B1 PRELIMINARY · VOCABULARY · TOPIC VOCABULARY
Travel and holidays
Words like go sightseeing, pack, book a hotel and a return ticket.
Finn says
Holidays are a favourite topic in Writing articles and stories, and in Speaking ('Tell us about your last holiday'). Learn the words in groups, with the words they go with, and try to use two or three of them next time you practise Speaking or Writing.
Planning a trip
book
reserve a hotel, a flight or tickets
We booked a hotel by the sea.
pack
put things in your suitcase
I haven't packed my bag yet!
a single / return ticket
one way / there and back
A return ticket to London, please.
On holiday
go sightseeing
visit famous places
We went sightseeing in Rome.
stay at / in
sleep somewhere
We stayed at a small hotel.
a souvenir
something you buy to remember a place
I bought a souvenir for my sister.
the journey
travelling from one place to another
The journey took six hours.
Make it better
The same idea, first in basic English, then in the kind of language that gets a higher mark.
- Basic: We saw the famous places.Better: We went sightseeing and visited the old town.A natural expression.
- Basic: The travel was long.Better: The journey was long.We say 'the journey', not 'the travel'.
- Basic: I bought a thing to remember the city.Better: I bought a souvenir.The exact word.
Finn's exam tip
Remember: 'travel' is usually a verb ('I love travelling'); for one trip, say 'the journey' or 'the trip'.
Quick check
Choose the best answer.
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