Traveling is one of the most exciting and fun experiences you can have. Whether you’re exploring a new country, meeting people from different cultures, or tasting delicious food, every trip leaves you with great memories. Traveling also helps you grow, gives you confidence, and teaches you about the world.

But what if you’re traveling to a country where you don’t speak the local language? Don’t worry – English is a universal language and can help you in many situations, even in places where English isn’t the main language. Knowing some key phrases and phrasal verbs for traveling will make your journey smoother, whether you’re asking for directions, checking into a hotel, or making new friends.

In this article, we’ll explore 20 essential phrasal verbs for traveling that will make your communication in English easier. These phrasal verbs are simple, practical, and easy to learn. Let’s dive in and get you travel-ready!

20 Phrasal Verbs for Traveling

1. Check In

Meaning: To register at a hotel or airport.

• Examples:
  We checked in at a cozy hotel in Rome around 2 p.m.
  Don’t forget to check in for your flight to Tokyo online.
  She checked in at the counter in New York and got her boarding pass.

2. Check Out

Meaning: To leave a hotel after paying the bill or to look at something.

• Examples:
  We need to check out of the hotel in Paris by 11 a.m.
  You should check out the museum in Barcelona – it’s amazing.
  I’ll check out the menu before ordering at this famous café in Melbourne.

3. Set Off

Meaning: To start a journey.

• Examples:
  We set off early from Berlin to catch the sunrise in the countryside.
  They set off on a road trip across the United States.
  We’re planning to set off at dawn from Cape Town to avoid traffic.

4. Get On

Meaning: To board a train, bus, plane, or other transportation.

• Examples:
  We got on the wrong bus in Bangkok and ended up far from our hotel.
  Make sure you get on the train to Edinburgh before the doors close.
  She got on the plane in Sydney just before it took off.

5. Get Off

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

• Examples:
  We need to get off at the next station in Prague.
  Don’t forget to get off the bus at the airport stop in Singapore.
  He got off the plane in Dubai and went straight to customs.

6. Take Off

Meaning: For a plane to leave the ground and begin flying.

• Examples:
  The plane took off 30 minutes late from Heathrow Airport.
  We watched the airplane take off from the viewing deck in Los Angeles.
  What time does your flight take off from Auckland?

7. Pick Up

Meaning: To collect someone or something.

• Examples:
  Can you pick me up from the train station in Madrid?
  We picked up some snacks for the road trip in Vancouver.
  She picked up her luggage at the baggage claim in Bangkok.

8. Drop Off

Meaning: To leave someone or something at a specific place.

• Examples:
  I’ll drop you off at the airport in Lisbon tomorrow.
  We dropped off our bags at the hotel in Amsterdam before exploring the city.
  The taxi driver dropped us off right at the entrance of the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul.

9. Look Around

Meaning: To explore or investigate a place.

• Examples:
  We spent the afternoon looking around the markets in Marrakech.
  Let’s look around the old town in Dubrovnik before dinner.
  He loves looking around historic sites in Kyoto.

10. Check Out

Meaning: To examine or explore something (different context than earlier).

• Examples:
  You should check out that little café by the river in Budapest.
  Check out this guidebook for the best attractions in Chicago.
  We checked out the street performers in the main square in Vienna.

11. Run Out Of

Meaning: To use all of something and have none left.

• Examples:
  We ran out of water during the hike in the Swiss Alps.
  Don’t run out of cash while traveling in Hanoi – always carry a little extra.
  They ran out of gas in the middle of the road trip through the Australian Outback.

12. Find Out

Meaning: To discover information.

• Examples:
  I found out the best time to visit the Louvre in Paris is early morning.
  Let’s find out if there are any guided tours available in Mexico City.
  We found out that the local food festival in Tokyo starts tomorrow.

13. Turn Back

Meaning: To return to a place you came from.

• Examples:
  We had to turn back in Florence because we forgot our passports.
  The weather was so bad in Reykjavik that we decided to turn back.
  If you miss the stop in Seoul, just turn back at the next station.

14. Look Forward To

Meaning: To be excited about something in the future.

• Examples:
  I’m really looking forward to our trip to Santorini next week.
  We’re looking forward to trying local food in Buenos Aires.
  She looks forward to visiting new cities like Montreal every year.

15. Hold Up

Meaning: To delay someone or something.

• Examples:
  Traffic held us up, so we missed our train in Tokyo.
  The flight was held up in Kuala Lumpur due to bad weather.
  They were held up at security in Johannesburg for a random check.

16. Get Away

Meaning: To go on vacation or escape from daily life.

• Examples:
  We’re planning to get away to the mountains in Queenstown this weekend.
  He needs to get away after such a busy week in New York.
  A beach holiday in Bali is the perfect way to get away.

17. Put Up With

Meaning: To tolerate something unpleasant.

• Examples:
  We had to put up with noisy neighbors at the hotel in Kuala Lumpur.
  Traveling can sometimes mean putting up with delays in Beijing.
  They put up with the crowded bus in Mumbai because the views were worth it.

18. Call Off

Meaning: To cancel something.

• Examples:
  We had to call off our trip to Barcelona because of bad weather.
  They called off the tour in Dublin due to low attendance.
  If it rains, we might have to call off the hike in Miami.

19. Look Up

Meaning: To search for information.

• Examples:
  I looked up the train schedule before heading to the station in Berlin.
  Look up some local restaurants in Istanbul before we go.
  They looked up the weather forecast in Auckland to plan their day.

20. Stop Over

Meaning: To stay somewhere temporarily during a journey.

• Examples:
  We stopped over in Dubai on our way to Cape Town.
  There’s a nice hotel if you want to stop over for the night in Singapore.
  They stopped over in Madrid to visit the Prado Museum.

Travel Confidently with ELSA

Traveling is one of the best ways to learn, grow, and create memories that last a lifetime. Whether you’re exploring vibrant cities, relaxing on sunny beaches, or enjoying local cuisines, being able to communicate effectively makes your adventures even better.

That’s where ELSA, our English learning app, comes in. ELSA helps you improve your English pronunciation and communication skills, so you can confidently use these phrasal verbs and much more during your trips. Start practicing today and get ready to travel the world with ease!

Keep learning phrasal verbs here.