CELPIP vocabulary: travel and holidays

A detailed travel plan.

CELPIP tip Hard to spell: i-t-i-n-e-r-a-r-y. In a Writing Task 1 email, "I've attached our itinerary" sounds natural and organized.

A booking for a room, table or seat.

CELPIP tip Pattern: make a reservation for two nights, at a hotel, under a name. You can also "cancel" or "confirm" a reservation.

Proof that a booking is made.

CELPIP tip When complaining in Writing Task 1, mention your booking confirmation number to sound precise and credible.

The act of cancelling.

CELPIP tip Canadian spelling keeps the double L: cancellation, cancelled, cancelling. "Cancellation fee" and "cancellation policy" are common pairings.

A place to stay.

CELPIP tip Spell it with double C and double M. In Canadian English it is usually uncountable: say "accommodation is", not "accommodations are".

A document needed to get on a plane.

CELPIP tip Listening Part 1 often includes airport scenes; boarding pass, gate and departure time usually appear together.

The act of leaving.

CELPIP tip Common pairings: departure time, departure gate, delayed departure. The opposite is "arrival".

The act of arriving.

CELPIP tip "On arrival" means "when you arrive": "Please pay on arrival." It sounds polished in a Writing Task 1 email.

A stop between two flights.

CELPIP tip Pattern: a layover in a city, a three-hour layover. A long layover is a good drawback to mention in Speaking Task 5.

A small bag you take on the plane.

CELPIP tip Often used as a short form of "carry-on bag". Contrast it with "checked bag", which goes under the plane.

The amount of luggage you may bring.

CELPIP tip Pair it with numbers and fees: "The baggage allowance is 23 kg; extra bags cost $35." Precise details strengthen a complaint email.

An official travel document.

CELPIP tip Common verbs: renew, apply for, show your passport. "Valid" and "expired" are useful adjectives to go with it.

The place you are travelling to.

CELPIP tip In Speaking Task 5, compare two destinations by cost, distance and activities, then give one clear reason for your choice.

The activity of visiting interesting places.

CELPIP tip Use "go sightseeing" or "spend the day sightseeing"; don't say "do a sightseeing". Great for describing a past trip in Speaking Task 2.

A place many visitors go.

CELPIP tip "Major", "popular" and "local" are natural adjectives with it. Mention one by type, not just by name, to show range.

A place to put up a tent.

CELPIP tip Write it as one word. A campground contains many campsites, so you book a campsite at a campground.

A holiday house, often near a lake.

CELPIP tip Very Canadian: "going to the cottage" means a summer weekend at a lake house. Useful for Speaking Task 2 stories.

A weekend with a holiday Monday or Friday.

CELPIP tip Canadians often name them: "the May long weekend". Mention traffic or crowds as a reason in Speaking Task 5.

Coverage for medical and trip problems abroad.

CELPIP tip Pattern: buy or get travel insurance. A strong practical point when giving advice in Speaking Task 1 about a trip abroad.

The busiest and most expensive time.

CELPIP tip Opposite: "off-season" or "low season". Use it to explain cost in Speaking Task 5: "It's peak season, so flights are expensive."

A quieter, cheaper time to travel.

CELPIP tip Often used as an adverb phrase: "We travel in the off-season." A smart way to argue a cheaper option in Speaking Task 5.

A long holiday journey by car.

CELPIP tip Pattern: go on a road trip, take a road trip. Concrete details like route and stops make a Speaking Task 2 story vivid.

To register at a hotel or airport when you arrive.

CELPIP tip As a verb it is two words (check in); the noun is usually written "check-in", as in "the check-in desk".

To leave a hotel and pay your bill.

CELPIP tip The noun is normally one word, "checkout": "Checkout is at 11 a.m." Use two words for the verb: "We checked out early."

Allowing you to get your money back if you cancel.

CELPIP tip Its opposite, "non-refundable", is common on tickets and in complaint emails. Note the spelling: -able, not -ible.