If you’re planning your next adventure, understanding common travel terms and vocabulary can make your trip smoother and more enjoyable. From “accommodation” to “zonal fares” and everything in between, this post is your ultimate guide to the ABCs of travel.
No matter your travel experience, this list will help you navigate the travel industry with a little more ease. Get ready to expand your travel vocabulary!
Table of Contents
A
Accommodation (n): a temporary lodging ranging from luxurious to “are you sure this is even a real hotel?”; where you rest after a long day of exploring, charge electronics, and then get hit with a bunch of hidden charges. But, hey, it’s all part of the adventure, right?
Airport (n): a magical place of transit where time doesn’t exist and everyone is rushing to catch a flight or waiting for one; where you can find overpriced souvenirs, magazines you’ll never read, and the constant sound of announcements that may or may not pertain to your flight.
Attraction (n): a place you convince yourself you absolutely must see, only to arrive and realize it’s crowded, overhyped, and not as impressive as the pictures make it out to be. But, you still take a selfie to prove you were there.
B
Backpacker (n): a budget-conscious traveler who believes the journey is just as important as the destination; someone who carries everything they own strapped to their back and seeks off-the-beaten-path destinations for a new experience. They value flexibility and freedom more than luxury accommodations and tourist traps.
Booking (v): the process of reserving a spot, service, or activity for a specific date and time. It often involves a series of failed attempts and last-minute panic as you compare prices and availability before making any concrete plans.
Budget (v): the act of becoming an expert in finding the cheapest flight deals, sleeping in cramped hostels, and surviving on instant noodles for the sake of fulfilling your wanderlust dreams without spending more money than you can afford to lose.
Business Trip (n): a trip for the sake of work; when you get paid to wait in airport lines, stay in generic hotel rooms, and eat mediocre food in between meetings
C
Cancellation policy (n): the guidelines set by airlines, hotels and tour operators that dictate the fees and refunds you may receive if you cancel your travel plans. Remember to read the travel terms and conditions so you don’t end up with an empty wallet.
Carry-on (n): a tiny suitcase or bag that becomes a strategic game of Tetris as you struggle to fit your belongings inside without exceeding the airline’s weight and size limits.
Credit Card (n): a piece of plastic that can either make or break your travel plans, depending on how much you’ve racked up in charges (or rewards points). Use it wisely, and it can earn you points, miles, and other rewards that can lead to free flights and hotel stays. Use it poorly, and it can leave you wondering how you’ll afford to get back home.
Culture shock (n): the feeling you get when you realize you’re the only one smiling in a crowded city, or when you can’t seem to find a decent cup of coffee; it’s a crash course in adapting to a new culture and a reminder that there’s always more to learn about the world.
Currency exchange (n): the process of trading one type of money for another; the traveler’s version of playing the stock market
Customs (n): a checkpoint where you declare the weird and wonderful things you’ve kept from your travels; where your honesty will be tested by the stern gaze of an officer who’s heard every excuse under the sun. Just smile, answer their questions truthfully, and hope that bottle of homemade hot sauce in your bag won’t be confiscated
D
Destination (n): where you want to go and spend time; the place you dream of exploring; where adventure and relaxation blend in harmony and the local cuisine is so delicious you don’t mind gaining a few extra pounds
Direct flight (n): the flight that takes you from Point A to Point B without any layovers, but only exists in your dreams
Day trip (n): a mad dash to see as much as possible of a new place within 24 hours. It leaves you with a sense of accomplishment and a sore pair of feet at the end of the day
E
Ecotourism (n): traveling to get back to nature and protect the environment while leaving nothing but footprints and taking nothing but pictures
Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) (n): a digital document that says, “Hey, I’m allowed to be here,” and saves you the trouble of bribing anyone at the border.
Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) (n): the response you give to your kid’s question when they ask “Are we there yet?”
F
Family vacation (n): a time when parents trade in their briefcases for sunscreen and kids, their textbooks for pool floats; the perfect time to take cheesy group photos in matching outfits and create memories that will be awkwardly referenced for years to come
Frequent Flyer Miles (n): Rewards points earned by people who travel by plane or use certain credit cards. Collect them like Pokémon and you can get free flights, hotel stays and rental cars
G
Glamping (n): it’s like regular camping, but with less dirt, more champagne, and a bed that’s not just a sleeping bag on a rock; mention this activity to actual camping enthusiasts and you’ll be judged. Hard.
Group Tour (n): a travel experience where you pay to hang out with a bunch of strangers for a window of time while seeing new sights. Sounds fun, right?
Guidebook (n): a book that tells you where to go, what to see, and how to get there. You’ll lose it halfway through your trip and still manage to have a good time anyway
Guesthouse (n): a cheap hotel but with more character, fewer amenities, and communal living spaces
H
Hostel (n): a place where you can pay to sleep in a room full of strangers in bunk beds and hope they don’t steal your stuff (at least it’s cheap!)
Hotel (n): a place where you can pay to sleep in a bed that someone else has probably slept in before. If you’re lucky, the sheets don’t have any mystery stains and the bathroom is filled with tiny bottles of shampoo
Historical Site (n): a place where you can stare at buildings and artifacts while admiring how old they are as they slowly decay before you
I
Itinerary (n): a detailed plan for your travels with dates, times and locations of where you hope to go and what you hope to do. It’s promptly ignored once you arrive at your destination despite all the planning that went into it.
In-flight entertainment (n): how you distract yourself from the screaming baby in the airplane seat next to you, the turbulence that makes you feel like you’re on a rollercoaster, and the fact that your legs have not moved from the same cramped position for hours
J
Jet lag (n): the hangover feeling that occurs when your body clock is out of sync with local time and you’re left feeling like a zombie until your body adjusts
Journey (n): the process of traveling from one location to another, often involving missed connections, lost luggage, and unexpected detours
K
Kayak (n): a bathtub-like boat used to navigate water that requires a paddle to move. Warning: being in one may cause uncontrollable urges to yell “I’m the King of the world!”
L
Landmark (n): a point of reference that tells you where you are in the world that may or may not have a lot of tourists nearby
Leisure (n): the purest form of relaxation and enjoyment; those blissful moments where you can lay on the beach and sip on a piña colada without a care in the world
Luggage (n): a traveler’s loyal companion that never leaves their side, until it’s lost in the airport; the bag you love to pack and hate to carry, yet can’t imagine traveling without
M
Map (n): an image of a location that can transform a lost and confused traveler into an adventurer with a sense of direction; start at the “You Are Here” sign to find every Starbucks, street food vendors, and closest bathrooms in a city
Mountain (n): an elevation of the earth’s surface perfect for those who love adventure, challenging themselves, and stunning views.
Museum (n): a place where you can go to learn about the past and contemplate the mysteries of the future, while trying not to accidentally touch or break anything
Monument (n): a giant statue or structure build to remind us of something important that we’ve probably forgotten; usually a massive stone statue of a guy on a horse wearing a funny hat
N
National park (n): a vast area of land protected by the government where you can go to experience the beauty of nature, the thrill of adventure, and the terror of realizing you forgot your mosquito repellant
Navigation (n): the process of finding your way to a destination; the art of convincing yourself that you know where you’re going while secretly relying on your phone’s GPS to not get lost in a foreign city
O
Off-season travel (n): the practice of traveling during a destination’s season of low traffic, low prices, and less-than-ideal weather, often to save money and spare yourself from getting poked and prodded by tourist’s selfie sticks
P
Passport (n): a little booklet that holds the power to take you places (and an unflattering photo of your face)
Packing (n): the art of fitting your entire life into a tiny suitcase or carry-on and hoping for the best, usually results in forgetting an important item
Photography (n): the practice of taking hundreds of photos of monuments and landmarks just to get one Instagram-worthy shot while annoying everyone around you with the sound of the camera you barely know how to use
Q
Quaint town (n): a small, picturesque and charming place where everyone knows everyone and nothing ever seems to change
R
Road trip (n): a trip on wheels that happens over a period of days that tests your friendship, bladder capacity, and music taste
Rest and relaxation (R&R) (n): the state of being unwound and relaxed away from the stresses of daily life
S
Scenic route (n): the way to a destination that isn’t necessarily the shortest but it’s definitely the most beautiful
Souvenir (n): a tangible reminder of a place visited or an experience had, often overpriced and later placed on a shelf to collect dust
Solo travel (n): a trip you take by yourself to experience the world on your own terms and timetable
T
Tourist (n): someone who is so excited to see a new place that they don’t mind looking like a fish out of water in a sea of locals. They often wear fanny packs, dad sneakers while asking for directions and taking selfies with every landmark in sight
Travel Anxiety (n): a specific form of anxiety that arises in anticipation of or during travel
Travel insurance (n): a financial safety net that helps protect travelers from unexpected events like trip cancellations, lost luggage, and medical emergencies, while away from home
Train travel (n): the act of traveling by train for a more comfortable and scenic experience than flying or driving. Sit back, relax and hope your train car doesn’t derail
U
Unexplored destinations (n): a place yet to be explored or visited by you or many people, usually off-the-beaten-path with many adventures waiting to happen
Urban hiking (n): the act of exploring a city on foot; like a hike in nature, but with the added bonus of sidewalks and having access to Starbucks on every corner
Unique experiences (n): the things you’ll talk about for years after your trip; the moments that take your breath away or the adventures that push you out of your comfort zone to make a lasting impression
V
Visa (n): a stamp on your passport, you have to pay and fill out stacks of paperwork for, that can either open the doors to a new country or crush your travel dreams
Vacation (n): the designated period of time where you can finally escape the daily grind of work and responsibility at home and replace it with a different kind of grind- like the sand between your toes or the hustle and bustle of a new city; a chance to spend all your savings on luxury, drinks, and a tan that will fade within a week
Voyage (n): a journey, often by sea or waterway, to explore new lands, seek adventure and embark on a quest
View (n): what can be seen from a particular vantage point, usually a breathtaking panorama of a city skyline or a magnificent mountain range
W
Wanderlust (n): the feeling you get when you see a photo of or hear about a place you’ve never been to and you just want to pack your bags and go explore
Walking tour (n): an interactive way to experience a new destination on foot while getting in your daily step goal
X
Xenophobia (n): the fear or dislike of people from other countries, cultures or ethnic backgrounds; the reason why cross-cultural travel is so important
Y
Yoga retreat (n): the travel experience that combines your passion for Downward Dogs and meditation with exploring new places
Youth hostel (n): a budget-friendly accommodation, often for people aged 18-35, that offers shared dormitory-style rooms and guests who snore.
Z
Zonal fare (n): A type of pricing system, commonly used in busses, trains, and subways, that is based on geographic zones, rather than specific destinations
If you want to fully enjoy the benefits of travel, it’s important to know common travel terms and vocabulary. With the knowledge of basic travel vocabulary like “passport” and “luggage” to more specific travel terms like “off-season travel” and “zonal fare”, you can navigate your trip with more ease and make the most of your experiences away from home.
Take the time to learn these travel terms and you’ll be on your way to smoother and more enjoyable travels.
Which Travel Terms Do You Use?
Before you go, are there any travel vocabulary words or phrases you’re still confused about? Or, do you have a favorite travel term you like to use? Share it in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you!
