Tourism Vocabulary

trip — a general word for any journey somewhere and back, for any length of time: “They took a short trip to the coast.”

getaway — a short trip taken to relax or escape everyday life: “They planned a weekend getaway.”

excursion — a short organized trip, often as part of a longer holiday: “The hotel offered an excursion to the old town.”

vacation / holiday — both describe time away from work or school, often spent travelling; “vacation” is more common in American English, “holiday” in British English, though both are widely understood: “They’re on holiday until next week.”

itinerary — a planned schedule of a trip, including places and dates: “She emailed everyone the itinerary.”

accommodation — a general word for a place to stay, such as a hotel or rental: “They still needed to arrange accommodation.”

cancellation — the act of cancelling a booking, often affecting whether money is refunded: “Check the cancellation policy before you book.”

booking / reservation — both describe arranging something in advance, such as a room or a seat; the two are largely interchangeable, though “reservation” is often used for restaurants and “booking” more broadly: “They have a reservation for two at eight o’clock.”

sightseeing — visiting and looking at interesting places, usually as a tourist: “They spent the day sightseeing.”

landmark — a well-known place, often notable for its history or appearance: “The old bridge is a landmark in the city.”

tour — an organized visit to a place, usually led by a guide: “They joined a walking tour of the old town.”

tourist / traveler — a tourist is someone visiting a place, usually for leisure; a traveler is the broader term for anyone travelling from one place to another. In everyday use, some people use traveler to describe a more independent style of travel, but that distinction is not fixed.

boarding pass — a document or digital pass that allows a passenger onto a plane: “She showed her boarding pass at the gate.”

customs — the checkpoint at a border where officials check travellers and goods entering a country: “They went through customs after landing.”

passport — an official document proving your identity and nationality, used for international travel: “Make sure your passport hasn’t expired.”

visa — official authorization that allows someone to travel to, enter, or stay in a country for a particular purpose or period, depending on that country’s rules: “She applied for a visa before the trip.”

souvenir — an item bought or kept to remember a trip: “She bought a small souvenir from the market.”

jet lag — tiredness and disorientation caused by travelling quickly across time zones: “He felt jet lag for a couple of days.”

culture shock — the feeling of confusion or discomfort that can come from experiencing an unfamiliar culture: “She experienced some culture shock during her first week.”

homesick — missing home while away: “He felt a little homesick during the long trip.”