ESL Podcast 281 - All-Inclusive Vacations
all-inclusive - including everything; with nothing omitted or left out; complete
The cable company has an all-inclusive offer that includes cable TV and internet service for one monthly cost.
resort - a nice place to go on vacation; a vacation destination; a large hotel with many luxurious or upscale services
This beach resort has nice rooms, a beautiful view of the ocean, a full restaurant, and a swimming pool.
vacation package - a combination of transportation, hotel rooms, meals, and admission fees that are sold together for a vacation
Monica paid $2,000 for a 6-day vacation package in Colorado's Rocky Mountains.
to pay extra - to pay an additional amount; to pay money in addition to what one has already paid
If you want Adriana to finish building the website in less than 72 hours, you'll have to pay extra.
fixed price - a price that does not change, regardless of how much of something one uses; a price that does not change with usage
We pay a fixed price of $29 per month for Internet access whether we're online for two hours or 200 hours during that month.
unlimited - without limits; without a maximum or minimum; as much as one wants
When you buy a monthly ticket, you get unlimited travel on the city's busses.
predictable - knowing what will happen; knowing what something will be like; without surprises
In Washington, the weather in February is very predictable because it is cold and rainy every day.
off the beaten track - unusual; not done by many other people; not common
Instead of going to the Statue of Liberty, let's go off the beaten track and visit some neighborhoods that the tourists don't usually go to in New York City.
character - the qualities and characteristics that make a person or place special, unique, and different from other people and places
This hotel used to be a railroad station, so it has a lot of 19th -century character.
plus - advantage; good thing; a thing that makes something better
One of the pluses of studying at a small university is that you get to know the professors and the other students better.
first rate - very high quality; excellent; high class
The food at this café is first-rate, but there are so many people eating there that it is hard to find a table.
substandard - not as good as what one wanted or expected; below an acceptable level
This store sells substandard electronics that break down easily.
amenity - something that makes a place good and comfortable to stay at
This hotel's amenities include a gym, swimming pool, restaurant, salon, and conference rooms.
convinced - certain about something; sure that something is correct; believing that something is right
Why are you convinced that Nicholas was the thief?
compromise - an agreement between two people who want different things, so that each person gives up a little bit of what he or she wants, but both are happy with the final agreement
Everyone says that If you want to have a happy marriage, you need to learn how to make compromises.
spontaneity - doing things that were not planned; doing things without thinking about them very much, simply because one wants to do them
Gerry is known for his spontaneity. Yesterday, for example, he bought a ticket and flew to Miami for the day because he thought it would be fun. ...or bust - a phrase meaning that one plans to do something, or that one will work very hard to be able to do something
After almost four years of studying at the university, it's graduation or bust!