Travelling? Learn these essential English words and phrases. Speak English more confidently & fluently. Apply to study with me: …

To speak like a native speaker while traveling, you need to move beyond basic textbook phrases and use phrasal verbs and idioms. Natives rarely say, “I am going to the hotel to register”; they say, “I’m going to check in.”

Here is a guide to the most useful travel vocabulary and “native-style” phrases.

1. The “Native” Phrasal Verbs (The Essentials)

Phrasal verbs are the secret to sounding natural.

Phrasal Verb	Meaning	Example
Check in / out	To register or leave a hotel/airport.	“What time do we need to check out?”
Touch down	When a plane lands.	“We touched down in London at 6:00 AM.”
Get in	When a train, bus, or plane arrives.	“What time does your flight get in?”
Set off	To start a journey.	“We’ll set off for the mountains at dawn.”
Drop off / Pick up	To take someone somewhere / To collect them.	“Can you drop me off at the terminal?”
Look around	To explore a place.	“I want to spend the afternoon looking around the old town.”

2. At the Airport & Flying

Native speakers use specific terms for flight situations:

Red-eye flight: A flight that leaves late at night and arrives early in the morning (you arrive with “red eyes” from lack of sleep).
Layover / Stopover: A break between flights in a different city.
Carry-on / Hand luggage: The small bag you take onto the plane.
Checked luggage: The big bags you give to the airline at the counter.
Upgraded: When you are moved to a better seat (e.g., from Economy to Business Class) for free.

Native Phrase: “Is there any chance of an upgrade on this flight?”

3. Accommodation & “Native” Needs

When staying in a hotel, Airbnb, or hostel:

Amenities: The extra things provided (WiFi, gym, pool, toiletries).
Fully booked: When there are no rooms available.
Wake-up call: An automated phone call from the front desk to wake you up.
Valet: Someone who parks your car for you.

Native Phrase: “Does the room rate include breakfast, or is that extra?”

4. Getting Around (Transport)

Term	Meaning	Native Tip
One-way / Return	A ticket to go, or to go and come back.	In the US, say “Round-trip” instead of “Return.”
Fare	The price of the ticket.	“What’s the bus fare to the city center?”
Commute	Regular travel between home and work.	“The morning commute is very crowded.”
Off the beaten path	A place that is not popular with tourists.	“I prefer finding spots off the beaten path.”

5. Eating Out Like a Local

A table for [Number]: How you ask for a seat. “Table for two, please.”
On the side: When you want a sauce or dressing in a separate small bowl. “I’ll have the salad with the dressing on the side.”
To go / Takeaway: Food you want to take with you. (US: To go; UK/Australia: Takeaway).
Split the bill: When everyone pays for their own meal.
My treat / It’s on me: When you are paying for everyone.

Native Phrase: “Could we split the bill, please?”

6. Survival Idioms

Use these to sound like you’ve been speaking English your whole life:

“Hit the road”: To start the trip. (“It’s 8:00 AM, let’s hit the road!”)
“Travel light”: To pack very few things. (“I’m only going for two days, so I’m going to travel light.”)
“Break the bank”: To spend too much money. (“The hotel was nice, but it didn’t break the bank.”)
“Catch some rays”: To sunbathe. (“I’m going to the beach to catch some rays.”)
“Live it up”: To enjoy yourself in an expensive or exciting way. (“It’s our last night in Paris, let’s live it up!”)