# Planning road trips together

**Language:** English  
**CEFR Level:** B2  

> Listen in as Ethan and Chloe talk about how to plan the perfect road trip with friends in real, everyday English. By the end of this course their conversation will feel easy to follow, and you'll be ready to join in.

**Setting:** The course is set in Seattle, Washington, where Ethan and Chloe are long-time friends preparing for an epic West Coast road trip. They meet regularly at a local coffee shop and in their shared apartment to plan their route, budget, and entertainment.

## Lessons

### 1. Suggesting a starting point for planning

Ethan and Chloe decide to stop just talking about their road trip and start planning, agreeing that setting a budget is their first priority.

### 2. Estimating expenses for a trip

Chloe and Ethan estimate how much they will need for gas and food, and Chloe suggests bringing a cooler to avoid eating out.

### 3. Introducing resources for a trip

Ethan agrees with the idea of bringing a cooler, and Chloe introduces a helpful travel app that highlights quirky roadside attractions.

### 4. Insisting on a specific choice

Chloe shares more quirky roadside attractions, prompting Ethan to declare one of them a must-see before they transition to discussing daily driving hours.

### 5. Agreeing on a reasonable limit

Ethan and Chloe discuss how many hours they should drive each day, agreeing that a six-hour limit will keep them from getting exhausted and arguing.

### 6. Sharing a past travel experience

Chloe recalls an exhausting road trip with Ethan's brother to justify their driving limit, and then points out the need for offline maps in the mountains.

### 7. Offering to handle a task

After Ethan shares a story about getting lost without cell service, Chloe volunteers to download their route maps, and Ethan suggests bringing a power bank.

### 8. Summarizing plans and transitioning topics

Chloe confirms she has a high-capacity charger for their phones, reviews their current packing checklist, and transitions to planning their road trip music.

### 9. Defending your personal taste

Ethan and Chloe discuss making a collaborative playlist for their road trip, leading Chloe to tease Ethan about his obscure music preferences.

### 10. Proposing a division of responsibilities

Chloe suggests rotating the roles of DJ and navigator daily to ensure safety, reminding Ethan of a past distracted-driving incident.

### 11. Conceding a point in a discussion

Ethan downplays his past driving mistake but ultimately agrees to Chloe's rotation plan before suggesting they start mapping out their route.

### 12. Scheduling a collaborative planning session

Chloe and Ethan arrange to meet at a coffee shop tomorrow to map out their route, agreeing that planning ahead will make the trip less stressful.

### 13. Agreeing to a different approach

Chloe tries to defend her spontaneous travel style, but after Ethan reminds her of a past mishap, she agrees that planning their trip is the best way forward.

### 14. Expressing enthusiasm for a suggestion

Ethan recommends a diner famous for its pie along their route, which makes Chloe feel much more excited about their upcoming road trip.