20 Phrasal Verbs for Summer Holidays (with Meanings & Examples)

If you want to speak naturally about travel, relaxation, and vacations, learning phrasal verbs for summer holidays is essential. Native speakers use phrasal verbs constantly when talking about trips, hotels, sightseeing, and relaxing by the sea. In this guide, you’ll learn 20 essential phrasal verbs for summer holidays with clear meanings and practical examples — perfect for everyday English and Cambridge exams such as B2 First (FCE) and C1 Advanced (CAE).

Travel & Transport

1. Jet off

Meaning: to travel somewhere quickly by plane (often for pleasure)

Example: We’re jetting off to Spain first thing tomorrow morning.

2. Set off

Meaning: to begin a journey

Example: We set off at sunrise to avoid the traffic.

3. Drop off

Meaning: to take someone somewhere by car and leave them there

Example: My brother dropped us off at the airport at 5 a.m.

4. Pick up

Meaning: to collect someone in a vehicle

Example: I’ll pick you up from the station when your train arrives.

5. Head for

Meaning: to go towards a particular place

Example: After breakfast, we headed for the beach.

6. Stop off

Meaning: to make a short visit during a longer journey

Example: We stopped off at a charming village on the way to the coast.

Hotels & Accommodation

7. Check in

Meaning: to register at a hotel or airport

Example: We checked in online the night before our flight.

8. Check out

Meaning: to leave a hotel and pay the bill

Example: We checked out at noon and left our luggage at reception.

9. Get back (to)

Meaning: to return to a place

Example: We got back to the hotel just before sunset.

10. Pack up

Meaning: to gather your belongings before leaving

Example: We packed up our things before the rain started.

Relaxing & Enjoying Yourself

11. Get away

Meaning: to go on holiday or escape from daily routine

Example: I really need to get away for a few days.

12. Chill out

Meaning: to relax completely

Example: We chilled out by the pool all afternoon.

13. Laze around

Meaning: to relax and do very little

Example: We lazed around in the garden with a good book.

14. Wind down

Meaning: to gradually relax after stress or activity

Example: Holidays are the perfect time to wind down.

Sightseeing & Activities

15. Look around

Meaning: to explore a place

Example: We spent the afternoon looking around the old town.

16. Take in

Meaning: to appreciate or absorb views, culture, or experiences

Example: We took in the breathtaking views from the cliffs.

17. Go out

Meaning: to leave your accommodation for entertainment

Example: We went out every evening for dinner and live music.

18. Eat out

Meaning: to have a meal in a restaurant

Example: We ate out at a different restaurant each night.

Spending & Planning

19. Splash out (on)

Meaning: to spend more money than usual on something special

Example: We splashed out on a luxury sea-view room.

20. Look forward to

Meaning: to feel excited about something in the future

Example: I’m really looking forward to our summer break.

Why These Phrasal Verbs Matter

If you’re preparing for exams like B2 First (FCE) or C1 Advanced (CAE), these expressions are especially useful for:

• Speaking Part 1 (talking about holidays and travel)
• Writing informal emails
• Articles and reviews
• Everyday conversation

Native speakers rarely say:

❌ We began our journey early.

They usually say:

✔ We set off early.

That’s the power of phrasal verbs — they make your English sound natural, confident, and authentic.

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