IELTS Speaking vocabulary for Travel & Holidays topic

Part 1

Do you like travelling?

Yes, definitely! I think seeing the world, from great historical monuments to white sandy beaches, [tooltip hint=”Something that brings sence to life”]is what life is all about[/tooltip]. 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, [tooltip hint=”Escaping in order to rest from a daily routine”]getting away from it all[/tooltip]. Nothing relaxes me as much as wilderness… I am tired of [tooltip hint=”Places with many tourists”]tourist traps[/tooltip] .and usually [tooltip hint=”To visit a place where a few people go”]go off the beaten track[/tooltip]….

What do you do on holidays?

I prefer visiting various museums and [tooltip hint=”Memorable and honorable places”]places of interest[/tooltip] ).. 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 [tooltip hint=”Places which tourists tend to visit”]tourist attractions[/tooltip] . 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 [tooltip hint=”Tourist attraction”]tourist destination[/tooltip], since it has various [tooltip hint=”Memorable and honorable places”]places of interest[/tooltip] , such as ancient museums and monuments… That’s whythere are always [tooltip hint=”Crowds of tourists”]hordes of tourists[/tooltip]…. So we decided to [tooltip hint=”To go not within the main holiday period”]go out of season[/tooltip]. 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 [tooltip hint=”Amazing views”]breathtaking views[/tooltip]. from the top of the Eiffel tower and dined in cozy little restaurants. I would certainly recommend visiting Paris, it is a [tooltip hint=”Beautiful”]picturesque[/tooltip]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 [tooltip hint=”Cheap regular flights”]charter flights[/tooltip]. and find various [tooltip hint=”A cheap hotel”]youth hostels[/tooltip]. all around the world, so you don’t need to spend much money on the travelling. Moreover, you can [tooltip hint=”Arrange a trip”] book a trip[/tooltip]. 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 [tooltip hint=”An organisation that specializes in booking holidays”]travel agencies[/tooltip]. for more advice.

What kind of transport do you prefer on holidays? Why?

It depends… I usually reach my [tooltip hint=”A place where you go for a holiday”] holiday destination[/tooltip]. 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 [tooltip hint=”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”]busman’s holiday[/tooltip] otherwise.

Do you prefer travelling alone or in tour groups? Why?

I definitely prefer travelling alone because I like to plan the trip by myself… When choosing a [tooltip hint=”A tour in which a group of people is guided by an expert.”]guided tour here[/tooltip], you should always conform to a set schedule… So if you are in India and, say, 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.