IELTS Speaking Part 1: Travel and holidays
Answer travel questions by giving a direct response, then a reason, then a specific example, such as a place, a person or a memory. Keep it to two or three sentences, speak naturally rather than reciting facts, and use a mix of past and present tenses to show range.
Common travel and holidays questions and sample answers
Q1.Do you like travelling?
Yes, I really do, it's probably my favourite way to spend my savings. I love the feeling of arriving somewhere completely new and not knowing quite what to expect. Even short trips to nearby towns give me a bit of that excitement.
Add a personal reason and a concrete example to avoid a flat yes/no answer.
Q2.What kind of holidays do you prefer, relaxing ones or adventurous ones?
Honestly, it depends on how tired I am when I book the trip. If I've been working non-stop, I just want a beach and a good book, but normally I lean towards adventurous holidays with hiking or exploring old towns. My last trip to the mountains was exhausting but so much more memorable than lying by a pool.
Contrast two options and explain the deciding factor, which naturally extends your answer.
Q3.Who do you usually travel with?
Most of the time I travel with my sister because our schedules line up quite well. We've been to a few countries together and we've got a good rhythm now, she plans the food and I plan the sightseeing. Occasionally I'll go solo, though, just to try something different.
Mention a specific companion and a small detail about the dynamic to sound authentic.
Q4.What was the last place you visited on holiday?
The last place I went to was Porto, in Portugal, about eight months ago. I wasn't expecting much, to be honest, but the food and the riverside views completely won me over. I'd go back tomorrow if I could.
Use past simple accurately here since it's a completed trip, and add a reaction or opinion.
Q5.Do you prefer travelling abroad or within your own country?
I'd say I prefer travelling abroad because everything feels a bit more novel, the language, the food, the customs. That said, I've discovered some brilliant spots in my own country recently that I'd overlooked for years. So it's really about the mood I'm in.
Showing a balanced view rather than a strict preference demonstrates more natural reasoning.
Q6.What do you usually do to prepare for a trip?
I'm quite a planner, so I usually make a rough itinerary and book the major things like flights and accommodation well in advance. I also try to learn a few basic phrases in the local language, which always seems to help. My friends tease me for over-preparing, but it saves a lot of stress later.
Describing a process step by step is a natural way to fill the answer without rambling.
Q7.Is travelling popular in your country?
Yes, it's become really popular, especially among younger people who share their trips online. Budget airlines have also made it much cheaper than it used to be for my parents' generation. So now it's fairly common for people to take at least one trip abroad every year.
Bring in a social or economic reason to show off wider vocabulary, not just personal opinion.
Q8.Would you like to visit a new country in the future?
Definitely, Japan is at the top of my list at the moment. I've heard so much about the mix of traditional culture and modern life there, and a friend of mine who visited last year couldn't stop talking about it. I'm hoping to go within the next couple of years if I can save enough.
Use future forms like 'hoping to' or 'planning to' to naturally show a range of tenses.
Useful vocabulary for travel and holidays
| Phrase | Meaning & example |
|---|---|
| off the beaten track | a place that isn't visited by many touristse.g. We found a lovely little village off the beaten track that wasn't in any guidebook. |
| culture shock | the disorientation felt when experiencing an unfamiliar culturee.g. I had a bit of culture shock the first time I visited South Korea. |
| to break the bank | to be very expensivee.g. Travelling by train instead of flying doesn't break the bank. |
| a whistle-stop tour | a very quick visit to several placese.g. We did a whistle-stop tour of three cities in five days. |
| to recharge my batteries | to rest and regain energye.g. I just want a quiet holiday to recharge my batteries. |
| jet lag | tiredness caused by travelling across time zonese.g. It took me two days to get over the jet lag after my flight to Australia. |
Tips for travel and holidays answers
- • Always add a reason or example after your direct answer; one-word replies sound underdeveloped to examiners.
- • Use a natural mix of tenses: past simple for previous trips, present simple for habits, and future forms for plans.
- • If you don't travel much, it's fine to say so and talk about why or what you'd like to do instead.
- • Keep answers to two or three sentences; save longer storytelling for Part 2, not Part 1.
Frequently asked questions
How long should Part 1 answers about travel be?
Aim for two to four sentences, roughly 15 to 30 seconds of natural speech, with a reason or example included.
What if I haven't travelled much?
Say so honestly and explain why, such as time, money or preference, then mention a place you'd like to visit instead.
Do I need advanced vocabulary to score well?
No, clear and accurate everyday language with natural pronunciation matters more than complex words; a few good phrases are enough.
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