Travel Options

time budget

I tend to be on a time budget so I do use guidebooks.

A 'time budget' is the amount of time you have available for an activity. Notice the following:

1. We're on a tight time budget, so let's leave early.
2. When you have a limited time budget, planning is important.

look forward to

I'm looking forward to seeing whether I enjoy myself.

If you 'look forward to' something, you are excited or happy that it will happen in the future. Notice the following:

1. I'm looking forward to my vacation.
2. She looks forward to seeing her family every summer.

the same as everybody else

You go to the same places as everybody else.

The phrase 'the same as everybody else' means doing or having what most other people do or have. Notice the following:

1. I don't want the same phone as everybody else.
2. He dresses the same as everybody else at work.

experience the culture

I think on a budget that you experience the culture better as well.

To 'experience the culture' means to learn about and enjoy the local way of life, traditions, and customs. Notice the following:

1. Staying with a local family helped us experience the culture.
2. I like to experience the culture when I travel.

better all around

I think it's better all around.

The phrase 'better all around' means better in most or every way. Notice the following:

1. The new system is better all around.
2. After the changes, things were better all around.

stay away from

You try to stay away from other tourists.

To 'stay away from' something means to avoid it or not go near it. Notice the following:

1. I try to stay away from crowded places.
2. The doctor told him to stay away from junk food.

cut down on

I cut down on alcohol.

To 'cut down on' something means to reduce the amount you use or consume. Notice the following:

1. I'm trying to cut down on sugar.
2. She cut down on spending this year.

expense

That's usually a big expense.

An 'expense' is something that costs money. Notice the following:

1. Travel is my biggest expense.
2. We need to reduce our monthly expenses.

thousands and thousands

In a place like Machu Picchu, there are thousands and thousands of other tourists.

The expression 'thousands and thousands' emphasizes that there are a very large number of something. Notice the following:

1. Thousands and thousands of people attended the festival.
2. There are thousands and thousands of stars in the sky.

there's nothing you can do about it

There are thousands and thousands of other tourists, and there's nothing you can do about it.

We say 'there's nothing you can do about it' when a situation cannot be changed or controlled. Notice the following:

1. The flight was canceled, and there was nothing we could do about it.
2. Sometimes bad weather happens, and there's nothing you can do about it.

so much

I try not to eat in restaurants so much.

Here, 'so much' means as often or as much as before. It is used to show a reduction. Notice the following:

1. I don't watch TV so much anymore.
2. He doesn't eat fast food so much these days.