TRAVEL & TOURISM VOCABULARY

American Pronunciation • Clear Definitions • Examples

1. TOURISM

sunglasses
Glasses that protect your eyes from strong sunlight.
Example: I always take my sunglasses on holiday.
suntan lotion
A cream you put on your skin to protect it from the sun.
Example: I put on some suntan lotion because it was very hot.
backpack
A bag that you carry on your back.
Example: I put my clothes in my backpack.
foreign currency
Money from another country.
Example: You need some foreign currency when you travel abroad.
guidebook
A book with information about a place for tourists.
Example: I bought a guidebook about Paris.
map
A drawing that shows where places, roads, and streets are.
Example: We used a map to find the hotel.
passport
An official document you need to travel to other countries.
Example: Don't forget your passport.
suitcase
A large case or bag for carrying clothes when you travel.
Example: My suitcase is very heavy.
go away
To leave home and go somewhere, usually for a holiday.
Example: We're going away for three weeks.
get a visa
To get official permission to enter or stay in another country.
Example: We needed to get a visa before we travelled.
(un)pack your luggage
To put things into or take things out of your suitcase or bags.
Example: When we arrived, we unpacked our luggage.
stay on a campsite
To stay at a place where people go camping.
Example: We stayed on a campsite near the beach.
stay in a hostel
To stay in cheap accommodation, often sharing a room with other people.
Example: We stayed in a hostel in the city centre.
check into a hotel
To go to the hotel desk and officially arrive and get your room.
Example: We checked into the hotel at 2 p.m.
check out of a hotel
To leave a hotel and return your room or keys.
Example: We checked out of the hotel at 10 a.m.
do some sightseeing
To visit interesting or famous places as a tourist.
Example: We did some sightseeing in London.
book accommodation
To reserve a place to stay.
Example: We booked our accommodation online.
exchange some money
To change money from one currency into another.
Example: We exchanged some money at the bank.
buy souvenirs
To buy things that remind you of a place or holiday.
Example: I bought some souvenirs for my family.
have an adventure
To have an exciting experience, often in a new or unusual place.
Example: We had a great adventure in Greece.

2. TRAVEL COLLOCATIONS

miss a train
To arrive too late to catch a train.
Example: We missed our train.
break down
When a car, bus, or other machine stops working.
Example: My car broke down on the motorway.
be a lot of turbulence
When an aircraft moves up, down, or from side to side because the air is not calm.
Example: There was a lot of turbulence during the flight.
crash
To hit something, or have an accident in a vehicle.
Example: I had a crash on the drive to work.
traffic jam
A long line of vehicles that are moving very slowly or not moving.
Example: There was a huge traffic jam on the road.
be something wrong with
To have a problem with something.
Example: There was something wrong with the plane.
be long delays
When you have to wait a long time because something is late.
Example: There were long delays at the airport.
be a strike
When workers stop working to protest about something.
Example: There was a strike, so there were no buses.
get lost
To not know where you are or how to get to a place.
Example: We got lost in the city centre.
long queue
A long line of people waiting for something.
Example: There was a long queue at the ticket office.
travel around
To visit many different places in a large area.
Example: We travelled around Europe last year.
board
To get on a bus, train, or plane.
Example: We boarded the train to Paris.
change trains at a station
To get off one train and get on a different train.
Example: We changed trains at Strasbourg.
take off
When a plane leaves the ground and starts flying.
Example: The plane took off at 8 a.m.
set off
To start a journey.
Example: We set off in June.
give somebody a lift
To drive someone to a place in your car.
Example: A kind man gave us a lift to Frankfurt.
get to (= arrive)
To arrive at a place.
Example: We got to Paris at 7:30.
land
When a plane comes down and arrives on the ground.
Example: We landed on time in Berlin.
hitchhike
To stand beside a road and ask drivers to give you a free ride.
Example: We hitchhiked across Germany.

3. WORDPOWER: OFF

A. MOVE AWAY FROM A PLACE
be off
To leave or go away from a place.
Example: I'm off now. See you tomorrow.
set off
To start a journey.
Example: We set off at 5 a.m.
drive off
To drive away from a place.
Example: The car drove off.
walk off
To walk away from a place.
Example: He just walked off.
take off
To leave the ground and start flying.
Example: The plane took off.
B. SEPARATE FROM SOMETHING LARGER
20% off
20% cheaper than the original price.
Example: These shoes are 20% off.
fall off
To fall from a surface or position.
Example: He fell off his bike.
cut off
To remove or separate something by cutting.
Example: Can you cut off a piece of cheese?
take off (clothes)
To remove clothes from your body.
Example: Take off your coat.
C. NO POWER
be off
Not working because the power is not on.
Example: The TV is off.
turn off
To stop a machine, light, TV, etc. from working.
Example: Turn off the TV.
switch off
To turn something off.
Example: Please switch off your phone.

Extra Vocabulary for the Test

journey
A trip from one place to another.
Example: We had a long journey by train.
underground
A train that travels below the ground in a city.
Example: We went across the city by underground.
noise
A sound, especially a loud or unpleasant sound.
Example: Some people were making a noise on the train.
luggage
The bags and suitcases that you take when you travel.
Example: I have a lot of luggage.
suitcase
A large case or bag used for carrying clothes when you travel.
Example: My suitcase was very heavy.
station
A place where trains stop and passengers get on or off.
Example: We changed trains at the station.
ticket office
A place where you can buy tickets.
Example: There was a long queue at the ticket office.
airport
A place where planes arrive and leave.
Example: We arrived at the airport early.
passenger
A person who travels in a car, bus, train, or plane but is not the driver.
Example: There were many passengers on the plane.
flight
A journey by plane.
Example: Our flight was delayed.
delay
A situation in which something happens later than expected.
Example: There was a long delay at the airport.