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Housing & Accommodation

Asking for Local Accommodation Advice

Someone new to an area or traveling is asking local friends or acquaintances for advice on temporary accommodation options like short-term rentals or guesthouses.

Dialogue

Listen and follow along with the conversation

1
John (Male)
Hey Emily, I'm going to be in your city next month for a few days and was wondering if you had any recommendations for where to stay? I'm looking for something temporary, maybe a short-term rental or guesthouse.
2
Emily (Female)
Oh, that's great, John! Welcome! For short-term stays, a lot of people like Airbnb here. There are also some really nice boutique guesthouses in the downtown area. What's your budget like?
3
John (Male)
Ideally, I'm hoping to keep it under $100 a night, if possible. And I'd prefer somewhere with good public transport access since I won't have a car.
4
Emily (Female)
Under $100 and good public transport... Hmm. In that case, you might want to look into the areas near the university dorms. They often have cheaper guesthouses or rooms available, especially outside of term time, and the bus routes there are excellent.
5
John (Male)
That's a clever idea! I hadn't thought of looking near the university. Are there any specific guesthouses or streets you'd recommend checking out there?
6
Emily (Female)
If you're looking for simplicity, 'The Scholar's Inn' is quite popular. It's clean, basic, and very close to a major bus hub. Or you can also check out 'HomeStay Hub' - they connect travelers with local families for short stays, which can be a unique experience.
7
John (Male)
The Scholar's Inn sounds like a solid choice for my needs. I'll definitely check both of those out. Thanks so much for the tips, Emily! This is super helpful.
8
Emily (Female)
No problem! Let me know if you need any more local advice, and I look forward to seeing you when you're in town!

Vocabulary

Essential words and phrases from the dialogue

temporary

Something that is not permanent and lasts only for a short time, like a short stay in a place.

short-term rental

A place to live or stay that you rent for just a few days or weeks, not long-term.

guesthouse

A small hotel or inn that offers simple rooms for travelers, often cheaper than big hotels.

budget

The amount of money you have planned to spend on something, like accommodation.

public transport

Ways to travel using buses, trains, or subways that are available to everyone, without needing a car.

Airbnb

A popular online service where people rent out rooms or homes to travelers for short stays.

boutique

Describes something small, stylish, and unique, like a boutique guesthouse that feels special.

bus hub

A central location where many bus routes meet, making it easy to catch buses to different places.

Key Sentences

Important phrases to remember and practice

I'm looking for something temporary, maybe a short-term rental or guesthouse.

This sentence asks for accommodation options in a polite way. It's useful when seeking advice for short stays. 'Maybe' softens the suggestion, making it casual. Use it to describe your needs clearly.

What's your budget like?

This is a friendly way to ask about someone's spending limit. It's practical for giving tailored advice. The phrase 'like' makes it informal. Use it in conversations about costs to understand preferences.

I'd prefer somewhere with good public transport access since I won't have a car.

This expresses a preference with reasons. 'I'd prefer' is polite for stating wants, and 'since' explains why. It's useful when specifying location needs. Grammar point: Conditional 'would' for preferences.

You might want to look into the areas near the university dorms.

This gives a suggestion indirectly. 'Might want to' is a soft way to recommend something. Useful for offering ideas without pushing. It helps in advising on cheaper options in new areas.

That's a clever idea! I hadn't thought of looking near the university.

This shows appreciation for a suggestion. 'Clever idea' praises positively, and 'hadn't thought of' admits something new. Use it to respond enthusiastically in advice conversations to build rapport.

The Scholar's Inn sounds like a solid choice for my needs.

This agrees with a recommendation. 'Sounds like' expresses opinion based on description, and 'solid choice' means reliable. Useful for confirming options. It shows you're considering the advice seriously.

Thanks so much for the tips! This is super helpful.

This thanks someone politely. 'So much' emphasizes gratitude, and 'super helpful' is informal slang for very useful. Use it at the end of advice talks to show appreciation and end positively.

Let me know if you need any more local advice.

This offers further help openly. 'Let me know' invites contact, and 'any more' implies ongoing support. It's useful for keeping conversations open. Grammar: Imperative for polite offers.