Travel and Holidays Vocabulary in English: Words, Examples and Quiz

to go from one place to another, often far away

I love traveling by train.

a visit to a place, when you go there and come back

We're planning a trip to Rome in May.

the time and distance when you travel from one place to another

The train journey takes about four hours.

in British English, time away from work or school when you often travel; in American English, a holiday is a special day like New Year's Day

We're going on holiday to Spain next week.

the American English word for time away from work or school, often spent traveling

Where are you going on vacation this summer?

to arrange and pay for a ticket, room or table before you use it

I booked our flights online last night.

an arrangement to keep a room, seat or table for you

I have a reservation for two nights.

the place you are traveling to

Greece is a popular summer destination.

in or to another country

Have you ever lived abroad?

an official document with your photo that you need to travel to other countries

Don't forget your passport!

an official stamp or paper that lets you enter or stay in a country

Do I need a visa to visit Canada?

a plan you pay for that gives you money if you get sick or lose things on a trip

Always buy travel insurance before a long trip.

a plan of a trip that shows where you will go and when

Our itinerary includes three days in Paris and two in Lyon.

all the bags and suitcases you take on a trip; American English also says baggage

How much luggage are you taking?

a large bag with a handle, often with wheels, for carrying clothes when you travel

My suitcase is too heavy.

a bag you carry on your back; British English also says rucksack

I traveled around Asia with just a backpack.

a small bag you can take with you onto a plane; British English often says hand luggage

You can bring one carry-on bag and one small personal item.

to put things into a bag or suitcase for a trip

Have you packed yet? The taxi comes at six.

to take things out of a bag or suitcase after a trip

I unpacked as soon as I got to the hotel.

a cream that protects your skin from the sun

Put on some sunscreen before you go to the beach.

a trip on a plane

Our flight leaves at 7:30 in the morning.

to show your ticket at an airport, or give your name at a hotel, when you arrive

You can check in online 24 hours before the flight.

the card or screen you show to get on a plane

Please have your passport and boarding pass ready.

the door at an airport where you get on a plane

Flight 207 is now boarding at gate 12.

the part of an airport or the screen for planes that are leaving

Check the departures board for your gate.

the part of an airport where people come in after a flight

I'll meet you in arrivals.

late; leaving or arriving after the planned time

Our train was delayed by forty minutes.

to say that something planned will not happen

They canceled all flights because of the snow.

when a plane leaves the ground and goes into the air

The plane took off on time.

when a plane comes down and arrives on the ground

We landed in Istanbul just after midnight.

the place in a station where you get on and off a train

The train to Oxford leaves from platform 4.

a ticket to go somewhere and come back; British English says return ticket

A round-trip ticket is cheaper than two one-way tickets.

a ticket to go somewhere but not come back; British English also says single

I bought a one-way ticket to Berlin.

to arrive too late to get on a plane, train or bus

Hurry up, or we'll miss the train!

a building where you pay to sleep and sometimes eat

Our hotel is near the beach.

a cheap place to stay, often with shared rooms, popular with young travelers

We stayed in a hostel to save money.

a small, private house where travelers can pay to stay

The guesthouse was small but very friendly.

a place where people stay in tents; American English also says campground

The campsite has showers and a small shop.

a hotel room for one person

I'd like a single room for three nights.

a hotel room for two people, usually with one big bed

Do you have a double room with a sea view?

the desk near the entrance of a hotel where you arrive and ask questions; American English also says front desk

Leave your key at reception when you go out.

to pay and leave a hotel at the end of your stay

We have to check out by eleven.

what you can see from a place, especially something beautiful

The room had an amazing view of the mountains.

a person who visits a place for fun

The old town is full of tourists in August.

visiting famous or interesting places as a tourist

We spent the morning sightseeing in the old city.

a visit to a place with a person who tells you about it

We took a guided tour of the castle.

a book with information about a place for visitors

The guidebook says the museum is closed on Mondays.

a drawing of an area that shows roads, towns and places

Can you show me on the map where we are?

a small thing you buy to remember a place you visited

I bought a fridge magnet as a souvenir.

an area of sand or small stones next to the sea

Let's spend the afternoon on the beach.

to sit or lie in the sun to get warm or brown

She sunbathed by the pool all morning.

to travel around a new place to learn about it

We rented bikes to explore the island.

from or in the area where you are

Try the local food. It's great.

full of people

The museum was very crowded on Saturday.

the type of money a country uses

What's the local currency in Japan?

to not know where you are or how to get where you want to go

We got lost on the way back to the hotel.

feeling tired and confused after a long flight to a different time zone

I had terrible jet lag for three days after flying to Tokyo.

sad because you are far from your home and family

After two weeks away, she felt a little homesick.

the official office of a country in another country, which helps its citizens

If you lose your passport, contact your embassy.