Travel: trips & journeys
B1 Upper-Intermediate • Vocabulary
Key words for talking about different kinds of journeys, holidays and travel experiences.
1. Core travel vocabulary
-
travel
– usually a verb: to go from one place to another. As an uncountable noun, it means the general activity of going to different places.
We usually travel to work by bus. Air travel has become more expensive lately. -
trip
– a short visit to a place when you go there and then come back.
We’re planning a weekend trip to London to see some friends. -
journey
– the time you spend travelling from one place to another.
The train journey took six hours, so we were very tired. -
voyage
– a long journey by sea or sometimes in space.
Their voyage across the Atlantic lasted almost three weeks. -
destination
– the place you are travelling to.
After two days on the road, we finally reached our destination. -
route
– the way or path you choose to get from A to B.
We chose a scenic route that went along the coast. -
flight
– a journey by air, usually in an aeroplane.
Our flight to Rome leaves at 7 a.m., so we must get up early.
2. Types of trips & holidays
-
tour
– a trip where you visit several places in one area, often with a guide.
We went on a guided tour of the historic old town. -
road trip
– a long journey by car, van or bus, usually for pleasure.
After buying a second-hand car, they took a road trip around Scotland. -
business trip
– a trip you make for work, not for holiday.
Her job involves regular business trips to Germany. -
pleasure trip
– a trip you take just to relax and enjoy yourself.
Sadly, this isn’t a pleasure trip – I have meetings every day. -
staycation
– a holiday you spend in your own country, often near home, instead of going abroad.
We decided on a staycation and booked a cottage by the lake. -
city break
– a short holiday in another city, often for a weekend.
They’re going on a city break to Amsterdam next month. -
eco-tour
– a trip that focuses on nature and protecting the environment.
We joined an eco-tour in a nature reserve to learn about local wildlife. -
field trip
– an educational trip, usually organised by a school or university.
Our geography class is going on a field trip to the mountains.
3. Special travel experiences
-
backpacking
– travelling with all your things in a backpack, usually on a low budget.
She spent six months backpacking around South-East Asia. -
pilgrimage
– a journey to a holy or special place for religious reasons.
Thousands of people make a pilgrimage to the temple every year. -
cruise
– a holiday voyage on a large ship, visiting different places.
On our Mediterranean cruise, we stopped at five different islands. -
safari
– an organised trip, usually by jeep, to watch wild animals in their natural habitat.
We saw lions and elephants on an early-morning safari. -
spa retreat
– a short break in a spa hotel focused on relaxation and health treatments.
She booked a weekend spa retreat to relax after a busy month at work.
Notice how many of these words combine with others: business trip, road trip, city break, spa retreat. They are useful collocations for talking about your travel plans.
Exercises:
Travel
Choose the correct option to complete each sentence below.
1
She loves
– visiting new countries is her biggest passion in life.
Correct:
Travel (uncountable) = the general activity of going to different places.
2
We took a weekend
to the mountains and came back on Sunday evening.
Correct:
A trip = a short visit to a place and then back again, usually for pleasure or work.
3
The bus
from Paris to Madrid takes about fourteen hours.
Correct:
A journey = the act of travelling from one place to another, especially a long distance.
4
Their first space
to Mars is planned for the 2030s.
Correct:
A voyage = a long journey, especially by sea or in space.
5
Barcelona is a popular holiday
for tourists from all over Europe.
Correct:
A destination = the place where someone is going or being sent.
6
Our navigation app found a faster
to the airport that avoids the traffic jams.
Correct:
A route = the way or path you take to get from one place to another.
7
We booked a guided
of the old town that includes the castle and two museums.
Correct:
A tour = an organised visit to several interesting places, often with a guide.
8
They hired a car and went on a two-week
along the coast, stopping at beaches and small towns.
Correct:
A road trip = a long journey by car for pleasure, visiting different places.
9
He’s in Berlin this week on a
to meet clients and attend a conference.
Correct:
A business trip = travel you do for work, not for a holiday.
10
Our visit to Thailand is a
– we’re not working at all, just relaxing and sightseeing.
Correct:
A pleasure trip = a trip you take only for enjoyment, not for work or study.
11
We couldn’t afford to go abroad, so we had a
and spent our holiday exploring our own city.
Correct:
A staycation = a holiday when you stay at home or very near your home.
12
They booked a three-day
in Prague with flights on Friday and back on Sunday.
Correct:
A city break = a short holiday in a city, usually for a few days.
13
After university, she spent six months
around South America with just a rucksack and a tight budget.
Correct:
Backpacking = travelling cheaply with only a backpack, often for a long time.
14
Every year, thousands of people make a
to this temple for religious reasons.
Correct:
A pilgrimage = a journey to a holy place for religious reasons.
15
We chose an
in Costa Rica that supports local communities and protects the rainforest.
Correct:
An eco-tour = a type of holiday that tries to protect nature and help local people.
16
The biology students went on a
to the forest to collect samples for their project.
Correct:
A field trip = a visit made for study or work, often by a class or group of students.
17
They booked a two-week Mediterranean
on a large ship with restaurants, shows and a swimming pool.
Correct:
A cruise = a holiday on a ship, visiting different places by sea.
18
Seeing lions and elephants in the wild on a
in Kenya was an unforgettable experience.
Correct:
A safari = a trip to see wild animals in their natural environment, especially in Africa.
19
She booked a weekend
in the mountains with massages, thermal pools and yoga classes.
Correct:
A spa retreat = a short stay at a spa or wellness centre to relax and improve your health.
20
Our
to Tokyo was delayed, so we had to wait three extra hours at the airport.
Correct:
A flight = a journey by air, in a plane, from one airport to another.
Travel
Match the sentences with the travel words
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