is a place where you can bringanother kind of animal, small children, so that is also an advantage if you havesmall children. If you don’t, then, it might be a disadvantage if you are stayingnext door to the place with the small children, but let’s get back to the dialogue.

This place that Marnie found is pet-friendly and kid-friendly and it “sleeps six,”

meaning six people can sleep in this unit; there are six beds or beds big enoughto fit six people. She says it’s perfect for the whole family – for our entire family,for everyone George says, “But there won’t be the same amenities or services as a hotel.” An“amenity” (amenity) is some characteristic that makes something morecomfortable or more enjoyable. You may go to a hotel that also has a pool and aspa, that would be a hotel with extra amenities, nice things that will make yourstay more comfortable.

Marnie says, “We won’t need any of those (any of those amenities). Just think,we’ll have the run of the place and there are no adjoining units.” “To have therun of the place” is a phrase meaning to be able to do whatever you wantbecause no one is watching you – no one is observing you. In this case, Marniesays they’ll have the vacation rental; they’ll be the only people there so they’llhave the run of the place and there are no adjoining units. “Adjoining” (adjoining)means next to something; we might also say “adjacent.” It usually means, whenwe’re talking about a condominium or an apartment, that you don’t have anyonewho shares a wall; that is, that your wall is the same as the wall for the unit nextto you. Marnie says, “The proximity to town is great.” “Proximity” meanscloseness, nearness. It’s a short distance from town, meaning the main townwherever they’re staying. She says and she got a last-minute price that’s evenlower than their low season rate. The phrase “last-minute” means without anyadvance notice. In this case, it means something you do right at the very lastmoment, right before you’re about to do something else or right before somethingelse happens. So, you may call two days before you are going to leave and askif you can book the vacation rental; that would be doing things at the last minute.

Buying your girlfriend a present for Valentine’s Day on February 13th is also doingthings at the last minute so don’t wait gentlemen!

Marnie says they got a rate – a price, even lower than their low season rate.

“Low season” is the time of year when there are few customers, there aren’t verymany people traveling to that area. Minnesota’s low season would be in thewintertime; because it’s so cold no one would want to go there. The low seasonfor other places will depend upon the weather and other things.

George says, “Everything sounds good, but…” Marnie interrupts him and says,“It’ll be our home away from home.” This vacation rental will be our home awayfrom home, meaning it will feel just like home; you will feel very comfortablethere. She says, “Units this close to the beach are scarce, and this one is reallyaffordable.” Something that is “scarce” (scarce) is something that is rare, notcommon, difficult to find. There are other meanings of “scarce,” take a look atour Learning Guide for some additional explanations. We also have someadditional explanations of the word “sleep,” which you will find in the guide aswell.

Marnie says this vacation unit – this vacation rental is very affordable.

Something that is “affordable” has a low price; it’s inexpensive, it doesn’t cost alot of money. George says, “A little too affordable, if you ask me,” meaningmaybe the price is so low because it isn’t very good quality. He’s worried abouthow good the unit is, and he is, we might say, suspicious; he has doubts aboutwhy the price is so low. He says, “You said that it’s just $60 a night?” Marniesays, “That’s right (that’s correct).” George says, “Are there any taxes orcleaning fees?” A “cleaning fee” (fee) is money that you pay in addition to yourrent, meaning extra, to have the rental unit cleaned when you are done. Manypeople who have vacation rentals will charge you a fee to stay there each nightplus a cleaning fee, which might be $25, it might be $100; you have to ask.

Marnie says she didn’t ask about cleaning fees or taxes. George then asks, “Dothey require a refundable deposit?” A “deposit,” in this case, is money that yougive to someone in case something goes wrong, in case you break something.

That way they have some money from you in case you pay for it at least theyhave your deposit. If you don’t break anything, then you get your deposit backwhen you leave. A “refundable deposit” means that let’s say I decide to book aunit for June and it is currently February. Well, I decide that in March I don’t wantto go but I have already given them a $500 deposit. A refundable deposit is onewhich they say, “Okay, no problem. You cancelled, we’ll give you your moneyback.” Some places may have a nonrefundable deposit, meaning if you cancel,especially if you cancel, say, a month or two weeks before the date that you aresupposed to arrive you do not get your deposit back.

Marnie didn’t check about a refundable deposit. George then says, “Then maybeit’s too good to be true.” “To be too good to be true” means it appears to be verygood, but there are some problems with it that are not immediately obvious; thereare some disadvantages. If someone says they will sell you their car for $100and the car is new, that’s too good to be true; there’s probably something elsewrong here that should make you be a little suspicious. George says, “Before weget too excited, let’s go read the fine print.” “Fine (fine) print” refers to typicallythe legal language in a contract or agreement; sometimes it is printed in a verysmall size – a very small font size. We call that fine print when it’s printed verysmall so you can almost not read it – you can barely read it. You may see anadvertisement in the newspaper that says that you can buy a new television for$50, but then if you look at the bottom of the advertisement in very small print –in very small size lettering – it will say, well, only if you also buy a $25,000 car.

That would be an example of reading the fine print to get all of the details of thisoffer or this sale.

Now let’s listen to the dialogue, this time at a normal speed.

[start of dialogue]

George: I’m kind of nervous staying in a vacation rental for the first time.

Marnie: Don’t worry. Before I booked this unit, I checked it out thoroughly. It’spet-friendly and kid-friendly, and it sleeps six, so it’ll be perfect for the wholefamily.

George: But there won’t be the same amenities or services as a hotel.

Marnie: We won’t need any of those. Just think, we’ll have the run of the placeand there are no adjoining units. The proximity to town is great and I got a lastminuteprice that’s even lower than their low season rate.

George: Everything sounds good, but…Marnie: It’ll be our home away from home. Units this close to the beach arescarce, and this one is really affordable.

George: A little too affordable, if you ask me. You said that it’s just $60 a night?

Marnie: That’s right.

George: Are there any taxes or cleaning fees?

Marnie: I didn’t ask about that.

George: Do they require a refundable deposit?

Marnie: I didn’t check that either.

George: Then maybe it’s too good to be true. Before we get too excited, let’s goread the fine print.

[end of dialogue]

Our scripts are not too good to be true; they’re just as good as you may think.

That’s because they’re written by Dr. Lucy Tse.

From Los Angeles, California, I’m Jeff McQuillan. Thank you for listening. Comeback and listen to us next time on ESL Podcast.

English as a Second Language Podcast is written and produced by Dr. Lucy Tse,hosted by Dr. Jeff McQuillan, copyright 2011 by the Center for EducationalDevelopment.