IELTS Speaking · Vocabulary · Topic
Travel & Tourism vocabulary for IELTS Speaking
Last updated 21 July 2026
In short
Describe places, journeys, and holidays with colour and precision. This collection gathers 16 high-value words for the travel & tourism topic, each with a clear definition, example sentences and the collocations that make it sound natural in the IELTS Speaking test.
Word list
All 16 words in this collection, with meanings and example sentences.
- accommodation
- A place to stay, such as a hotel, hostel, or rented room.
- “We booked our accommodation months in advance.”
- getaway
- A short holiday or escape from everyday life.
- “We booked a weekend getaway to the coast.”
- sightseeing
- The activity of visiting places of interest as a tourist.
- “We spent the morning sightseeing.”
- breathtaking
- Astonishingly beautiful or impressive.
- “The view from the summit was breathtaking.”
- broaden your horizons
- To increase the range of your knowledge, experience, or interests.
- “Studying abroad really broadened my horizons.”
- excursion
- A short trip made for pleasure, usually returning the same day.
- “We went on a day excursion to the islands.”
- expedition
- An organised journey undertaken for a specific purpose, such as exploration.
- “They joined an expedition to the Arctic.”
- hospitality
- Friendly and generous treatment of guests; also the industry that serves travellers.
- “We were touched by their warm hospitality.”
- itinerary
- A planned route or schedule for a journey.
- “Our itinerary includes three cities in five days.”
- unwind
- To relax after a period of work or tension.
- “A holiday is the perfect chance to unwind.”
- cosmopolitan
- Including or influenced by people and cultures from many parts of the world.
- “London is a truly cosmopolitan city.”
- immerse
- To involve yourself deeply in an activity or environment.
- “Travelling lets you immerse yourself in a new culture.”
- off the beaten track
- In a place away from where people usually go; remote and unfamiliar.
- “We prefer destinations off the beaten track.”
- picturesque
- Visually attractive, especially in a quaint or charming way.
- “We stayed in a picturesque fishing village.”
- pristine
- In its original, unspoilt condition; spotlessly clean.
- “The reserve protects a stretch of pristine coastline.”
- wanderlust
- A strong desire to travel and explore the world.
- “Her wanderlust took her across five continents.”
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Frequently asked questions
How can I remember travel & tourism vocabulary for IELTS?
Use spaced repetition and active recall rather than rote lists: review each word with flashcards and quizzes at growing intervals, and practise saying it aloud in your own example sentences.
Do I need less common words to score Band 7+ in IELTS Speaking?
Yes. The Lexical Resource criterion rewards less common and idiomatic vocabulary used accurately, along with natural collocations and effective paraphrasing — not just a wide list of words.
How many words are in this collection?
This collection has 16 hand-picked words, each with a definition, pronunciation, example sentences, synonyms and collocations.
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