Unit 21 — Choosing a Holiday | I'd prefer and I'd rather

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People enjoy different kinds of holidays. Some want adventure; others want to relax. In this unit, you'll learn how to say what you would like, compare alternatives and reach an agreement.

“I'd prefer a walking holiday.”
“I'd rather travel by train.”

Work through the steps in order. In each scored exercise, select Check answers to see which responses are correct. Select Show answers whenever you need help, even if every answer is wrong.

Step 1

What sort of holiday?

First, learn some useful words for different holidays and arrangements.

city break
A short visit to a city, often for sightseeing.

walking holiday
A holiday with long walks in the countryside or mountains.

cruise
A holiday on a ship that visits several places.

package holiday
A trip sold with arrangements such as travel and accommodation together.

self-catering
Staying somewhere where you prepare your own meals.

half-board
Accommodation that includes breakfast and one other meal each day.

all-inclusive
A holiday price that includes accommodation, meals and usually some drinks and activities.

excursion
A short organised trip from the place where you are staying.

vegan options
Food made without meat, fish, eggs, milk or other animal products.

food allergy
A condition that means a person must avoid a particular food because it can make them ill.

Check your understanding

1. You want to spend most days walking in the hills. Which type of holiday would suit you?

2. You want to buy food and cook your own meals in your accommodation. What arrangement do you need?

3. Your hotel offers a guided day trip to a nearby castle. What is this trip called?

Step 2

I'd prefer …

Use I'd prefer + a noun or I'd prefer + to + verb.

I'd prefer a small guesthouse.
I'd prefer to stay in a small guesthouse.

I'd is short for I would. We use these forms to talk about what we would like in a particular situation.

Choose the correct words to complete each sentence.

1. I'd prefer ______ by train rather than fly.

2. I'd prefer ______ to a large hotel.

3. I'd prefer ______ our accommodation before we go.

Step 3

I'd rather …

Use I'd rather + the base form of the verb. Don't put to before the verb.

I'd rather travel by train.
I'd rather stay somewhere quiet.
Not: “I'd rather to travel.”

Choose the correct form.

1. I'd rather ______ in a cottage than in a busy resort.

2. I'd rather ______ the overnight train.

3. I'd rather ______ a car when we arrive.

Step 4

Choosing between alternatives

Use I'd rather … than … to compare two actions. After rather and than, use the base form of the verb.

I'd rather camp than stay in a hotel.
I'd rather visit a museum than go shopping.

Complete each sentence with the missing verb. Type only the verb.

1. I'd rather ______ around the old town than take a bus tour. (walk)

2. I'd rather ______ our own meals than eat in restaurants every night. (cook)

3. I'd rather ______ the ferry than fly. (take)

Step 5

Two friends plan a holiday

Leah and Tom are planning a week away in August with their friend Maya. They have different ideas about the best holiday. Leah enjoys walking and is vegan, so she looks for places with vegan food. Tom likes comfort and would rather eat in restaurants than cook every evening. Maya has a peanut allergy, so she needs to check with restaurants about ingredients and how food is prepared.

Leah: I'd rather go somewhere with walking routes than spend a week on a crowded beach.

Tom: I'd prefer a comfortable hotel with restaurants nearby. I don't want to cook every evening.

Maya: I'd prefer somewhere quiet, but I don't mind whether we stay in a hotel or an apartment. We just need to choose places to eat carefully.

Leah: What about a small town near the hills? I'd prefer to have some vegan options nearby.

Tom: I'd rather stay in a guesthouse than camp. If there are a few restaurants, we can all choose what suits us.

Maya: I like that idea. I'll contact any restaurant before we book a table, to check that they can safely cater for my allergy.

Leah: Then let's compare a few places. I'd prefer to book somewhere with breakfast included, but I'm happy to eat out in the evenings.

Tom: Deal! I'd rather take the train than drive, if the journey isn't too long.

They haven't chosen their holiday yet, but they have agreed on what to look for. Each person has expressed a preference, and they are comparing options that can work for everyone.

Complete each sentence with the best option from the story.

1. What would Tom prefer?

2. What would Leah prefer?

3. What does Maya need to do about her peanut allergy?

Step 6

Make your own choices

Now imagine you are planning a holiday with a friend. Use the prompts to practise the language.

Remember
I'd prefer + noun / to + verb.
I'd rather + base form of the verb.
I'd rather do X than do Y.

Complete the phrases. Type the whole missing phrase, using the words in brackets.

1. I'd prefer ______. (a walking holiday)

2. I'd rather ______ than fly. (travel by train)

3. I'd prefer ______. (to stay in a guesthouse)

For open-ended speaking or writing, there may be several good answers. The checker in this exercise accepts the phrases shown in the answer key; your teacher can help you discuss other natural possibilities.

Think about the difference
A preference is something a person would like: “I'd prefer a quiet hotel.” A food allergy is a practical safety requirement, not just a preference. Maya needs to check that restaurants can cater safely for her. The friends can still compare different holidays and agree on an option that suits them all.

Step 7

How about you?

Now use the language from this unit to talk about your own holiday preferences. There are no right or wrong choices: the important thing is to explain what you would prefer.

1. Choose your ideal holiday

Where would you prefer to go?

Where would you rather stay?

How would you prefer to travel?

What would you most like to do?

2. Explain your preferences

Write a few sentences. Try to use I'd prefer, I'd rather and I'd rather … than …. You can use your choices above, but you can also choose different ideas.

Example
I'd prefer to go to the countryside because I enjoy walking. I'd rather stay in a small hotel than in a large resort. I'd prefer to travel by train, and I'd rather explore local towns than spend every day on the beach.

Write about your ideal holiday

Check your writing
• After I'd prefer, use a noun or to + verb: I'd prefer a hotel / I'd prefer to stay in a hotel.
• After I'd rather, use the base form: I'd rather stay.
• Use than to compare alternatives: I'd rather travel by train than drive.
• Your ideas may be different from the example. That is fine.

3. Talk to a partner

Ask each other: Would you prefer to go to the seaside or the countryside? Would you rather stay in a hotel or an apartment? Find one thing you agree on and one thing you would choose differently.

This is an open-ended speaking and writing activity, so it is not marked by the automatic answer checker. A teacher or partner can help you improve your sentences.

Quick reminder

I'd prefer + noun
I'd prefer a room with a balcony.

I'd prefer + to-infinitive
I'd prefer to travel in September.

I'd rather + base verb
I'd rather go by train.

I'd rather X than Y
I'd rather explore a town than lie on the beach.

Would you prefer …?
Would you prefer a hotel or an apartment?

When asking someone else, you can say: Would you prefer a hotel or a guesthouse? or Would you rather travel by train or by coach?