Exercise 1
Choose the correct word to complete each sentence about travel, tourism and experiences.
Example: We need to check in at the hotel and collect our room ___. (key / ticket / passport)
Answer: We need to check in at the hotel and collect our room key.
Travel, Tourism and Experiences
Travelling to new places, discovering different cultures, and having memorable experiences are things many people dream about. Whether you are planning a holiday abroad, booking a tour, or simply exploring your own city, knowing the right vocabulary makes communication easier and more enjoyable.
Imagine you are talking to a friend who has just returned from a two-week trip to South America. She tells you about the places she visited, the food she tried, and the unexpected adventures she had along the way. In this lesson, you will learn all the key words and phrases you need to talk about travel, tourism, and experiences just like she did.
Key Vocabulary & Meaning Breakdown
1. Planning and Booking a Trip
| Word / Phrase | Part of Speech & Meaning | Example Sentence | Collocations / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| destination | noun — the place you are travelling to | Paris is a popular tourist destination. | popular destination, final destination, holiday destination |
| itinerary | noun — a detailed plan of your journey, including places and dates | We planned our itinerary before leaving home. | plan an itinerary, follow an itinerary, a detailed itinerary |
| book | verb — to arrange and pay for something in advance, such as a hotel or flight | She booked her flights three months early to get a good price. | book a hotel, book a flight, book in advance |
| reservation | noun — an arrangement to keep something for you, such as a hotel room or table | He made a reservation at the restaurant for Saturday evening. | make a reservation, cancel a reservation, confirm a reservation |
| package holiday | noun — a holiday where flights, hotel, and sometimes meals are all included in one price | They bought a package holiday to Spain, which included flights and a hotel. | book a package holiday, go on a package holiday, all-inclusive package |
| budget | noun / adjective — the amount of money you plan to spend; also used to describe cheap options | We travelled on a tight budget, so we stayed in hostels. | travel on a budget, budget airline, budget hotel, stick to a budget |
| visa | noun — an official document or stamp in your passport that allows you to enter a country | You need a visa to visit some countries outside the European Union. | apply for a visa, get a visa, tourist visa, work visa |
| departure | noun — the act of leaving a place, especially for a journey | Our departure was delayed by two hours because of bad weather. | departure time, departure gate, delayed departure |
| arrival | noun — the act of reaching a place at the end of a journey | We were tired after our arrival late at night. | arrival time, on arrival, safe arrival |
2. Getting Around and Accommodation
| Word / Phrase | Part of Speech & Meaning | Example Sentence | Collocations / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| accommodation | noun — a place where you stay during a trip, such as a hotel, hostel, or apartment | We found cheap accommodation near the city centre. | find accommodation, book accommodation, comfortable accommodation |
| check in | phrasal verb — to register your arrival at a hotel or airport | We checked in at the hotel and went straight to our room. | check in at, check-in desk, check-in time |
| check out | phrasal verb — to pay your bill and leave a hotel | We had to check out by midday. | check out of, check-out time, late check-out |
| transfer | noun — transport between one place and another, such as from the airport to the hotel | The hotel offers a free transfer from the airport. | airport transfer, arrange a transfer, free transfer |
| get around | phrasal verb — to travel from place to place within an area | It is easy to get around the city by metro. | get around by bus/train/car, easy to get around |
| hostel | noun — a cheap place to stay where you often share a room with other travellers | Many backpackers stay in hostels to save money. | stay in a hostel, youth hostel, backpacker hostel |
| self-catering | adjective — describing accommodation where you cook your own meals | We rented a self-catering apartment so we could cook our own food. | self-catering apartment, self-catering holiday |
| scenic | adjective — having beautiful natural views | We took a scenic route through the mountains. | scenic route, scenic view, scenic drive |
3. Tourism, Sightseeing, and Experiences
| Word / Phrase | Part of Speech & Meaning | Example Sentence | Collocations / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| sightseeing | noun — visiting famous or interesting places as a tourist | We spent the morning sightseeing in the old part of the city. | go sightseeing, sightseeing tour, sightseeing trip |
| landmark | noun — a famous or easily recognised building or place | The Eiffel Tower is one of the most famous landmarks in the world. | famous landmark, visit a landmark, historical landmark |
| guided tour | noun — an organised trip around a place with a guide who gives information | We joined a guided tour of the ancient ruins. | join a guided tour, go on a guided tour, book a guided tour |
| local | adjective / noun — relating to a particular area; a person who lives in that area | We asked a local for directions to the market. | local food, local culture, local people, talk to locals |
| souvenir | noun — an object you buy to remind you of a place you visited | She bought a small souvenir from every country she visited. | buy a souvenir, souvenir shop, collect souvenirs |
| off the beaten track | phrase — far from popular tourist areas; quiet and less visited | They preferred to explore places that were off the beaten track. | go off the beaten track, find somewhere off the beaten track |
| backpacking | noun — travelling independently on a low budget, often with just a rucksack | He went backpacking across Southeast Asia for three months. | go backpacking, backpacking trip, backpacking holiday |
| currency | noun — the system of money used in a country | Make sure you exchange currency before you travel. | local currency, exchange currency, foreign currency |
| jet lag | noun — tiredness and confusion caused by travelling across different time zones | After the long flight from Tokyo, she suffered from terrible jet lag. | suffer from jet lag, recover from jet lag, bad jet lag |
| culture shock | noun — the feeling of confusion or surprise when you experience a very different culture | Moving to Japan was exciting, but he experienced some culture shock at first. | experience culture shock, suffer from culture shock |
Collocations & Useful Expressions
go on + a trip / a tour / a holiday / an adventure
We went on a guided tour of the castle.
She went on a backpacking adventure across South America.
make + a reservation / a booking / arrangements
I made a reservation at the hotel online.
They made all the arrangements before they left.
take + a photo / a trip / a break / public transport
Don't forget to take photos of the landmark!
We decided to take public transport instead of renting a car.
set off / set out — to begin a journey
We set off early in the morning to avoid the traffic.
look around — to explore a place by walking through it
We spent the afternoon looking around the old market.
pick up — to collect someone from a place
The taxi driver picked us up from the airport.
run out of — to have no more of something
We ran out of local currency and had to find a cash machine.
broaden your horizons — to learn new things or have new experiences, especially through travel
Travelling abroad really helps to broaden your horizons.
a once-in-a-lifetime experience — something very special that you will probably only do once
Seeing the Northern Lights was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
get lost — to lose your way and not know where you are
We got lost in the narrow streets of the old town, but it was actually fun!
Important Differences & Confusing Words
Travel, Trip, or Journey?
These three words are often confused by learners. Here is a clear explanation:
Travel is a general, uncountable noun (or verb) referring to the activity of going from place to place. You cannot say "a travel" on its own.
- Travel broadens the mind. ✅
- I love travel. ✅
- I had a good travel. ❌
Trip is a countable noun referring to a short visit to a place and back again. It includes the whole experience.
- We went on a day trip to the coast. ✅
- How was your trip to Rome? ✅
Journey is a countable noun referring to the time spent travelling from one place to another. It focuses on the act of travelling itself, not the destination.
- The journey from London to Edinburgh takes about four hours by train. ✅
- It was a long journey, but we finally arrived. ✅
Tourist or Traveller?
A tourist typically visits popular attractions and often travels with organised tours. The word can sometimes suggest someone who stays on the surface of a culture rather than exploring deeply.
- The city centre was full of tourists taking photos of the cathedral.
A traveller is a more general word for anyone who travels. It can also suggest someone who prefers to explore independently and experience local life more deeply.
- She described herself as a traveller, not a tourist — she always tried to live like a local.
Scenery or View?
Scenery refers to the natural landscape or environment around you in general. It is uncountable.
- The scenery in the Scottish Highlands is absolutely stunning.
View refers to what you can see from a particular place, such as a window or a hilltop. It is countable.
- Our hotel room had a beautiful view of the ocean.
Excursion or Expedition?
An excursion is a short trip, often organised as part of a holiday, to visit a nearby place of interest.
- We booked a day excursion to a nearby island.
An expedition is a longer, more serious journey — often for a specific purpose such as exploration, research, or adventure.
- The team went on an expedition to the Amazon rainforest.
Common Mistakes
❌ I did a trip to Italy last summer.
✅ I went on a trip to Italy last summer. — Use go on a trip, not do a trip.
❌ We booked an accommodation in the city centre.
✅ We booked accommodation in the city centre. — Accommodation is uncountable in English. Do not use an before it.
❌ She made a good travel in France.
✅ She had a great trip to France. — Travel is not used as a countable noun in this way. Use trip or journey instead.
❌ They arrived to the airport very early.
✅ They arrived at the airport very early. — Use arrive at for specific places like airports, hotels, and stations. Use arrive in for cities and countries.
❌ I am interested to visit ancient ruins.
✅ I am interested in visiting ancient ruins. — The correct dependent preposition is interested in, followed by a noun or gerund (-ing form).
❌ We checked in the hotel at 3 pm.
✅ We checked in at the hotel at 3 pm. — Always use check in at (with the preposition at) when referring to a specific place.
❌ The journey was bored.
✅ The journey was boring. — Use boring to describe something that causes boredom. Use bored to describe a person who feels bored: I felt bored during the journey.
Travel, Tourism and Experiences: Quick Summary & Review
In this lesson, you have learnt a wide range of vocabulary connected to travel, tourism, and experiences. Here is a quick summary of the key points:
- Use destination, itinerary, book, visa, departure, and arrival when talking about planning a trip.
- Use accommodation, check in, check out, get around, and transfer when talking about getting around and staying somewhere.
- Use sightseeing, landmark, guided tour, souvenir, backpacking, and off the beaten track when talking about tourism and experiences.
- Remember the difference between travel (general activity), trip (a short visit), and journey (the time spent travelling).
- Do not forget key dependent prepositions: arrive at/in, interested in, check in at.
- Common collocations to remember: go on a trip, make a reservation, take a photo, set off early, and broaden your horizons.
Now practise travel, tourism and experiences vocabulary in the exercises below.
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