Jane: Where did you go on your last holiday?
Kaylin: I went to Hokkaido. It is in the northern part of Japan.
Jane: Wow, that's great. I've never been to Japan. Who did you go with?
Kaylin: I went there with my husband last month. We wanted to relax, and also go shopping.
Jane: Sounds good! How long did you stay?
Kaylin: We stayed there for almost six days. We booked a hotel online in advance.
Jane: Isn't it expensive there? I've heard it's really expensive in Japan.
Kaylin: It depends on which city you go to. In the northern part of Japan, it's not that expensive compared to Tokyo, for example. Tokyo is an expensive city. But I think that if you choose Airbnb, it's not that pricey. It's around 200 or 300 RMB per night. Airbnb is way cheaper than a hotel.
Jane: Who makes travel decisions in your family?
Kaylin: Sometimes it's me, and sometimes it's my husband who makes travel decisions. My friends suggested going to Japan and we decided to join them.
Jane: Was that your first time in Japan?
Kaylin: Well, we go to Japan twice a year.
Jane: Twice a year? Wow, that's quite often. And why do you prefer to go to Japan that often?
Kaylin: I like going to Japan because of the culture and the distance. It only takes us two hours to get there by plane.
Jane: I see. Do you prefer visiting other countries or traveling in China?
Kaylin: I prefer both. I think there are really beautiful places in China. For instance, Xinjiang and Xizang provinces are more beautiful than foreign countries.
Jane: Are these places far from Shanghai?
Kaylin: If you want to go to Xinjiang, it's a 5-hour flight, and to Xizang, it's a 3-hour flight. Yes, it's far from Shanghai.
Jane: Actually, Japan is closer to Shanghai.
Kaylin: Yeah, Japan and South Korea are closer to Shanghai.
Jane: Have you been to South Korea?
Kaylin: Yes, I went there in October last year. We have a long holiday in China at that time of the year because it's a national holiday.
Jane: Which city did you visit?
Kaylin: We went to Seoul, but I think it's not very tourist-friendly. I prefer going to Japan.
Jane: If you compare Japanese and Korean cuisine, which one do you like more?
Kaylin: Of course, Japanese food.
Jane: Really? I've heard that a lot of people prefer Korean food more.
Kaylin: Korean food is spicy to me. I think Japanese food is more delicious.
Jane: What countries would you like to visit in the future?
Kaylin: I want to go to Italy next year. I'm not planning to go anywhere this year. I would also like to visit Spain and the UK. In 2015, I went to Germany, the Netherlands, and France.
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Jane: What do you need before you travel to another country? What do you need to prepare?
Kaylin: It depends on where I'm going. If I choose Europe or the USA, I usually take some Chinese food with me. I don't like Western food. I'm Chinese, and I like rice and noodles. I went to the USA in 2016 and I didn't like their food. Even though there are Chinese restaurants in Europe and the USA, the food there is very expensive.
Jane: So you went to the US last year? Which cities did you go to?
Kaylin: I went to San Francisco, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles. To be honest, I like Europe more.
Jane: What's the best way to find travel deals? How do you usually organize your trips?
Kaylin: We always travel with my friends. One of us books the tickets, someone else books hotels, and another person finds information about food and local dishes.
Jane: That's a great idea. I think I should do the same next time I decide to travel. Do you prefer going on a package tour or a tour you organize and book yourself?
Kaylin: I prefer to organize everything myself. If you choose a travel agency, it is more expensive than doing it yourself, and it is not that flexible.
Jane: Yes, you're right. Do you usually travel with a lot of luggage or do you like to travel light?
Kaylin: It depends on which country I'm going to. When I went to Japan, I bought some Japanese cosmetics.
Jane: Great. So was it expensive?
Kaylin: It depends on the brand. Local brands are not very expensive.
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Jane: What kind of holidays do you like? Do you like warm or cold weather?
Kaylin: I like summer holidays. Holidays for me are just for relaxing, spending time with my family, and shopping as well.
Jane: Have you had any bad experiences when traveling?
Kaylin: Well, I think Korean people are not very nice and friendly, and I find their food a bit expensive. In Thailand, for instance, people are friendly, but I don't like their tipping culture. You always need to leave a tip. It's the same in the USA.
Jane: In China, you don't leave a tip, right?
Kaylin: Yes, there are no tips.
