Plain-English dictionary
Travel glossary
60 everyday travel terms — from itinerary and layover to shoulder season and slow travel — explained simply, no jargon.
A
- All-inclusive
- A resort or package where meals, drinks, and most activities are bundled into one upfront price. You generally do not pay extra for food or basic amenities once on site.
B
- Backpacking
- A budget-focused style of travel where you carry your belongings in a backpack and move between low-cost places. It often involves longer trips and flexible plans.
- Bed and breakfast
- A small lodging, often a private home, that offers a room for the night plus breakfast. It is usually more personal than a hotel and run by the owners.
- Boarding pass
- A document, paper or digital, that lets you board a flight after check-in. It shows your seat, gate, and boarding time.
C
- Carry-on
- A bag small enough to bring into the cabin and store in the overhead bin or under the seat. Size limits are set by each airline.
- Checked baggage
- Luggage you hand over at check-in to be stored in the aircraft hold during the flight. You collect it from baggage claim after landing.
- Codeshare
- An arrangement where one airline sells seats on a flight operated by another airline. Your ticket may show one carrier while a partner runs the plane.
- Consulate
- A government office in a foreign city that helps its citizens and handles services like visas and passports. It is usually smaller than an embassy.
- Couchsurfing
- Staying for free on a local host couch or spare room, often arranged through a community platform. It focuses on cultural exchange rather than payment.
- Currency exchange
- Trading one country money for another, often at an airport, bank, or exchange booth. The rate and fees decide how much local cash you receive.
- Customs
- The authority that checks goods you bring into a country and collects any duties owed. You may need to declare certain items at this point.
D
- Day trip
- A short outing to a place and back within the same day, without an overnight stay. It is a common way to see a nearby attraction.
- Digital nomad
- Someone who works remotely while travelling or living in different places. They rely on internet access to earn an income on the move.
E
- Embassy
- The main diplomatic office of one country located in the capital of another. It handles official relations and assists citizens abroad.
- eSIM
- A digital SIM built into your device that activates a mobile plan without a physical chip. Travellers can buy a local data plan and switch online.
- ETA
- An Electronic Travel Authorization is an online pre-approval some countries require before you arrive. It is linked to your passport and is not a full visa.
- Excursion
- An organised short trip, often part of a larger holiday, to visit a specific site or attraction. It usually includes transport and sometimes a guide.
F
- Frequent flyer
- A loyalty programme that rewards regular passengers of an airline. Members collect points or miles toward free flights and perks.
G
- Gate
- The area in an airport terminal where you wait and then board your specific flight. Your boarding pass shows the gate number.
- Guided tour
- A trip led by a guide who explains the sights and manages logistics. It suits travellers who prefer structure and local knowledge.
H
- Homestay
- Lodging with a local family in their home, often including some meals. It offers a close look at daily life and local culture.
- Hostel
- Budget lodging that often offers shared dormitory rooms and common spaces. It is popular with younger and solo travellers.
I
- Immigration
- The border control that checks your passport and right to enter a country. Officers may ask about your trip and stamp your documents.
- Itinerary
- A planned schedule of your trip, listing dates, places, and activities. It helps you organise travel and keep track of bookings.
J
- Jet bridge
- The enclosed walkway that connects the terminal gate directly to the aircraft door. It lets you board without going outside onto the tarmac.
- Jet lag
- Tiredness and disrupted sleep caused by crossing several time zones quickly. Your body clock takes a few days to adjust to the new local time.
L
- Layover
- A stop between connecting flights where you wait to board the next one. It usually lasts a few hours and does not require leaving the airport.
- Local guide
- A resident expert who shows visitors around and shares insider knowledge of an area. They often reveal places tourists might otherwise miss.
- Local time
- The current clock time in the place you are visiting or arriving. It can differ from your home time because of time zones.
M
- Miles
- Reward units earned through airline loyalty programmes, often based on distance flown or money spent. They can be redeemed for flights and upgrades.
O
- Off season
- The least busy and usually cheapest time to visit a destination. Weather may be less ideal, but crowds and prices are lower.
- Open-jaw ticket
- A flight ticket where you fly into one city and out of another. It lets you travel overland between the two without backtracking.
P
- Packing cubes
- Lightweight fabric containers that organise clothes inside a bag. They help keep luggage tidy and make items easier to find.
- Passport
- An official government document that proves your identity and nationality for international travel. Most countries require it to enter or leave.
- Peak season
- The busiest and most expensive time to visit a destination, usually with the best weather or holidays. Expect higher prices and bigger crowds.
- Personal item
- A small bag, such as a purse or laptop bag, allowed in addition to a carry-on. It must fit under the seat in front of you.
- Points
- Reward units collected through loyalty or credit card programmes. They can be redeemed for travel, upgrades, or other benefits.
- Public transport
- Shared transport systems like buses, trains, trams, and metros open to everyone for a fare. It is often the cheapest way to get around a city.
Q
- Quarantine
- A period of isolation required after arrival to prevent the spread of disease. Some countries impose it during health emergencies.
R
- Red-eye flight
- An overnight flight that departs late and arrives early the next morning. The name comes from the tired eyes of passengers who lose sleep.
- Rideshare
- A service that connects passengers with drivers through an app, such as a private car booked on demand. You pay through the app rather than in cash.
- Roaming
- Using your mobile phone on another network when travelling outside your home coverage. It can add extra charges unless you have a roaming plan.
S
- Schengen Area
- A group of European countries that have removed border checks between them. One Schengen visa can allow travel across all member states.
- Self-guided
- Touring at your own pace using maps, apps, or audio rather than a live guide. It gives you freedom to choose your own route and timing.
- Shoulder season
- The period between peak and off season, with moderate weather, prices, and crowds. It can offer a good balance for many travellers.
- SIM card
- A small chip that connects your phone to a mobile network and phone number. Travellers often buy a local one for cheaper calls and data.
- Slow travel
- Spending more time in fewer places to connect deeply with local life. It values experience and pace over rushing to see everything.
- Souvenir
- An item bought or kept to remember a place you visited. It can be anything from a postcard to a local craft.
- Stopover
- A longer break in a journey, often overnight or several days, in a connecting city. It lets you explore an extra destination on one trip.
T
- Terminal
- A building at an airport where you check in, pass security, and reach the gates. Large airports may have several terminals.
- Time zone
- A region that shares the same standard clock time. Crossing zones changes the local time and can cause jet lag.
- Tourist trap
- A place that attracts visitors but offers poor value, often with high prices and low quality. Locals usually avoid these spots.
- Transit
- Passing through an airport or country on the way to your final destination. Transit passengers often stay in a secure area without formally entering.
- Travel adapter
- A device that lets your plug fit foreign electrical sockets. It changes the plug shape but does not always change voltage.
- Travel advisory
- An official government notice about safety risks in a destination. It can warn about health, crime, weather, or political unrest.
- Travel insurance
- A policy that covers costs from problems like illness, cancellations, or lost luggage while travelling. It can save you from large unexpected bills.
V
- Vaccination certificate
- An official record proving you have received certain vaccines. Some countries require it for entry, especially for diseases like yellow fever.
- Visa
- An official permission, often a stamp or document, that allows you to enter or stay in a country. Requirements depend on your nationality and trip purpose.
- Visa on arrival
- A visa you obtain at the border or airport when you arrive, rather than in advance. Availability and fees depend on the country and your nationality.
W
- Wanderlust
- A strong desire to travel and explore the world. It describes the urge many people feel to see new places.
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