English - Travel Experience

Lesson 65 of 139

Learner with a map practicing travel English phrases about trips and highlights.

Goal: Tell and ask about trips—highlights, problems, and recommendations

Free English lessons with audio, guided practice, and speaking support.

Ready for a short travel chat? This lesson helps you tell a simple travel story and ask others about their trips. Have fun—think of a real place you've visited while you listen and repeat.

Level B1: In this lesson you'll practice common travel-story phrases for telling where you went, what you enjoyed, problems you had, and whether you'd go again. You'll hear and repeat frames like “I went to ___ last year,” ask and answer “Have you ever been to ___?,” describe highlights, and give recommendations. CEFR-aligned and focused on practical speaking.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Use B1 travel frames to say where you went and how long you stayed.
  • Ask and answer about travel experience with 'Have you ever been to ___?'
  • Describe highlights, surprises, small problems, and how things turned out.
Two friends sitting at a café talking about where they traveled last year—English learning focused on travel experience.

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

I went to ___ last year.

Introduce a past travel destination

Meaning: Introduce a past travel destination

When to use: Use this simple past frame to tell someone where you traveled and when.

Tip: Don't use present perfect with a specific time. Say 'I went to ___ last year,' not 'I have gone to ___ last year.'

I went to Spain last year.
I went to Spain last year.
I went to Kyoto last year.
I went to Kyoto last year.

Have you ever been to ___?

Ask about someone's travel experience

Meaning: Ask about someone's travel experience

When to use: Use this present perfect question to ask if someone has travel experience at any time in their life.

Have you ever been to Tokyo?
Have you ever been to Tokyo?
Have you ever been to Morocco?
Have you ever been to Morocco?

It was one of the best trips I've ever taken.

Give a general opinion about a trip

Meaning: Give a general opinion about a trip

When to use: Use this to summarize a very positive trip when you want to emphasize how good it was.

It was one of the best trips I've ever taken.
It was one of the best trips I've ever taken.
I have to say, it was one of the best trips I've ever taken.
I have to say, it was one of the best trips I've ever taken.

The best part was ___ .

Describe what made a place memorable

Meaning: Describe what made a place memorable

When to use: Use this frame to highlight the single best thing about your trip.

The best part was the food.
The best part was the food.
The best part was the sunrise over the mountains.
The best part was the sunrise over the mountains.

I was surprised by ___ .

Describe a surprising travel experience

Meaning: Describe a surprising travel experience

When to use: Use this to add a personal reaction to something unexpected you noticed.

I was surprised by how clean the city was.
I was surprised by how clean the city was.
I was surprised by the friendliness of the locals.
I was surprised by the friendliness of the locals.

We had a problem with ___ .

Describe a travel problem

Meaning: Describe a travel problem

When to use: Use this to briefly explain a practical problem you faced during a trip.

Tip: Beginners sometimes use past continuous unnecessarily (e.g., 'We were having a problem with...'); simple past works well for short stories.

We had a problem with our hotel reservation.
We had a problem with our hotel reservation.
We had a problem with the car rental.
We had a problem with the car rental.

In the end, everything was okay.

Explain how a travel problem was solved

Meaning: Explain how a travel problem was solved

When to use: Use this closing phrase after telling a problem to reassure the listener.

In the end, everything was okay.
In the end, everything was okay.
In the end, everything was okay and we could continue the trip.
In the end, everything was okay and we could continue the trip.

I would definitely go back.

Say whether you would repeat a trip

Meaning: Say whether you would repeat a trip

When to use: Use this to recommend returning to a place you liked.

I would definitely go back.
I would definitely go back.
After that experience, I would definitely go back next year.
After that experience, I would definitely go back next year.

What was the best part of your trip?

Ask for the most memorable part of a trip

Meaning: Ask for the most memorable part of a trip

When to use: Use this question to keep a travel conversation going and invite details.

What was the best part of your trip?
What was the best part of your trip?
What was the best part of your trip to Peru?
What was the best part of your trip to Peru?

You should try ___ if you go there.

Recommend a travel experience

Meaning: Recommend a travel experience

When to use: Use this to give practical advice based on your experience.

You should try the night market if you go there.
You should try the night market if you go there.
You should try the local hiking tour if you go there.
You should try the local hiking tour if you go there.

I spent most of my time ___ .

describe main activities during a trip

Meaning: Describe main activities during a trip

When to use: Use this to summarize what you mostly did on a trip.

I spent most of my time visiting museums.
I spent most of my time visiting museums.
I spent most of my time relaxing on the beach.
I spent most of my time relaxing on the beach.

We stayed in ___ for ___ days.

say where and how long someone stayed

Meaning: Say where and how long someone stayed

When to use: Use this to tell both place and duration in one sentence.

We stayed in Rome for four days.
We stayed in Rome for four days.
We stayed in a guesthouse for two nights.
We stayed in a guesthouse for two nights.

I really enjoyed ___ .

describe enjoyment of a place or activity

Meaning: Describe enjoyment of a place or activity

When to use: Use this simple evaluation to say you liked something during a trip.

I really enjoyed the guided tour.
I really enjoyed the guided tour.
I really enjoyed the local music.
I really enjoyed the local music.

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Two friends compare recent trips and give tips.

Anna and David exchanging short travel stories and recommendations using B1 travel frames.

What did Anna say was the best part of her trip?

Portrait of Anna in a English lesson dialogue

Anna

I went to Italy last year.

Introduce a past travel destination

Portrait of David in a English lesson dialogue

David

Have you ever been to Rome?

Ask about someone's travel experience

Portrait of Anna in a English lesson dialogue

Anna

Yes — it was one of the best trips I've ever taken.

Give a general opinion about a trip

Portrait of David in a English lesson dialogue

David

What was the best part of your trip?

Ask for the most memorable part of a trip

Portrait of Anna in a English lesson dialogue

Anna

The best part was the food and the seaside. I was surprised by how friendly everyone was.

Describe what made a place memorable and a surprise

Portrait of David in a English lesson dialogue

David

We had a problem with our luggage once, but in the end, everything was okay. You should try the small restaurants if you go there — I would definitely go back.

Describe a problem, how it ended, give a recommendation, and say you'd return

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which sentence asks about someone's travel experience?

Which phrase says you would repeat a trip?

Which phrase closes a travel story after a problem?

Which question asks someone to name the most memorable part?

On our trip to Lisbon, we stayed in Lisbon for three days.

On our trip to Lisbon, we ___ for three days.

Before the tour, Sarah asked, 'Have you ever been to Japan?'

Before the tour, Sarah asked, '___?'

After a mix-up with the hotel, Mark said, 'In the end, everything was okay.'

After a mix-up with the hotel, Mark said, '___'.

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

I went to ___ last year.

Introduce a past travel destination

Say this phrase out loud:

Have you ever been to ___?

Ask about someone's travel experience

Say this phrase out loud:

It was one of the best trips I've ever taken.

Give a general opinion about a trip

Say this phrase out loud:

The best part was ___ .

Describe what made a place memorable

Say this phrase out loud:

I was surprised by ___ .

Describe a surprising travel experience

Say this phrase out loud:

We had a problem with ___ .

Describe a travel problem

Say this phrase out loud:

In the end, everything was okay.

Explain how a travel problem was solved

Say this phrase out loud:

I would definitely go back.

Say whether you would repeat a trip

Say this phrase out loud:

What was the best part of your trip?

Ask for the most memorable part of a trip

Say this phrase out loud:

You should try ___ if you go there.

Recommend a travel experience

Say this phrase out loud:

I spent most of my time ___ .

Describe main activities during a trip

Say this phrase out loud:

We stayed in ___ for ___ days.

Say where and how long someone stayed

Say this phrase out loud:

I really enjoyed ___ .

Describe enjoyment of a place or activity