Before starting to practice answering various IELTS Speaking topics, you should learn some topic vocabulary to know how to structure your answer.
Here you can find useful IELTS speaking vocabulary with sentence examples for the Holidays topic. This vocabulary is beneficial to answer questions about travel and holidays and achieving a high score on the IELTS Speaking test.
IELTS Speaking Vocabulary: Holidays
1. Holiday of a lifetime : a special holiday that you are unlikely to repeat
Example: My trip to Ha Long Bay last week is the holiday of a lifetime in which I had a lot of memorable memories with my family.
2. All – in package/ package holiday : a holiday where you purchase the travel and accommodation together
Example: I do not prefer packaged holidays because when it comes to traveling, I have always wanted to explore a new place by myself.
3. Guided tour : an organized group shown around a place of interest by an expert
Example: It is suggested that signing up for a guided tour could help traveler to avoid tourist traps.
4. Holiday destination : where you go for a holiday
Example: Ha Long Bay is a famous holiday destination in Vietnam, where welcome a million of traveler a year.
5. A far-off destination : somewhere a long way away
Example: These days traveling to a far-off destination is really common activity, which attract attention from many young travelers.
6. Places of interest : sites of interest to tourists
Example: When going to a new place, the first thing I will do is to travel to some places of interest and try local food.
7. To go sightseeing : to look around the tourist sites
Example: I like to go sightseeing at the weekend with my friends in the countryside areas.
8. Breathtaking view : an extremely beautiful view
Example: One thing that I really love about my previous trip is that I could experience many breathtaking view.
9. Hordes of tourists : crowds of tourists
Example: On holiday season, a tour guide get very busy with hordes of tourists.
10. Local crafts : objects produced locally
Example: The shop sell a various types of local crafts with a wide range of prices.
11. Charter – flight : a cheaper form of flying than a scheduled flight
Example: I usually choose to travel by charter – flight, then I could save a lot of money in term of traveling cost.
12. Check – in desk : the place at the airport where you register for your flight and deposit your luggage
Example: Check – in desk is the first place that you have to go to when you want to get on the plane.
13. accommodation: a room or building in which you stay during holidays or live.
Example: While I’m travelling, my favourite types of accommodation are hotels.
14. all holiday: a time after you lost your job.He lost his job yesterday.
Example: Now it’s all holiday for him.
15. all-inclusive: a hotel deal where the price includes accommodation, meals and drinks at any time.
Example: I’ve never thought that hotels with all-incusive service are so comfortable! You can grab a piece of cake at 6 a.m. or get a cocktail at midnight.
16. half-board: if you request ‘half-board’ at a hotel, breakfast and dinner would be included in the hotel price (as part of the package).
Example: John and Lily liked their tour with half-board service. They spent breakfasts and dinners in the hotel and bought lunches in the nearby cafes.
17. full-board: if you request ‘full-board’ at a hotel, that would include all three meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) in the price of your accommodation.
18. self-catering: a holiday deal where meals are not provided.
Example: Mary thinks that self-catering is neither pleasant nor efficient.
19. to book (something): to arrange and confirm a place on a flight, a room in a hotel or a ticket for an event in the future.
Example: If you book your plane tickets in advance, they will be much cheaper.
20. breathtaking view: an amazing view.
Example: I’ve seen many breathtaking views during my journey to Paris.
21. busman’s holiday: when you spend your free time similarly to the time when you work. This expression comes from the idea that a bus driver would spend his holiday traveling somewhere on a bus.
Example: Unfortunately, many people spend a busman’s holiday nowadays.
22. charter flight: a cheap regular flight.
Example: Due to our modest budget, we had to take a charter-flight.
23. check-in desk: the place at the airport where you register for your flight and deposit your luggage.
24. far-off destination: a distant place.
Example: Australia is a far-off destination, nonetheless I want to visit it.
25. getting away from it all: escaping in order to rest from a daily routine.
Example: After I passed my exams, I wanted to get away from it all for at least a couple of days.
26. go off the beaten track: to visit an uncommon place.
Example: Unlike my brother, I prefer to go off the beaten track.
27. guided tour: a tour in which a group of people is guided by an expert.
Example: Guided tours are a great way to learn about different places of interest.
28. head for: go in a direction for.
Example: I’m heading for France for my next holidays.
29. holiday brochure: a publication with details of holiday.
Example: Our guide gave us a great brochure about our hotel.
30. holiday destination: where you go for a holiday.
Example: We chose New York as our holiday destination for the next summer.
31. holiday of a lifetime: a very special holiday, once in a lifetime.
Example: Last year me and my family had a holiday of a lifetime in Italy.
32. holiday resort (tourist resort): a place where lots of people go for a holiday.
Example: Last year my family went on a journey to London. We lived in a great tourist resort.
33. hordes of tourists: crowds of tourists.
Example: Hordes of tourist can be seen during summer near the city park.
34. in the middle of nowhere: in a place that is far away from where most people live.
Example: My grand-mother lives in the middle of nowhere, but she loves her old little village.
35. local crafts: thighs made in the region.
Example: My sister bought some amazing local crafts on her trip to India.
36. out of season: not within the main holiday period.
Example: I decided to go on a journey with my friends out of season.
37. passport control: a place where you get your passport checked.
Example: I spent a few hours waiting in line on a passport control.
38. package tour: a holiday at a fixed price in which the travel company arranges your travel, hotels, and sometimes meals for you
Example: We bought a cheap package tour to Italy and stayed in a big hotel by the sea.
39. picturesque village: a nice, beautiful village.
Example: My grandparents live in a picturesque village.
40. places of interest: memorable and honorable places.
Example: My native city has a variety of places of interest.
41. short break: a little holiday.
Example: My father had a short break this year, I hope he’ll be able to relax some more.
42. stunning landscape: a beautiful countryside.
Example: Stunning landscapes are only one of many reasons why I want to visit Africa.
43. to go sightseeing: to go visiting sights of interest.
Example: Today we went sightseeing with my friends.
44. to travel on foot / horse
Example: When I’m in a small town I prefer to travel on foot.
45. to travel by bus / plane / car / bicycle / motorcycle
Example: Although I usually travel by car, when I decided to visit Paris I had to travel by plane.
46. tourist attractions: places which tourists tend to visit.
Example: Despite not being a tourist attraction, new fountain is very popular among the locals.
47. tourist trap: place with many tourists.
Example: We’ve visited many tourists traps lately.
48. travel agency: a shop that specializes in booking holidays.
Example: I’ve bought tickets for my trip through a travel agency.
49. wildlife safari: an observational holiday, mainly in Africa.
Example: I’d love to go on a wildlife safari sometime.
50. youth hostel: a cheap hotel.
Example: During our trip we stayed in a hostel, because we didn’t have enough money for a hotel.
IELTS Speaking Sample: Holidays
Part 1
Do you like travelling?
Yes, definitely! I think seeing the world, from great historical monuments to white sandy beaches, is what life is all about. It’s a very interesting way to learn about new cultures and explore new places.
What is your favourite type of holiday?
I really like going to the countryside, getting away from it all. Nothing relaxes me as much as wilderness… I am tired of tourist traps and usually go off the beaten track…
What do you do on holidays?
I prefer visiting various museums and places of interest. For instance, on my last vacation I was to Rome and I visited 12 museums. It was fantastic! Of course, sometimes I go shopping with my friends or relatives too… But I don’t find it near as exciting…
Are there many tourists visiting your country?
Probably yes… My country has different tourist attractions in many cities, especially the capital… For example, my country has old-time religious traditions… That’s why we have a lot of ancient cathedrals and churches that are interesting for both tourists and local citizens…
Part 2
Now, have a look at the card and prepare a monologue.
Describe a tourist attraction you once visited. You should say:
– When you visited it
– Where is it situated
– Who you went with
and say what about it you like the most
A couple of years ago I went on a holiday to Paris with my parents… it is a very popular tourist destination, since it has various places of interest, such as ancient museums and monuments… That’s why there are always hordes of tourists… So we decided to go out of season in the autumn… Fortunately, the weather was great, and we did not waste any days watching TV at the hotel… it was a memorable holiday … we enjoyed breathtaking views from the top of the Eiffel tower and dined in cozy little restaurants. I would certainly recommend visiting Paris, it is a picturesque city.
Part 3
Why do you think tourism is so developed now?
Well, because it is a lot easier to travel nowadays… you can choose charter flights and find various youth hostels all around the world, so you don’t need to spend much money on the travelling. Moreover, you can book a trip via the Internet, so you don’t even have to leave home.
How people choose their destination?
There are a lot of ways. For instance, you can surf the internet for all the necessary information… Or you can visit different travel agencies for more advice.
What kind of transport do you prefer on holidays? Why?
It depends… I usually reach my holiday destination by plane because it is the fastest and the least dangerous way to travel. However, flying can be a bit uncomfortable… So I also travel by train from time to time… But I never drive car on a vacation, because I do it every day when I work… I would have a busman’s holiday otherwise.
Do you prefer travelling alone or in tour groups? Why?
I definitely prefer traveling alone because I like to plan the trip by myself… When choosing a guided tour, you should always conform to a set schedule… So if you are in India and you want to spend an extra hour at Taj Mahal, you simply cannot do that with a group tour… I like independent travel. That way I get to see and do exactly what I want and spend as much time as I want at various stops.
IELTS Speaking Practice: Holidays
Read the following IELTS-style questions and answers below, and pay attention to the phrases in bold. Use the ‘Definitions’ section at the bottom of the page to check the meaning of any phrases you don’t understand.
Part 1-style questions
Examiner: What kind of holiday do you like?
Miguel: I try to avoid tourist traps … I like to get away from it all and prefer going somewhere off the beaten track … last year I had the holiday of a lifetime … a two week wildlife safari in Kenya.
Examiner: What do you like to do when you’re on holiday?
Anna: I enjoy visiting the local places of interest … I like to go sightseeing and always sign up for guided tours as it’s a chance to be shown around and take photographs … one of my hobbies.
Examiner: Do you have many tourists in your country?
Amy: Yes … we have a lot of holiday resorts along the coast that are popular with tourists … most people come on package holidays and stay in one of the many hotels and self-catering apartments.
Part 2-style task
Describe a beautiful place you once visited. You should say:
- when you went to this place
- where it was
- who you went with
and say why you liked it so much.
Sally: A few years ago I went on a long weekend to the Lake District in the UK … it’s a very popular holiday destination in the north of England … I went on my own and had a wonderful time … I stayed in a youth hostel and met some really nice people … but the most memorable thing about the holiday were the breathtaking views … and lovely picturesque villages … it can get very busy with hordes of tourists so I decided to go out of season in the autumn … the weather was fantastic and the shops were full of local crafts … a really great holiday … it’s certainly not the kind of short break for someone looking for a busy nightlife but if you want to relax in the middle of stunning landscape I would certainly recommend a holiday to the Lake District.
Part 3-style questions
Examiner: What do you think has led to the growth in the tourism industry?
Miguel: It’s much easier and affordable to travel now … nowadays you can get cheap charter-flights or all-in packages … to somewhere near or to a far-off destination.
Examiner: How do people tend to choose a destination?
Anna: The Internet is a great source of information and high street travel agents are still very popular … that’s where I like to go to get holiday brochures for the place I’m interested in.
Examiner: People sometimes say flying is the most glamorous form of travel. Do you agree?
Amy: I’m not so sure really … flying can be quite boring … queuing up at the check-in desk … going through passport control … sitting for ages in the departure lounge … then the flight itself can be quite uncomfortable … no … I’m not sure I agree.
Definitions
all-in package/package holiday: a holiday where you purchase the travel and accommodation together
breathtaking view: an extremely beautiful view
charter-flight: a cheaper form of flying than a scheduled flight
check-in desk: the place at the airport where you register for your flight and deposit your luggage
departure lounge: where you wait for your flight to be called
far-off destination: somewhere a long way away
to get away from it all: to take a holiday to escape a busy or stressful lifestyle
guided tour: an organized group shown around a place of interest by an expert
holiday brochure: a glossy publication with details of holiday packages
holiday destination: where you go for a holiday
holiday of a lifetime: a special holiday that you are unlikely to repeat
holiday resort: a place where lots of people go for a holiday
hordes of tourists: crowds of tourists
local crafts: objects produced locally
long weekend: an extended weekend holiday including Friday or Monday
out of season: outside of the main holiday period
picturesque village: very pretty village
passport control: the place where your passport is checked
places of interest: sites of interest to tourists
wildlife safari: a holiday, often in Africa, to observe wild animals
self-catering: a holiday where you supply your own food
short break: a short holiday
to go sightseeing: to look around the tourist sites
stunning landscape: extremely beautiful countryside
travel agent: a shop that specialises in booking holidays
tourist trap: somewhere where too many tourists go
youth hostel: a cheap form of accommodation