15 Travel Phrasal Verbs with Meanings, Examples and Practice

Have you ever wondered whether to say get on the plane or get in the plane? Or what someone means when they say they’re setting off, checking in or stopping over somewhere? English has many useful travel phrasal verbs that we use when talking about holidays, journeys, transport and visiting new places.

Whether you’re catching a flight, checking into a hotel or exploring a new city, knowing these expressions will help you communicate more naturally.

In this lesson, you’ll learn 15 common travel phrasal verbs, with clear meanings, natural example sentences, short dialogues and practical grammar tips. At the end, you can test your knowledge with a short exercise.

Let’s get started!

---

1. Go away

Meaning: To leave home for a holiday, trip or short break.

We often use go away when talking about travelling somewhere for a few days or longer.

• We’re going away for the weekend. I can’t wait!

Mini-dialogue

A: Are you going away anywhere this year?

B: Yes, we’re thinking of spending a week in Portugal.

Useful expressions:

• Go away for the weekend
• Go away on holiday
• Go away for a few days

Remember: Go away can also simply mean leave a place. For example, Please go away. I’m busy.

---

2. Set off

Meaning: To start a journey.

We use set off when someone begins travelling, especially on a longer journey.

• We set off at six in the morning to avoid the traffic.

Mini-dialogue

A: What time shall we set off tomorrow?

B: Around seven. The roads will be quieter then.

Useful expressions:

• Set off early
• Set off at six o’clock
• Set off for London

Common mistake:

✗ We set off to London at eight.

✓ We set off for London at eight.

We normally use set off for when naming the destination, although set off to do something is correct when describing a purpose.

---

3. Look forward to

Meaning: To feel happy or excited about something that is going to happen.

We use look forward to when we’re expecting something enjoyable, such as a holiday, a visit or a special event.

• I’m really looking forward to our trip to Scotland.

Mini-dialogue

A: Your holiday starts tomorrow, doesn’t it?

B: Yes! I’ve been looking forward to it for months.

Important grammar tip

After look forward to, we use a noun or an -ing form, not the infinitive.

✗ I’m looking forward to visit Paris.

✓ I’m looking forward to visiting Paris.

✓ I’m looking forward to my holiday.

This is because to is a preposition in this expression, not part of an infinitive.

4. Get in / Get into

Meaning 1: To arrive at a destination.

We often use get in when talking about the arrival of trains, planes and other forms of transport.

• What time does your flight get in?

Meaning 2: To enter a car, taxi or other small vehicle.

• We got into the taxi outside the airport.

Mini-dialogue

A: What time does your train get in?

B: At half past eight, if it’s on time.

Remember: Get in can refer to arriving somewhere or entering a vehicle, depending on the context.

---

5. Get on / Get onto

Meaning: To board a bus, train, plane, boat or other form of transport.

We usually use get on when talking about entering larger forms of public transport.

• We got on the train at Manchester Piccadilly.

Get onto is also possible when we want to emphasise the physical movement onto something.

• She carefully got onto the boat.

In most everyday travel situations, get on is the more natural choice.

---

6. Get off

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

We use get off when someone leaves a form of transport after travelling.

• We got off the train at the wrong station.

Mini-dialogue

A: Where do we get off?

B: At the next stop. The museum is just around the corner.

---

7. See off

Meaning: To go with someone to the airport, station or another departure point to say goodbye.

We use see off when someone accompanies another person before a journey.

• My parents came to the airport to see me off.

Mini-dialogue

A: You don’t need to come to the station with me.

B: I know, but I’d like to see you off.

Grammar tip:

See off is separable. When we use an object pronoun such as me, him, her or them, it goes between the two parts.

✓ They saw us off at the airport.

✗ They saw off us at the airport.

8. Go back

Meaning: To return to a place you’ve visited or lived in before.

We often use go back when talking about returning home after a holiday or revisiting a destination.

• We loved Croatia so much that we’re going back next year.

Mini-dialogue

A: Did you enjoy your holiday in Italy?

B: Absolutely! We’d love to go back one day.

Useful expressions:

• Go back home
• Go back to a place
• Go back to work
• Go back next year

Go back has several other meanings, too. You can learn more in our lesson on 19 Phrasal Verbs with GO.

---

9. Check in

Meaning: To register at a hotel or complete the necessary formalities before a flight.

We use check in when arriving at a hotel or confirming our presence before travelling by plane.

• We checked in at the hotel just after three o’clock.

Mini-dialogue

Receptionist: Good afternoon. Are you checking in?

Guest: Yes, we’ve booked a double room for three nights.

Useful expressions:

• Check in at a hotel
• Check in online
• Check in for a flight

Grammar tip:

The verb is written as two words: check in.

As a noun or adjective, we normally write check-in.

• We need to check in before our flight.
• Online check-in opens tomorrow.

---

10. Check out

Meaning: To complete the formalities before leaving a hotel, including paying any outstanding charges.

We use check out when our stay at a hotel comes to an end.

• We have to check out by eleven o’clock.

Mini-dialogue

Guest: What time do we have to check out?

Receptionist: By eleven, but you can leave your bags here until the afternoon.

Remember:

• Check in – arrive and register at a hotel.
• Check out – complete the formalities before leaving a hotel.

These two expressions are often taught together because they’re opposites in this context.

11. Look around

Meaning: To explore a place and see what is there.

We use look around when visiting a new place, especially when we want to explore it without a strict plan.

• We spent the afternoon looking around the old town.

Mini-dialogue

A: What shall we do after breakfast?

B: Let’s look around the town and find somewhere nice for lunch.

Useful expressions:

• Look around a city
• Look around a museum
• Look around the shops
• Have a look around

Have a look around is another very natural expression in British English.

• We’ve got an hour before the train leaves. Let’s have a look around.

---

12. Drop someone off

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

We use drop off when giving someone a lift, usually without staying at the destination ourselves.

• Can you drop me off at the station?

Mini-dialogue

A: Could you drop me off near the city centre?

B: Of course. I’m going that way anyway.

Grammar tip:

Drop off is separable when it means taking someone somewhere.

✓ I’ll drop you off at the station.

✗ I’ll drop off you at the station.

You can also say:

• I’ll drop Sarah off at the station.
• I’ll drop off Sarah at the station.

Both are grammatically possible with a noun, although placing the person between drop and off is particularly natural.

---

13. Pick someone up

Meaning: To collect someone from a place, usually by car.

We often use pick up when arranging transport to or from an airport, station, hotel or another location.

• Can you pick me up from the airport tomorrow?

Mini-dialogue

A: How are you getting home from the airport?

B: My brother’s picking me up.

Remember the difference:

• Drop someone off – take someone somewhere and leave them there.
• Pick someone up – go somewhere to collect someone.

These are two of the most useful expressions for making everyday travel arrangements.

14. Take off

Meaning: When a plane leaves the ground and begins flying.

We use take off when talking about the beginning of a flight.

• Our plane took off twenty minutes late.

Mini-dialogue

A: What time does your flight take off?

B: At half past six, so I need to be at the airport by four.

Useful expressions:

• The plane takes off.
• The flight took off on time.
• We’re about to take off.

Grammar tip:

When a plane takes off, it leaves the ground.

When it lands, it returns to the ground.

• Our plane took off at eight and landed two hours later.

Notice that take off also has other meanings in English, such as removing clothes:

• Please take off your shoes before entering.

Context helps us understand which meaning is intended.

---

15. Stop over

Meaning: To stop somewhere for a short period during a longer journey before continuing to your final destination.

A stopover may last a few hours or several days, but we often use stop over when travellers spend some time in a place rather than simply changing planes.

• We’re stopping over in Istanbul for two nights on our way to Japan.

Mini-dialogue

A: Are you flying directly to Sydney?

B: No, we’re stopping over in Dubai for a couple of days.

Useful distinction:

• Stop over – spend some time in a place during a longer journey.
• Change planes – transfer from one flight to another, often without leaving the airport.

For example:

We changed planes in Frankfurt, but we didn’t have time to leave the airport.

We stopped over in Frankfurt for two nights and visited some friends.

---

Travel Phrasal Verbs: Quiz

Now that you’ve learned these travel phrasal verbs in context, let’s see how many you can remember without looking at the explanations. 

---

Free Phrasal Verbs Practice Workbook

Want to learn more useful English expressions?

I’ve created a FREE 100 Phrasal Verbs for Everyday Use Workbook to help you expand your vocabulary and practise using phrasal verbs naturally.

The 53-page workbook includes clear explanations, example sentences, practice exercises and an answer key.

It’s an excellent way to continue learning after this lesson.

📘 Download Your Free 100 Phrasal Verbs Workbook