Part 1 — Travel & Holidays
Past simple + present perfect · comparison structures
1. Topic & Why It Matters
Travel & Holidays is a high-frequency Part 1 topic because it lets the examiner test whether you can talk about past experiences, preferences, comparisons, and future plans without sounding memorised. The best answers feel like small snapshots from real trips, not travel-brochure descriptions.
Where marks are commonly dropped:
- Fluency & Coherence — giving a list of places without explaining why they mattered.
- Lexical Resource — overusing beautiful, interesting, and relaxing.
- Grammar — confusing past simple for finished trips with present perfect for life experience.
- Pronunciation — weak word stress in place and travel words like itinerary, destination, and accommodation.
2. Knowledge Points
Past simple vs. present perfect
| Use | Tense | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Finished trip at a clear time | Past simple | I went to Chengdu last summer. |
| Life experience, no exact time | Present perfect | I've been to Japan twice. |
| Recent trip with present result | Present perfect | I've just come back from a short beach holiday. |
| Habit or preference | Present simple | I usually prefer city breaks to resort holidays. |
| Future arrangement | Present continuous | I'm visiting my cousin in Singapore next month. |
Three-part answer structure
For travel questions, use place + reason + detail. For example: "I'd probably choose Kyoto because it has a slower pace than big modern cities, and I still remember walking through a quiet temple area early in the morning."
Comparison is the fastest way to sound more mature
- City breaks vs. beach holidays: compare pace, cost, convenience, and activities.
- Domestic vs. overseas travel: compare language, culture, transport, and preparation.
- Travelling alone vs. with others: compare freedom, safety, planning, and social connection.
3. Vocabulary & Phrase Bank
| # | Expression | Meaning / use |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | go on a trip | travel somewhere for leisure or a purpose |
| 02 | take a short break | have a brief holiday |
| 03 | a weekend getaway | a short weekend trip |
| 04 | a city break | a short holiday in a city |
| 05 | a beach holiday | a holiday near the sea |
| 06 | travel abroad | go to another country |
| 07 | domestic travel | travel within your own country |
| 08 | tourist attraction | a popular place visitors go to |
| 09 | off the beaten track | less visited and less touristy |
| 10 | soak up the atmosphere | enjoy the feeling of a place |
| 11 | broaden my horizons | learn more about life and culture |
| 12 | a change of scenery | a break from the usual environment |
| 13 | travel light | take only a small amount of luggage |
| 14 | plan an itinerary | organise a travel schedule |
| 15 | book accommodation | reserve a hotel, hostel, or apartment |
| 16 | get around | move from place to place |
| 17 | public transport links | bus, subway, train connections |
| 18 | peak season | the busiest travel period |
| 19 | budget-friendly | not too expensive |
| 20 | once-in-a-lifetime trip | a rare, special trip |
| 21 | a bit of a culture shock | surprising difference from home |
| 22 | worth the hassle | good enough to justify the trouble |
4. Grammar Patterns
5. Pronunciation Focus
Word stress in travel vocabulary
Travel words can be long, and misplaced stress makes them hard to follow. Keep the main stress strong and reduce the weaker syllables.
| Word | Common error | Target stress |
|---|---|---|
| destination | DES-ti-na-tion | des-ti-NA-tion /ˌdestɪˈneɪʃən/ |
| accommodation | a-COM-mo-da-tion | a-com-mo-DA-tion /əˌkɒməˈdeɪʃən/ |
| itinerary | i-ti-NE-ra-ry | i-TIN-er-a-ry /aɪˈtɪnərəri/ |
| tourist attraction | TOUR-ist at-TRAC-tion | TOUR-ist at-TRAC-tion /ˈtʊərɪst əˈtrækʃən/ |
Linking in common travel phrases
Link words smoothly in phrases like went_on_a trip, been_to, and change_of scenery. This helps your answer sound spoken rather than read aloud.
6. Common Pitfalls
7. Practice Question
"Do you like travelling?"
Follow-up: "What was the last place you travelled to?"
Target length: 4–6 sentences · Target time: 30–45 seconds
8. Model Answer (Band 7.5+)
"Yeah, I do, although I wouldn't say I'm the kind of person who needs to travel all the time. I've been to a few cities in China, and the last proper trip I took was to Chengdu with two close friends last autumn. What I liked most was the slower pace; we spent one afternoon just wandering around an old neighbourhood, which honestly gave me a real change of scenery after a busy month at work. I'm usually more into city breaks than beach holidays because I like trying local food and soaking up the atmosphere. So, yeah, even if the planning can be a bit of a hassle, it's usually worth it."
9. Annotated Commentary
"although I wouldn't say I'm the kind of person who needs to travel all the time" — concession + relative clause in a natural opening sentence.
"a real change of scenery", "soaking up the atmosphere", and "worth it" are conversational phrases that fit the travel story.
"Chengdu with two close friends last autumn" and "wandering around an old neighbourhood" give the answer a specific, believable memory.
"Yeah, I do", "honestly", "so, yeah", and "I wouldn't say" sound conversational without becoming messy.
Key phrases to practise: 'proper trip' /ˈprɒpə trɪp/, 'change of scenery' /ˌtʃeɪndʒ əv ˈsiːnəri/, and 'atmosphere' /ˈætməsfɪə/.
10. Self-Drill
Shadow-reading line — say this 5 times aloud
"I've been to a few cities, but Chengdu gave me a real change of scenery."
Focus on: linking been_to, stress on CHENGdu, and smooth rhythm in change_of scenery.
Improv prompt — record yourself, no notes
"Do you prefer travelling alone or with other people? Why?"
Target: 4+ sentences · Use one comparison, one past-trip detail, and one phrase from the bank.