Topics / Travel Vocabulary
Travel Vocabulary in English
Airports, trains, hotels, and asking for directions — words for trips and holidays. 126 words, A1 to B2.
126 words
Airport and Flying
TravelA2To go from one place to another, especially far away.“They travel by train.”TripA1A journey to a place and back, often for a short time.“We had a school trip to the museum.”JourneyA2The act of travelling from one place to another.“The journey by train takes three hours.”VoyageB2A long journey by sea or in space.“Date the voyage in the source, then the destination, the geography paper said.”TourA1A visit around a place, often with a guide, to see interesting things.“We went on a tour of the castle.”TouristA1A person who visits a place on holiday.“Many tourists visit the castle.”TourismB2The business of people visiting places for pleasure (usually uncountable).“Quote tourism revenue in the coastal case study, not a selfie caption.”HolidayA2A time when you do not work or study, often for travel.“We are going on holiday in June.”VacationA2A holiday from work or study, especially in American English.“University vacation starts after the last exam in June.”BreakB1A period of rest from work or study, usually longer than a short pause.“We have a fifteen-minute break at eleven.”DestinationA2The place you are going to.“Paris is a popular holiday destination.”ItineraryB2A planned route or timetable for a journey.“The field-trip itinerary must list the tide times, not just the café.”PassportA1An official document you need to travel to another country.“Don’t forget your passport.”VisaA2An official mark or document that allows you to enter a country.“Check your visa dates before you fly.”BorderB1The line that divides two countries or areas.“You need a passport to cross the border.”CustomsB1The officials and rules that control goods entering a country.“Customs seized the cigarettes at Dover.”ImmigrationB1The process of coming to live in a country that is not your own (usually uncountable).“The college runs a drop-in on student immigration rules.”AirportA1A place where planes take off and land.“We arrived at the airport early.”AeroplaneA2A flying vehicle with wings that carries people (British).“Our aeroplane left twenty minutes late in the rain.”PlaneA1A vehicle that flies in the air and carries people.“The plane leaves at nine.”AircraftB1A plane, helicopter, or other vehicle that flies.“The aircraft landed safely in the storm.”FlightA1A journey in a plane.“Our flight leaves at six.”FlyA1To move through the air, like a bird or a plane.“We fly to Karachi next week.”PilotA1A person who flies a plane.“The pilot spoke to the passengers.”CabinA2A small room on a ship or plane, or a small wooden house.“Our cabin on the ferry had a window over the water.”CrewA2The people who work on a ship, plane, or film.“The cabin crew showed us the safety exits.”BoardingB1The act of getting on a plane, ship, or train; also living at school during term.“Boarding begins forty minutes before departure.”GateA2A door in a fence or wall, or the place where you board a plane.“Our flight leaves from gate twelve.”LandingB2The act of bringing an aircraft to the ground; also the floor at the top of stairs.“The geography clip times the plane’s landing against the crosswind data.”DelayA2To make something happen later than planned.“The flight was delayed by two hours.”LuggageA1The bags you take when you travel. Uncountable in English.“Please put your luggage on the scale.”SuitcaseA1A case with a handle for carrying clothes when you travel.“Pack your suitcase tonight.”RucksackA1A bag you carry on your back (British).“Pack your rucksack for the trip.”BackpackA2A bag you carry on your back.“He left his backpack under the hostel bunk.”BaggageA2Bags and cases that you take when you travel.“Please collect your baggage from the belt.”Check-InB1The act of registering your arrival (at an airport, hotel, or clinic).“Online check-in closed two hours before departure.”SecurityB1The state of being safe from danger, or people who protect a place.“Airport security checked our bags.”TerminalB2A building where journeys by plane, train, or bus begin and end; as an adjective, of an illness, that will cause death.“Passengers were held in the terminal after the security alert.”AirlineB1A company that flies passengers or goods from one place to another.“The airline cancelled the evening flight because of the strike.”TicketA1A piece of paper or a pass that lets you travel or enter a place.“I bought a train ticket.”BookingA2An arrangement to have a room, table, or ticket at a later time.“I made a booking for two nights at the hotel.”ReservationA2An arrangement to keep a table, room, or seat for you.“We have a reservation for two at seven o’clock.”ReturnA2To go back to a place, or to give something back.“Please return the books to the library.”One-WayB1Allowing travel or flow in only one direction (a one-way street / system).“The one-way system outside the gates is enforced at pickup, not only on the map.”FareA2The money you pay to travel by bus, train, taxi, or plane.“The bus fare into town is two pounds.”DepartureA2The act of leaving a place, especially on a journey.“Our departure was delayed by fog.”ArrivalB1The act of reaching a place, or the time when someone or something gets there.“Please wait in the hall until the arrival of the train.”AisleB2A passage between rows of seats, shelves, or pews.“Map the supermarket aisle in the observation study, not a wedding caption unless the source is a ceremony.”SeatA2A place where you can sit, such as a chair.“Is this seat free?”
Getting Around
PlatformA1The raised area beside a railway track where you wait for a train.“The train leaves from platform four.”StationA1A place where trains or buses stop.“Meet me at the station.”TrainA1A set of carriages that move on a railway.“The train is late.”RailwayA2A system of trains and tracks for travel or goods.“The railway station is a ten-minute walk from here.”CarriageB1One section of a train that passengers sit in; also the cost of delivering goods.“Bicycles are allowed only in the rear carriage.”CompartmentB1A separate section of a space, especially of a train carriage.“Keep bags off the aisle in this compartment.”TramA1A vehicle like a bus that runs on rails in the street.“Take the tram to the city centre.”UndergroundA1A railway under the ground in a city (British). In London people also say the Tube.“Take the underground to the centre.”TubeA2A long hollow pipe; also the London Underground railway.“Take the Tube to the museum — it is two stops.”MetroB2An underground urban railway system.“The Paris metro map is not a London Underground diagram.”BusA1A large vehicle that carries many people.“She takes the bus to school.”Bus StopB1A place at the side of the road where buses stop for passengers.“Wait at the bus stop, not on the zigzag lines outside the gates.”MinibusB1A small bus, often used by schools, clubs, or care homes.“The minibus needs a D1 driver; a full car licence is not enough.”TaxiA1A car you pay to take you somewhere.“Let’s take a taxi to the station.”CarA1A vehicle with four wheels for people to travel in.“They came by car.”Hire CarB1A car you pay to use for a short time (UK; US rental car).“We picked the hire car up at the airport and drove to the B and B.”DriveA1To control a car, bus, or other vehicle.“She drives to work.”DriverA1A person who drives a car, bus, or other vehicle.“The bus driver was kind.”MotorwayB1A wide, fast road for long-distance traffic in Britain.“Do not stop on the motorway except in an emergency.”RoundaboutA2A circular road junction where traffic goes round a central island.“Take the second exit at the roundabout.”JunctionB1A place where two or more roads or railway lines meet.“Turn left at the next junction, not at the roundabout.”TrafficA1All the cars, buses, and other vehicles on a road.“The traffic is bad this morning.”CongestionB1A situation in which roads are too full of vehicles to move easily.“Congestion in the city centre is worse during the school run.”PetrolB1The liquid fuel used in many cars (UK; US gasoline).“Petrol is more expensive on the motorway than in town.”DieselB1A heavy fuel used in some cars, buses, and trains, not the same as petrol.“Put diesel only in a diesel engine; petrol in the school minibus still wrecks it.”FuelB1A substance such as coal, oil, or gas that is burned to produce heat or power.“The plane could not take off without fuel.”MapA1A drawing of an area that shows roads, towns, or countries.“We used a map of the city.”Sat-NavB1A satellite navigation device or app that gives driving directions (UK).“The minibus sat-nav is not a phone in the driver’s hand; a printed route still goes on the trip form.”TimetableA1A list of times when lessons, trains, or buses start (British).“Look at the timetable for the next train.”DirectionA2The way that someone or something is moving, facing, or going.“Which direction is the station?”LeftA1On the side of your body that is not right.“Turn left at the cinema.”RightA1Correct, or on the side opposite left.“That is the right answer.”StraightA2Not bent or curved; going in one direction.“Draw a straight line across the page.”NorthA1The direction towards the top of most maps.“They live in the north of the country.”SouthA1The direction towards the bottom of most maps.“They drove south for two hours.”EastA1The direction where the sun comes up.“The sun rises in the east.”WestA1The direction where the sun goes down.“The sun sets in the west.”RoadA1A hard path for cars and buses.“This road goes to the city.”StreetA1A road in a town or city with buildings along it.“They live on this street.”LaneB1A narrow road, or one marked strip of a wider road (bus lane; cycle lane).“Buses may use the lane; private cars may not.”PathA2A way for walking, especially in a park or the countryside.“Follow the path through the park.”PavementB1The path beside a road for people who are walking (UK).“Cyclists should not ride on the pavement when it is full of shoppers.”CrossingA2A place where you can go across a road, railway, or river.“Use the pedestrian crossing near the school.”Pelican CrossingB1A pedestrian crossing with lights that you press a button to change (UK).“Use the pelican crossing by the library; the road is busy.”BridgeA2A structure built so that people or vehicles can cross a river or road.“We crossed the river on a stone bridge.”FerryA1A boat that carries people and cars across water on a regular journey.“We took the ferry to the island.”ShipA2A large boat that carries people or goods across the sea.“The ship arrived in the port at dawn.”BoatA1A small vehicle that travels on water.“They crossed the river by boat.”PortB2A town with a harbour; also the left side of a ship, or a fortified wine.“Map the container port, not a high-street shop, in the globalisation unit.”HarbourA2An area of water next to land where boats can stay safely.“Fishing boats were tied up in the harbour.”CruiseB2A holiday on a ship that stops at several places; as a verb, to travel smoothly, or (of a vehicle) to move at a steady speed.“Map cruise-ship emissions in the coastal case, not a brochure slogan.”
Staying Somewhere
HotelA1A building where you pay to sleep when you travel.“We stayed in a small hotel.”HostelA2A cheap place to stay, often with shared rooms.“We booked a youth hostel near the station.”RoomA1A part of a building with its own walls.“This is my room.”ReceptionA2The desk in a hotel or office where visitors go first.“Please leave your key at reception when you go out.”ReceptionistA2A person who works at a reception desk and helps visitors.“The receptionist booked us a taxi to the airport.”LiftA1A machine that carries people up and down in a building (British). American English often says elevator.“Take the lift to the third floor.”FloorA1The surface you walk on in a room, or a level of a building.“Don’t sit on the floor.”DoubleA2Twice as much, or made for two people.“We booked a double room at the hotel.”En SuiteB1A bathroom joined to a bedroom and used only with that room.“An en-suite in the hotel is not a spare changing room for the whole group; staff still allocate showers.”BalconyA1A platform outside an upper window, where you can stand or sit.“They had tea on the balcony.”BreakfastA1The first meal of the day.“I eat breakfast at seven.”CampsiteB1A place where people stay in tents or caravans, often with toilets and showers.“The campsite has a quiet-hours rule; a festival speaker is not allowed.”TentA1A shelter made of cloth that you sleep in when you camp.“We slept in a tent by the lake.”CaravanB1A vehicle that you can live in on holiday, towed behind a car (UK; US camper / trailer).“A caravan on the field is not a classroom; planning still sits with the council.”GuidebookA2A book with information for visitors to a place.“The guidebook recommended a cheap hostel.”PostcardA1A card with a picture that you write on and send in the post.“Send me a postcard from Spain.”CurrencyB2The money used in a country; also the state of being widely used or accepted.“The euro is the currency of many EU countries.”ExchangeB1To give something and receive something else in return.“They exchanged phone numbers after the meeting.”EmbassyA2The office of a country’s government in another country.“You may need to visit the embassy for a visa.”Lost PropertyB1Things people have lost, kept so owners can collect them (UK, often uncountable).“Blazers go to lost property after PE; a nameless hoodie is not returned from the office.”InsuranceB1An agreement in which you pay money so that you receive money if something bad happens.“You need car insurance to drive in the UK.”HomesickA2Sad because you are away from home.“He felt homesick in the first week at the hostel.”AbroadA2In or to a foreign country.“She spent a year abroad after college.”OverseasB2In or to a country across the sea; also an adjective (overseas students).“The firm moved part of its production overseas.”LocalA2Relating to a particular area nearby.“We shop at the local market.”TranslateA2To change words from one language into another.“Can you translate this menu into English for us?”