Travel and Tourism
IELTS vocabulary about travel
Affordable destinations – Places within a reasonable price range
Affordable travel – Travel which is within your price range
Around the world – In all corners of the globe
Arts and culture – The art, music and other cultural aspects of an area
Craft markets – Stalls where goods made by the local people are sold
Do as the locals do – Enjoy the activities as the local people do
Efficient public transport – A functioning transport system intended for the use of residents and visitors
Exotic destinations – Unusual or strange holiday destinations
Get around – Get from place to place
Guided tours – Walking, hiking or driving visits led by a guide who knows the area
Holiday brochures – Pamphlets advertising holiday destinations
Holiday destination – Place to which you leave on holiday
Long haul flights – Long distance flights
Lush rainforests – Luxuriant equatorial forests
Magnificent landscapes – Impressive scenery
Make advance reservations – Booking ahead of time
Memorable experiences – Activities that you will remember for years
Off the beaten track – A place that is not on the main thoroughfare
Out of season – Outside the most popular holiday period
Packaged deals – Travel deals that are put together by an agency and sold as a package
Quaint villages – Old fashioned or charming small towns
Scenic views – Lovely scenes
Self-catering accommodation – A Place to stay where you see to your own food
Spectacular beaches – Impressive sandy shorelines
Stunning architecture – Magnificent buildings
Swarming with tourists – Full of holidaymakers
Time on their hands – Available time to do as you choose
To get away from it all – To get away from everyday routines
To go sightseeing – Take a trip around an area to see what it has to offer
Travel abroad – Travel to overseas destinations
Travelling light – Travelling with little luggage
Value for money – A good return on investment
Visa regulations – Laws that relate to entry into a country
Wildlife safari – A guided tour through a game park
Examples of questions about holiday/ travel
Part 1 questions
Examiner: Where do you like to travel during the holidays?
Answer: I like to travel abroad but it can be expensive, so I usually plan affordable travel. Travelling to holiday destinations when it is out of season saves a lot of money. Out of season travel is also the best way to avoid places that are swarming with tourists.
Examiner: What are your favourite holiday pastimes?
Answer: I like to get away from it all. I look for exotic destinations with scenic views that are off the beaten track. I tend to avoid guided tours and packaged deals as I prefer to go sightseeing on my own.
Examiner: How do you plan and prepare for your holiday?
Answer: I always do my research. I thumb through holiday brochures and check travel sites like Airbnb on the Internet. I’m drawn to spectacular beaches and lush forests. I usually make advance reservations for self-catering accommodation.
Part 2 style questions
Examiner: Describe one of your best travel experiences.
- Where did you go
- When did you go
- Who did you go with
Answer: Last year a friend and I took a long-haul flight to Peru. We were travelling light so we were able to really get around. We stayed in quaint villages and hiked through lush rainforests. We were determined to do as the locals do, so we stayed with local people for part of the trip.
We visited colorful craft markets and brought back souvenirs, to remind us of our trip. One of my most memorable experiences was to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. It is a little bit off the beaten track but it is surrounded by great scenic beauty and magnificent landscapes.
Part 3 style questions
Examiner: What type of holiday destination do you think attracts most tourists?
Answer: I know that many people are drawn to wildlife safaris. This is certainly one of the big attractions in Africa. In Europe and Asia, the stunning architecture, museums and arts and culture attract thousands of tourists every year.
Examiner: Do you think that the tourism industry will continue to grow in the next two decades?
Answer: I do. Many European and Asian countries have aging populations who will have time on their hands in the future. Many of them are likely to seek holiday destinations around the world. Today there are many affordable destinations that offer good value for money.
Examiner: What do you think that your country could do to attract more tourists?
Answer: My country has stringent visa regulations. If these were relaxed, I think that more visitors would choose to visit. We have an efficient public transport, plenty of accommodation and natural and historical places of interest.