Vocabulary for travel and tourism. Grammar: past simple vs past continuous — telling stories about the past.
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Vocabulary
Travel, tourism, and holiday experiences.
Destination
The place you are travelling to
Tokyo was our final destination.
Itinerary
A planned route or schedule for a trip
We had a detailed itinerary for the two weeks.
Accommodation
A place to stay, such as a hotel or hostel
We booked accommodation near the city centre.
Departure
The act of leaving; the time a journey begins
Our departure was delayed by two hours.
Explore
To travel around a new place to discover it
We spent the day exploring the old town.
Luggage
The bags and suitcases you take when travelling
I was carrying too much luggage.
Souvenir
A small object bought to remember a place
She bought souvenirs for all her friends.
Check in
To register at a hotel or airport
We checked in at the hotel at 3pm.
Currency
The money used in a particular country
I forgot to exchange currency before the trip.
Jet lag
Tiredness caused by travelling across time zones
He was suffering from jet lag after the long flight.
Guidebook
A book with information about a place for tourists
The guidebook recommended this restaurant.
Package holiday
A holiday where travel and accommodation are included together
They booked a package holiday to Spain.
Vocabulary exercises
Grammar
Past simple vs past continuous
The past simple describes a completed action or event in the past: We arrived at the hotel.
The past continuous describes an action that was in progress at a specific time in the past: We were checking in when the fire alarm went off.
We often use them together: the past continuous sets the background scene, and the past simple interrupts it.
Tense
Form
Example
Past simple
verb + -ed (or irregular)
We visited Rome. She took lots of photos.
Past continuous
was/were + verb-ing
I was exploring the market. They were waiting.
Together (when)
past cont. + when + past simple
I was walking along the beach when I found a wallet.
Together (while)
while + past cont. + past simple
While she was sleeping, the tour bus left.
Use when before the short interrupting action (past simple), and while before the longer background action (past continuous).
Grammar exercises
Reading
Read the article carefully, then answer the questions.
An unexpected adventure
Last summer, my friend Lena and I decided to travel across Southeast Asia without a fixed itinerary. We bought one-way tickets to Bangkok and planned to figure the rest out as we went. It turned out to be the best decision we ever made — and the most stressful.
On our third day in Bangkok, while we were exploring a street market, Lena's bag was stolen. We were browsing some stalls when a man on a motorbike grabbed her bag and drove away. Fortunately, her passport was at the hotel, but her camera and some cash were gone. It was a frightening moment.
Despite this, we continued the trip. We travelled south to the islands, and the scenery was breathtaking. One afternoon, while we were snorkelling, we saw a sea turtle swimming alongside us. We just stopped and stared — it was magical.
By the time we reached Vietnam, we had adapted completely to travelling without a plan. We met other travellers, discovered hidden villages, and ate food we couldn't even name. When I finally arrived home, I was exhausted — but I was already thinking about the next trip.
Comprehension questions
Writing
Guided writing task.
Task: Travel story
Write a paragraph (80-120 words) about a real or imagined travel experience. Use past simple and past continuous.
Set the scene using the past continuous
Describe what happened using the past simple
Use while or when to connect events
Include travel vocabulary from this unit
0 words
Model answer
Last summer, I was travelling through Spain when I met a local family who invited me to a festival. I was walking through a busy market when someone tapped my shoulder. While I was exploring the stalls, the family explained the traditions of the celebration. The streets were full of music and colour. I had planned to spend only one day in the town, but I ended up staying for three. It was one of the most unexpected and wonderful experiences of my trip.