15 Travel Phrasal Verbs

15 Travel Phrasal Verbs

15 Travel Phrasal Verbs

When the warm weather arrives, most of us start dreaming of sandy beaches, bustling cities, or peaceful mountain retreats. Whether you’re planning a long-awaited holiday or a spontaneous weekend getaway, you’ll need the right vocabulary to talk about your travel experiences confidently. Today’s lesson explores 15 travel phrasal verbs connected to travelling. You’ll find clear meanings, natural examples, short dialogues, and a few exercises to help you practise.

Let’s set off!

Go away

Meaning: to go on a trip or leave home to travel.

• I’m going away next weekend — I desperately need a break.
• Sean is going away on Monday to visit some relatives.

Mini-Dialogue:

A: Are you going away this summer?

B: Yes, we’re heading to Greece for ten days!

Set off

Meaning: to start a journey; to begin travelling.

• We’re setting off early tomorrow to avoid the traffic.
• Check the weather before you set off.

Look forward to

Meaning: to be excited about something in the future.

• I’m really looking forward to my holiday — I’m exhausted.
• Clara is looking forward to her city break in Rome.

Note: Look forward to + noun / -ing form.

Get in/into

Meaning: to arrive at a place (often used for trains, buses, and planes).

• What time do we get into Paris?
• The train got in late last night.

Get on/get onto

Meaning: to board a bus, train, plane, or boat.

• They were just getting on the bus when I saw them.
• It started raining, but luckily the train arrived, so we got onto it.

Get off

Meaning: to leave a bus, train, plane, or boat.

• We got off the train as soon as it arrived in Manchester.
• You can’t get off the plane before it takes off!

See off

Meaning: to go with someone to the place where they begin their journey, in order to say goodbye.

• We saw the children off yesterday — they’re on a camping trip.
• That’s kind of you, Martin. Thanks for coming to see me off.

Go back

Meaning: to return to a place.

• We’re going back home in two days, but I wish we could stay longer.
• I had to go back home from the airport because I forgot my passport.

Check in

Meaning: to register at a hotel or at the airport.

• They checked in and went straight to the beach.
• We checked in at 2 a.m. because the flight was delayed.

Check out

Meaning: to leave a hotel and return the key; to pay your bill.

• We need to check out before 11.
• The Thompsons checked out and took a taxi to the airport.

Look around

Meaning: to explore a place and see what it has to offer.

• They spent the whole afternoon looking around the old town.
• Let’s look around Athens while we’re here.

Mini-Dialogue:

A: What shall we do after lunch?

B: Why don’t we look around the museum district?

Drop (someone) off

Meaning: to take someone somewhere in a car and leave them there.

• Can you drop me off near the station, please?
• I’ll drop the kids off on my way to work.

Pick (someone) up

Meaning: to collect someone by car.

• Can you pick me up from the airport tomorrow afternoon?
• I’ll pick you up at 5 — don’t be late!

Take off

Meaning: when a plane leaves the ground.

• Please fasten your seatbelts — we’re about to take off.
• I was so excited when the plane took off. It was my first time flying.

Stop over

Meaning: to stay somewhere for a short time on your way to a final destination.

• We’ll stop over in Rome on our way to Spain.
• The plane stops over in Frankfurt before continuing to Chicago.

Do the quiz to perfect your knowledge:

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