Transport intervals and distances below are details of a fictional hotel dialogue. In this workshop you will practise a short, realistic conversation about getting to the airport. You will learn how to ask the main question in two ways, how to check whether a train exists, and how to ask where the bus stop is. You will also hear a simple answer and decide which transport is being recommended. All the French you need is in the recordings, so you can listen, repeat, and then take both roles yourself.
Asking the main question
Start with the most useful question. The recording «Quel est le meilleur moyen d'aller à l'aéroport ?» means "What's the best way to get to the airport?" It is neutral and polite, so you can use it at a hotel desk, a tourist office, or an information desk. A shorter version is «Comment aller à l'aéroport ?», which means "How do I get to the airport?" This is also polite and very common. Both questions do the same job. Choose the first one when you want a clear recommendation, and the second one when you want a quick, simple answer. Listen to the rhythm, then repeat each line slowly before you try it at normal speed.
Checking if a train exists
Sometimes you already have an idea about the transport you want. To check whether a train service exists, use «Il y a un train pour l'aéroport ?», which means "Is there a train to the airport?" The beginning of this line means "there is" or "there are", so it is perfect for asking about any service. If you want to ask about a bus stop instead, use «Où est l'arrêt de bus ?», which means "Where is the bus stop?" Notice that the word for a bus or tram stop is different from the word for a train station. Keep these two questions separate in your mind: one checks if something exists, and the other asks where something is.
Understanding a simple answer
When you ask your question, you may hear a short answer like «Le plus simple, c'est le train. Il y a un train direct toutes les quinze minutes.», which means "The simplest way is the train. There's a direct train every fifteen minutes." This answer recommends the train and gives you a reason: it is direct and frequent. You may also hear «La gare est à cinq minutes à pied. Sinon, vous pouvez prendre un taxi devant l'hôtel.», which means "The station is five minutes away on foot. Otherwise, you can take a taxi in front of the hotel." This answer tells you where the station is and offers a second option. You do not need to understand every word. Listen for the transport words and the key details, then decide what to do next.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
Quel est le meilleur moyen d'aller à l'aéroport ?
What's the best way to get to the airport?
kel eh luh meh-yur mwa-yen da-lay ah la-ay-ro-por
Comment aller à l'aéroport ?
How do I get to the airport?
ko-mahn ta-lay ah la-ay-ro-por
Il y a un train pour l'aéroport ?
Is there a train to the airport?
eel ya un tran poor la-ay-ro-por
Où est l'arrêt de bus ?
Where is the bus stop?
oo eh la-reh duh booss
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Bonjour, quel est le meilleur moyen d'aller à l'aéroport ?
Hello, what's the best way to get to the airport?Le plus simple, c'est le train. Il y a un train direct toutes les quinze minutes.
The simplest way is the train. There's a direct train every fifteen minutes.D'accord. Où est la gare ?
OK. Where is the station?La gare est à cinq minutes à pied. Sinon, vous pouvez prendre un taxi devant l'hôtel.
The station is five minutes away on foot. Otherwise, you can take a taxi in front of the hotel.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided exchange: ask and answer
Imagine you are at a hotel desk. You want to know the best way to the airport. A staff member is ready to help. You will play both roles, using only the lines from the recordings.
Your task: As the traveller, ask «Bonjour, quel est le meilleur moyen d'aller à l'aéroport ?». As the staff member, answer «Le plus simple, c'est le train. Il y a un train direct toutes les quinze minutes.». The traveller then asks «D'accord. Où est la gare ?», meaning OK, where is the station? The staff member replies «La gare est à cinq minutes à pied. Sinon, vous pouvez prendre un taxi devant l'hôtel.». Repeat in this question-answer order. The separate bus-stop question is useful vocabulary, but the station answer does not answer it.
Reply comprehension: which transport?
You will hear two short answers. One recommends the train, and one mentions a taxi as a second option. Your job is to identify the main transport in each answer.
Your task: Listen to «Le plus simple, c'est le train. Il y a un train direct toutes les quinze minutes.» and decide: is the main recommendation the train, the bus, or a taxi? Then listen to «La gare est à cinq minutes à pied. Sinon, vous pouvez prendre un taxi devant l'hôtel.» and decide: what is the first option, and what is the second option? Say your answers out loud in English before you check.
Recall and role swap
Recall the same hotel scene, keeping the traveller’s questions before the staff answers. Swap performers only after completing the exchange.
Your task: Without reading, recall the traveller’s airport question «Bonjour, quel est le meilleur moyen d'aller à l'aéroport ?», the staff recommendation «Le plus simple, c'est le train. Il y a un train direct toutes les quinze minutes.», the traveller’s station question «D'accord. Où est la gare ?», and the staff directions «La gare est à cinq minutes à pied. Sinon, vous pouvez prendre un taxi devant l'hôtel.». Use the recordings to recover a forgotten line, then try the four turns again.
Common questions
Do I need to use the exact words from the recordings?
Yes, for this practice it is best to use the exact lines from the recordings. They are short, polite, and easy to remember. Once you feel confident, you can listen to the recordings again and notice how the words connect together in natural speech.
What if I do not understand the answer?
You can listen for the transport words and the key details. In this workshop, the answers are short and focus on the train, the station, and the taxi, so you can practise picking out those words first. If you need more help, replay the recording and read the translation alongside it.
Sources and further reading
- french: ask how to get to the airportChecked September 2026
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