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Thematic Collection

English for Vacation and Leisure: Words and Phrases for the Beach, Excursions, and Travel

English for vacation is useful not only for bookings, but also for ordinary situations during a trip: at the beach, on an excursion, in a hotel, in a cafe, in a shop, or while walking around the city. This page brings together words, phrases, and dialogues that help you talk about your plans for the day, understand everyday travel questions, and find the right expressions faster in the most typical tourist situations.

You start with the key vocabulary for vacation and leisure, then move on to practical phrases for the beach, excursions, and everyday communication, and after that reinforce everything with a dialogue and flashcards. This format helps you feel more confident during a trip, talk more easily about different parts of your vacation, and learn useful travel English in advance.

Word list to learn

vacation
[vəˈkeɪʃən]
holiday
[ˈhɒlədeɪ]
trip
[trɪp]
journey
[ˈdʒɜːni]
beach
[biːtʃ]
sea
[siː]
ocean
[ˈəʊʃən]
sand
[sænd]
waves
[weɪvz]
sun
[sʌn]
sunshine
[ˈsʌnʃaɪn]
sunscreen
[ˈsʌnskriːn]
towel
[ˈtaʊəl]
swimsuit
[ˈswɪmsuːt]
swimming trunks
[ˈswɪmɪŋ trʌŋks]
snorkel
[ˈsnɔːkl]
flip-flops
[ˈflɪp flɒps]
pool
[puːl]
resort
[rɪˈzɔːt]
sightseeing
[ˈsaɪtsiːɪŋ]
tourist attraction
[ˈtʊərɪst əˈtrækʃən]
souvenir
[ˌsuːvəˈnɪə]
camera
[ˈkæmərə]
guidebook
[ˈɡaɪdbʊk]
map
[mæp]
passport
[ˈpɑːspɔːt]
visa
[ˈviːzə]
ticket
[ˈtɪkɪt]
excursion
[ɪkˈskɜːʃən]
adventure
[ədˈventʃə]
relax
[rɪˈlæks]
sunbathe
[ˈsʌnbeɪð]
explore
[ɪkˈsplɔː]
photograph
[ˈfəʊtəɡrɑːf]
scenery
[ˈsiːnəri]
mountain
[ˈmaʊntɪn]
valley
[ˈvæli]
forest
[ˈfɒrɪst]
island
[ˈaɪlənd]
coast
[kəʊst]
harbor
[ˈhɑːbə]
boardwalk
[ˈbɔːdwɔːk]
umbrella
[ʌmˈbrelə]
lounger
[ˈlaʊndʒə]
snorkeling
[ˈsnɔːklɪŋ]
diving
[ˈdaɪvɪŋ]
surfing
[ˈsɜːfɪŋ]
hiking
[ˈhaɪkɪŋ]
local cuisine
[ˈləʊkl kwɪˈziːn]
itinerary
[aɪˈtɪnərəri]
suitcase
[ˈsuːtkeɪs]
luggage
[ˈlʌɡɪdʒ]
sunglasses
[ˈsʌnɡlɑːsɪz]
sunset
[ˈsʌnset]
sandcastle
[ˈsændkɑːsl]
lifeguard
[ˈlaɪfɡɑːd]
cruise
[kruːz]
suntan
[ˈsʌntæn]
sunburn
[ˈsʌnbɜːn]
bikini
[bɪˈkiːni]
waterfall
[ˈwɔːtəfɔːl]
palm tree
[pɑːm triː]
coral reef
[ˈkɒrəl riːf]
tropical
[ˈtrɒpɪkl]
lagoon
[ləˈɡuːn]
booking
[ˈbʊkɪŋ]
jet lag
[ˈdʒet læɡ]
getaway
[ˈɡetəweɪ]
shore
[ʃɔː]
tide
[taɪd]
seashell
[ˈsiːʃel]
sun hat
[sʌn hæt]
yacht
[jɒt]
camping
[ˈkæmpɪŋ]
bungalow
[ˈbʌŋɡələʊ]
villa
[ˈvɪlə]
paradise
[ˈpærədaɪs]
postcard
[ˈpəʊstkɑːd]
tourist
[ˈtʊərɪst]
guide
[ɡaɪd]
abroad
[əˈbrɔːd]
destination
[ˌdestɪˈneɪʃən]
water sports
[ˈwɔːtə spɔːts]
sailing
[ˈseɪlɪŋ]
swimming
[ˈswɪmɪŋ]
beach bar
[biːtʃ bɑː]

Useful phrases

Click the icon to hear the pronunciation

We're on vacation!
Where is the nearest beach?
Can I rent sun loungers here?
Is the water warm enough for swimming?
Could you take a photo of us, please?
What time does the excursion start?
Where can I buy a souvenir?
I'd like to book a boat trip.
Is there a guided tour available?
Where can I apply sunscreen?
I'd like to relax by the pool today.
What are the best local dishes to try?
Can we go snorkeling here?
I'd like to explore the old town.
How much does a day pass cost?
Is it safe to swim in this area?
I need to exchange some currency.
What's the weather like tomorrow?
This is a beautiful place!
We had a wonderful holiday!

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Dialogue

Click the speaker icon to hear the full dialogue

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Tourist 1
Wow, look at this beach! It's even more beautiful than in the photos.
Tourist 2
I know! The water is crystal clear. Let's find a spot to set up our towels.
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Tourist 1
Good idea. Should we rent sun loungers and an umbrella?
Tourist 2
Yes, let's do that. I see a rental stand over there. How much do you think it costs?
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Tourist 1
Probably around ten dollars for the day. That usually includes two loungers and an umbrella.
Tourist 2
Sounds reasonable. After we settle in, let's go snorkeling — the reef looks amazing from here!
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Tourist 1
Great idea! I brought my snorkel and mask. Do you want to grab lunch after?
Tourist 2
Yes! I want to try the local seafood. There's a restaurant right on the boardwalk.
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Tourist 1
Perfect! And afterwards, we could do some sightseeing in the old town.
Tourist 2
I read there's a wonderful market with souvenirs and local crafts.
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Tourist 1
Let's go! I want to buy some gifts for family and friends back home.
Tourist 2
This is the best vacation we've ever had!
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Common mistakes

Avoid these common mistakes

Wrong I'm in vacation
Correct I'm on vacation / I'm on holiday

Use the preposition "on": "on vacation" in American English and "on holiday" in British English.

Wrong I want to make photo
Correct I'd like to take a photo

"Take a photo" is the correct collocation, not "make photo".

Wrong I go for sunbathing
Correct I'm going sunbathing / I'm going to sunbathe

Use "go" with an -ing form: "go sunbathing", "go swimming", or say "go to sunbathe".

Wrong Where is beach?
Correct Where is the beach?

Do not forget the article "the" before a specific noun: "the beach", "the pool", "the restaurant".

Wrong This is very funny place
Correct This is a very nice/beautiful place

"Funny" means "amusing". To describe a pleasant or attractive place, use "nice" or "beautiful".

About This List

Which vacation words and phrases are especially useful

On vacation, you usually need to talk about several topics at once: the beach, excursions, bookings, walks, shopping, photos, entertainment, and plans for the day. That is why it helps to know not only individual words like beach, sunscreen, towel, tour, or souvenir, but also ready-made phrases such as "We booked a hotel near the beach", "Could you recommend a tour?", and "Could you take a photo of us?" This kind of vocabulary makes real tourist situations much easier to handle.

What people talk about most often on vacation in English

During a trip, practical questions come up all the time: where to buy sunscreen, how to book an excursion, how to ask about the beach, how to talk about the weather, or how to describe your plans for the day or a boat trip. That is why vocabulary about the sea, the pool, the hotel, tours, maps, souvenirs, and local activities is so useful. When these words already feel familiar, everyday communication becomes much easier.

When this vocabulary list is especially helpful

This vocabulary is useful in a hotel, on the beach, in a tourist office, in a cafe, on an excursion, and during a walk around town. If you can describe your plans, ask about activities, and name what you need for your vacation, travel feels calmer and more flexible.

Who this page is for

This page is useful for anyone preparing for a vacation abroad, reviewing English before a trip, or learning basic words and phrases for leisure and travel. It helps you go through the most common vacation topics and get ready for real everyday situations without unnecessary theory.

Frequently Asked Questions

Чаще всего говорят «I’m on vacation» в американском английском и «I’m on holiday» в британском. Обе формы полезно знать, потому что в поездке вы можете услышать оба варианта.

Самый удобный вариант: «Could you take a photo of us, please?». Если вы путешествуете один, можно сказать «Could you take a photo of me, please?».

Для этого подойдут «Is there a guided tour available?», «What excursions do you offer?» и «Can I book this tour for tomorrow?». Эти фразы полезны в отеле, туристическом офисе и на экскурсионной стойке.

Полезны простые фразы «The water is warm», «The beach is crowded today», «It’s too windy for a boat trip» и «The weather is perfect for swimming». Они помогают описывать условия на отдыхе естественно и понятно.

Чаще всего пригождаются слова и выражения про пляж, экскурсии, бронирования, транспорт и отдых: beach, sunscreen, towel, tour, reservation, souvenir, map, pool и boat trip. Такой словарь помогает и в городе, и на пляже, и во время экскурсий.

Полезный базовый набор: «We booked a hotel near the beach», «Could you recommend a tour?», «Could you take a photo of us?», «Where can I buy sunscreen?» и «We’re going on a boat trip tomorrow». Эти фразы закрывают самые частые отпускные ситуации и помогают увереннее чувствовать себя в поездке.