Vocabulary/ A2 Vocabulary lessons and / Holidays – A2 English Vocabulary
Holidays and Travel Vocabulary
Learn essential English words and phrases to talk about holidays and travel
About This Lesson
In this pre-intermediate vocabulary lesson about Holidays, you will learn essential terms and phrases related to holidays. The pictures, definitions, and sentence examples below will help you understand and remember these useful words.
Holidays: Nouns
Key nouns to describe parts of a holiday or travel experience.
a journey
The act of travelling from one place to another on a plane, bus, car, etc.
The journey to my grandmother’s house took three hours by car.
a trip
A short visit where you go somewhere, stay for a while, and then return. Includes two journeys (to and from).
We went on a trip to the beach for the weekend and had a great time.
a tour
A planned visit to see interesting places.
We took a tour of the city and saw many famous landmarks.
a guide
A person who shows you around and gives information.
Our guide told us many interesting facts about the ancient ruins.
nightlife
Entertainment and activities available at night.
The city’s nightlife is vibrant, with bars, clubs, and live music venues.
a museum
A place where you can see art, history, or science items.
We went to the museum to see dinosaur bones and ancient artefacts.
a historical building
An old building that is important because of its past.
The old castle is a historical building that is visited by many tourists.
a monument
A structure built to remember a person or event.
The statue in the park is a monument to the famous writer.
Holidays: Verbs & Verb Phrases
Common actions and expressions used when talking about holidays.
go on holiday / vacation
To take time off work or school to relax or travel.
We go on holiday every summer.
travel by plane/car/train/bus
To move from one place to another using a specific type of transport.
We travelled by train to the mountains.
go away
To leave your usual place (e.g., home) to spend time elsewhere.
They went away for the weekend.
go abroad
To travel to a different country.
Last year, I went abroad to Spain.
stay in a hotel
To live temporarily in accommodation during a trip.
We stayed in a small hotel near the beach.
rent an apartment
To pay to use a flat or house for a short period.
They rented an apartment in the city centre.
have a good time
To enjoy yourself.
We had a great time at the resort.
spend time (doing something)
To use your time doing a particular activity.
We spent time walking along the coast.
sunbathe
To sit or lie in the sun to get a tan.
She loves to sunbathe on the beach.
book a table
To reserve a place to eat in advance.
We booked a table at a nice restaurant.
try the local cuisine
To eat the traditional food of the place you’re visiting.
Don’t forget to try the local cuisine!
go + -ing (e.g., go swimming)
Used for common holiday activities: go swimming, go diving, go shopping, etc.
We went sightseeing and shopping.
do/go sightseeing
Visiting interesting places as a tourist.
We did a lot of sightseeing in Rome.
take pictures
To photograph places or moments.
They took hundreds of pictures during their trip.
buy souvenirs
To purchase small gifts or mementos from your trip.
I bought souvenirs for my family.
go on a trip/tour/safari
Use 'go on' before nouns like trip, tour, excursion, or safari.
We went on a safari in Kenya.