Welcome to your ultimate guide on travel vocabulary! This blog post is designed for ESL students like you, who are learning English and want to communicate more effectively while travelling. Whether you’re planning a holiday, studying abroad, or just want to improve your language skills, this guide will help you understand the essential words and phrases needed for travel.
By the end of this guide, you will feel confident in using English while travelling. We will cover everything from basic words to more advanced phrases and provide you with exercises to practice. Let’s get started!
Planning and Preparation
Accommodation – A place where you stay when travelling.
“We found excellent accommodation through a local website.”
Reservation – A booking made in advance, especially for a hotel room or a seat on a plane.
“I have a reservation under the name of Davis.”
Itinerary – A detailed plan of a trip, including dates, times, and places to visit.
“Our itinerary covers three countries in two weeks.”
Passport control – The place where your passport is checked at an airport or border.
“We had to wait in line at passport control for 30 minutes.”
Travel agent – A person or company that arranges and sells holidays and travel.
“The travel agent helped us find a good deal on flights.”
Embark – To go onto a ship, aircraft, or train to begin a journey.
“We embarked on the cruise ship at Southampton.”
Disembark – To leave a ship, aircraft, or train after a journey.
“Passengers must disembark at the designated area.”
Visa – An official document that allows you to enter or leave a particular country.
“You need a tourist visa to visit India.”
Accommodation
Boutique hotel – A small, stylish hotel, often offering luxurious accommodations and personalised service.
“We stayed in a boutique hotel with a unique design and friendly staff.”
Hostel – A budget accommodation, often with shared rooms and common areas.
“We booked a hostel to save money while travelling.”
Motel – A roadside hotel designed for people travelling by car, usually with parking.
“We stayed at a motel just outside the city.”
Serviced apartment – An apartment that is fully furnished and includes services like cleaning and laundry.
“We chose a serviced apartment for our two-week stay in London.”
Chalet – A wooden house, typically found in mountain areas, used by people on holiday.
“We rented a chalet for our ski trip in Switzerland.”
Villa – A large and luxurious house, often in a rural or coastal area, available for short-term rental.
“We rented a villa with a private pool near the beach.”
Guesthouse – A small hotel or private home offering accommodation and sometimes meals.
“We stayed in a guesthouse with a beautiful garden.”
All-inclusive resort – A resort where the price includes accommodation, meals, drinks, and some activities.
“We stayed at an all-inclusive resort with daily activities and entertainment.”
Campsite – A place where people can camp, usually with basic facilities like toilets and showers.
“The campsite was located next to a beautiful lake.”
Timeshare – A property with shared ownership, where people have the right to use it for a specific period.
“They bought a timeshare in a holiday resort.”
On the Journey
Transit – The act of passing through a place on the way to another destination.
“We had a 5-hour transit in Istanbul.”
Turbulence – Irregular and often violent movement of air during a flight.
“The flight was smooth with only a little turbulence.”
Jet lag – The feeling of tiredness and confusion after a long flight across different time zones.
“I always get jet lag when I travel from Europe to Asia.”
Check-in – The process of reporting your arrival at a hotel, airport, etc.
“We need to check in at the airport two hours before our flight.”
Departure – The action of leaving, especially to start a journey.
“The departure gate for our flight has changed.”
Arrival – The act of coming to a place, especially at the end of a journey.
“We were greeted warmly upon our arrival.”
Delayed – When something happens later than planned, like a flight.
“Our flight was delayed due to bad weather.”
Baggage claim – The area in an airport where arriving passengers collect their luggage.
“We went straight to the baggage claim after landing.”
At the Destination
Sightseeing – Visiting interesting places as a tourist.
“We spent the day sightseeing around the city.”
Landmark – A building or place that is easily recognized, often visited by tourists.
“The Eiffel Tower is a famous landmark in Paris.”
Souvenir – An item that you buy to remind you of a place you have visited.
“I bought a small souvenir for my friend back home.”
Excursion – A short trip, often for leisure, during a longer journey.
“We went on an excursion to the nearby mountains.”
Local cuisine – The traditional food and cooking style of a particular area.
“We tried the local cuisine, including tapas and paella.”
Cultural heritage – Traditions, languages, buildings, and arts passed down through generations.
“The city’s cultural heritage is evident in its architecture.”
Tourist trap – A place that attracts many tourists but is usually overpriced and not very authentic.
“We avoided the tourist traps and explored the local markets instead.”
Off the beaten path – A place not visited by many tourists, less known and quieter.
“We wanted to go somewhere off the beaten path, so we chose a small village.”
Emergencies and Problems
Emergency contact – A person you can call in case of an emergency.
“Make sure to have an emergency contact number with you.”
Embassy – A place where the officials of a country work in a foreign country, often providing assistance to travellers.
“If you lose your passport, contact the embassy immediately.”
Lost and found – A place where lost items are kept until the owner claims them.
“We went to the lost and found to look for my missing bag.”
Travel insurance – A type of insurance that covers medical expenses, trip cancellations, lost luggage, etc.
“We purchased travel insurance to cover any unexpected situations.”
Cancelled – When something, like a flight or a reservation, is officially stopped or not happening.
“Our flight was cancelled due to a technical problem.”
Refund – Money returned to a customer for a cancelled service or unsatisfactory experience.
“We requested a refund for the hotel room that had no hot water.”
Customs declaration – A form that you fill out to declare goods brought into a country.
“I had to fill out a customs declaration at the airport.”
Quarantine – A period of isolation to prevent the spread of disease, usually after arriving in a new place.
“We had to stay in quarantine for 14 days after arriving.”
Social and Cultural Experiences
Hospitality – The friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests.
“We experienced great hospitality from the local people.”
Etiquette – A set of social rules about polite behaviour in a particular culture.
“Understanding local etiquette is important to avoid misunderstandings.”
Local customs – The traditional habits and practices of a specific area.
“It’s a local custom to remove your shoes before entering a home.”
Interact – To communicate or engage with people.
“We enjoyed interacting with the local community.”
Bargain – To negotiate the price of something, usually in markets.
“We tried to bargain for a better price on souvenirs.”
Immersion – Deep involvement or participation in a culture or language.
“Living with a host family provided full cultural immersion.”
Fluent – Being able to speak a language easily and accurately.
“She became fluent in Spanish after living in Madrid for two years.”
Language barrier – Difficulty in communication because people do not speak the same language.
“We faced a language barrier when trying to order food.”
Environmental Awareness
Sustainable tourism – Tourism that has a low impact on the environment and supports local communities.
“We chose a sustainable tourism company for our eco-friendly holiday.”
Carbon footprint – The amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere as a result of the activities of a person or organization.
“We tried to reduce our carbon footprint by taking the train instead of flying.”
Eco-friendly – Not harmful to the environment.
“We stayed in an eco-friendly lodge that used solar power.”
Conservation – The protection of the environment, especially natural resources, wildlife, and forests.
“The national park focuses on conservation efforts to protect endangered species.”
Wildlife sanctuary – A protected area where animals can live safely.
“We visited a wildlife sanctuary to learn about endangered species.”
Responsible traveller – Someone who makes choices to minimise their impact on the places they visit.
“Being a responsible traveller means respecting local cultures and the environment.”
Biodegradable – Something that can decompose naturally without harming the environment.
“We used biodegradable bags to reduce plastic waste.”
Renewable energy – Energy from sources that are naturally replenishing, such as solar or wind power.
“The hotel is powered by renewable energy.”
Exercises to Practise Travel Vocabulary
Questions
Fill in the Blanks
Use the correct word from the list to complete the sentences:
Visa, itinerary, transit, quarantine, eco-friendly
a. Our ___________ included stops in three major cities.
b. We chose an ___________ hotel that uses solar panels.
c. You need a ___________ to enter the country for tourism.
d. After arriving, we were placed in ___________ for seven days.
e. Our ___________ time at the airport was only one hour.
Match the Definitions
Match the words on the left with their correct definitions on the right:
Conservation
Hospitality
Carbon footprint
Sustainable tourism
Language barrier
a. Difficulty in communication because of different languages.
b. Protecting natural resources and the environment.
c. The amount of carbon dioxide released by an activity or person.
d. Friendly and generous reception of guests.
e. Tourism that supports local communities and the environment.
Sentence Building
Create your own sentences using the following words:
Immersion
Boutique hotel
Travel insurance
Local customs
Wildlife sanctuary
True or False
Decide if the following statements are true or false:
- An “all-inclusive resort” includes accommodation, meals, and some activities in the price.
- A “motel” is a large, luxury hotel often found in city centres.
- “Jet lag” occurs when you travel by car for a long distance.
- A “timeshare” is a property that several people own jointly for use at different times.
- “Conservation” involves the destruction of wildlife habitats.
Answers
Fill in the Blanks
a. Our itinerary included stops in three major cities.
b. We chose an eco-friendly hotel that uses solar panels.
c. You need a visa to enter the country for tourism.
d. After arriving, we were placed in quarantine for seven days.
e. Our transit time at the airport was only one hour.
Match the Definitions
a. Difficulty in communication because of different languages. – Language barrier
b. Protecting natural resources and the environment. – Conservation
c. The amount of carbon dioxide released by an activity or person. – Carbon footprint
d. Friendly and generous reception of guests. – Hospitality
e. Tourism that supports local communities and the environment. – Sustainable tourism
Sentence Building
- Immersion – “Studying abroad offers complete immersion in a new culture.”
- Boutique hotel – “We found a charming boutique hotel in the heart of the city.”
- Travel insurance – “I always buy travel insurance before going on a trip.”
- Local customs – “It’s important to respect the local customs when visiting a new country.”
- Wildlife sanctuary – “The wildlife sanctuary protects endangered species from poachers.”
True or False
- True
- False
- False
- True
- False
Conclusion
By learning this advanced travel vocabulary, you will be able to communicate more confidently and effectively while travelling. Remember to practice these words and phrases regularly, and try using them in real-life situations or conversations.
If you have any questions, want to share your thoughts, or would like to practice writing sentences using this new vocabulary, please leave a comment below! I’d love to hear from you!