Travel English vocabulary: 25 words to learn before your trip
A2–B125 words
Travel vocabulary is the fastest English to put to use: you will hear these words at check-in desks, on boarding announcements and at hotel receptions within hours of landing. Learn the twenty-five below, then keep them alive with spaced repetition so they are still there on your next trip.
Where you will use it: Airports, hotels, transport and asking for directions.
Travel English — The word list
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| boarding pass | The document that lets you get on a plane.“Please have your boarding pass ready at the gate.” |
| check-in | Registering your arrival at an airport or hotel.“Hotel check-in starts at three in the afternoon.” |
| aisle seat | A seat next to the walkway on a plane or train.“I always book an aisle seat on long flights.” |
| layover | A short stop between two flights.“We have a four-hour layover in Istanbul.” |
| luggage | The bags you travel with.“My luggage did not arrive with the flight.” |
| departure | The act of leaving, or the time a transport leaves.“Departure is delayed by twenty minutes.” |
| one-way ticket | A ticket for a single journey, with no return.“A one-way ticket was cheaper than a return.” |
| book in advance | To reserve something ahead of time.“Book in advance if you travel in August.” |
| currency exchange | A place where you change money into another currency.“There is a currency exchange in the arrivals hall.” |
| sightseeing | Visiting the interesting places of a city.“We spent the morning sightseeing in the old town.” |
| get lost | To no longer know where you are.“We got lost trying to find the museum.” |
| pick up | To collect someone or something.“Can you pick me up from the station?” |
| customs | The place where officials check goods entering a country.“We had nothing to declare at customs.” |
| security check | The airport inspection of passengers and bags.“Allow extra time for the security check.” |
| carry-on bag | A small bag taken into the plane cabin.“My carry-on bag fits under the seat.” |
| departure gate | The area where passengers board a flight.“Our departure gate changed to B17.” |
| delayed | Leaving or arriving later than planned.“The train is delayed by forty minutes.” |
| cancelled | Not happening as planned.“Our evening flight was cancelled.” |
| return ticket | A ticket for travelling somewhere and back.“I bought a return ticket to Brighton.” |
| platform | The area beside a train where passengers wait.“The train leaves from platform six.” |
| accommodation | A place to stay while travelling.“We booked accommodation near the beach.” |
| reservation | An arrangement to keep a room or seat for you.“I have a reservation under Patel.” |
| vacancy | An available hotel room.“The sign says they have one vacancy.” |
| local transport | Buses, trains and other travel within an area.“Local transport is included in the pass.” |
| travel insurance | Cover for problems during a trip.“Travel insurance paid for the lost suitcase.” |
Useful learning tips
- Learn in small groupsTake five words at a time and review them before adding more.
- Say the examples aloudReading each sentence aloud connects spelling, sound and meaning.
- Write your own sentenceUse each word in a true sentence about your life or work.
How to study this list
Add five or six of these words a day rather than the whole list at once, keep the example sentence on the card, and review them when they come due. WordNest schedules each word across seven growing intervals — same day, then 1, 3, 7, 14, 30 and 60 days — so the list is still with you months later. Read how spaced repetition works if you want the reasoning behind those numbers.
Studying travel english pairs well with our Aviation English Vocabulary, Medical English and restaurant English word list, or browse all free English word lists.
Related guides
Questions about this list
How can I practise Travel English?
Start with five words and say each example aloud. Then recall the word from its meaning and review it over several days.
Where can I use Travel English?
Airports, hotels, transport and asking for directions.
How many words are in this list?
This list contains 25 English words with definitions and example sentences. It is a starting set, not a complete syllabus.
Turn this list into flashcards
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