Explanation
Exercises

A2 Vocabulary — Holidays

Key nouns and verb phrases to talk about holidays, trips and travel plans in everyday English.

A2 Pre-intermediate Travel Holidays

1. Holiday nouns (1)

  • a journey = the travel from one place to another (by car, bus, train, plane, etc.). The journey to the mountains took four hours by train.
  • a trip = a short visit where you go somewhere and come back. We went on a weekend trip to the beach.
  • a tour = a planned visit to see many places. We booked a bus tour of the old town.
  • a guide = a person who shows tourists around and gives information. Our guide explained the history of the castle.

2. Holiday nouns (2)

  • nightlife = clubs, bars, concerts and other evening activities. The nightlife in this city is very lively.
  • a museum = a place to see art, history or science objects. We visited an art museum on the first day.
  • a historical building = an old, important building from the past. The cathedral is the most famous historical building here.
  • a monument = a statue or structure built to remember a person or event. There is a monument to the writer in the main square.

3. Travelling and places to stay

  • go on holiday / vacation = travel somewhere to relax. We usually go on holiday in August.
  • travel by (bus / train / car / plane) They travelled by plane to Spain.
  • go away = leave home for a short time. We’re going away for a few days.
  • go abroad = travel to another country. It was my first time going abroad.
  • stay in a hotel / guesthouse / hostel We stayed in a small family hotel.
  • rent a house / an apartment They rented an apartment near the sea.

4. Enjoying your holiday

  • have a good / great time = enjoy yourself. We had a great time on our ski holiday.
  • spend time (doing sth) = use time for an activity. We spent a lot of time on the beach.
  • sunbathe = lie in the sun to get a tan. She loves to sunbathe by the pool.
  • book a table / a room = reserve it in advance. Let’s book a table for tonight.
  • try the local cuisine = taste traditional food of the place. We tried the local cuisine in a small restaurant.

5. go + -ing holiday activities

We often use go + -ing form to talk about activities we do on holiday.

  • go swimming / go shopping / go fishing We went swimming every morning.
  • go sunbathing They went sunbathing on the beach.
  • go sightseeing = visit interesting places such as museums, monuments and historical buildings. On Sunday we went sightseeing in the old town.
  • take pictures / photos Tourists were taking pictures of the cathedral.
  • buy souvenirs = buy small gifts from the place you visit. I bought souvenirs for my family.

6. go on + noun

Use go on with nouns for organised trips:

  • go on a trip We went on a trip to a small island.
  • go on a tour They went on a bus tour of the city.
  • go on a safari / excursion / cruise One day we went on a boat excursion.

Remember: go on holiday, but be on holiday.

7. Holiday talk: mini tips

  • Use past simple to talk about a finished holiday: We went abroad and stayed in a hotel.
  • Combine a noun with an adjective: a long journey, a short trip, a fantastic tour.
  • To ask about plans, use: Where are you going on holiday?
Exercises:
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Holidays

Choose the correct option to complete each sentence below.
1
The train from Paris to Rome takes about eleven hours.
Correct: The train journey = the time/travel from one place to another.
2
We went on to Prague for the weekend and came back on Sunday night.
Correct: A short visit for a few days is a trip.
3
We took of the old town and the guide told us lots of stories.
Correct: A tour = a planned visit to see the sights in a place.
4
Our showed us the best places in the city and explained the history.
Correct: A guide = a person who shows tourists around.
5
Young people love the here – there are many bars and clubs open late.
Correct: Nightlife = bars, clubs and other places open at night.
6
If you like art, you should visit with paintings by famous artists.
Correct: A museum = a building where you see art or historical objects.
7
The town hall is from the 18th century.
Correct: A very old, important building is a historical building.
8
There is to the soldiers in the main square.
Correct: A monument = a special statue or structure to remember people or events.
9
We stayed in near the beach with a pool and a restaurant.
Correct: A hotel = a big building where you pay for a room for the night.
10
We stayed in – a small family house where we paid for a room and breakfast.
Correct: A guesthouse = a small, often family-run place with a few rooms for guests.
11
Backpackers often sleep in with shared rooms and bunk beds.
Correct: A hostel = cheap accommodation with shared rooms.
12
My grandparents live in in the countryside with a big garden.
Correct: A house = a building where a family lives.
13
We rented in the city centre on the fifth floor.
Correct: An apartment = a flat in a building, usually in a city.
14
When we travel, we always try the and eat typical dishes from the country.
Correct: Local cuisine = traditional food from that country or region.
15
I bought some small like magnets and postcards to remember the holiday.
Correct: Souvenirs = small things you buy to remember a place.

Holidays

Match the sentences with the words
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Sentences

Words

Holidays

Holidays