Packing for Holidays: Travel Vocabulary and Advice in English

Learn English for talking about what to pack and how to prepare for a holiday. This free A1 lesson for adult beginners introduces travel items, holiday to-do lists, and the patterns need to, have to, going to, and should. Its 13 interactive slides include vocabulary audio, picture-matching tasks, a packing chart, a grammar explanation, a video, reading comprehension, and a short writing activity.

What you will learn

• Name common packing and travel items.
• Create and organize a holiday to-do list in English.
• Describe preparation using need to, have to, and going to.
• Discuss items for different types of holidays.
• Give simple advice using should and shouldn't.

Talking about holiday preparation

Start with the warm-up questions: What do you need to prepare before going on holiday?, What is the perfect time to travel for you?, and Do you usually make a to-do list before travelling?

Practice answering with a complete sentence. You can say I need to make a packing list., I have to pack my bag., or I am going to travel in June. Change the example month and describe your own preparation habits.

Packing vocabulary in English

Look at the pictures, listen to the audio, and repeat each word. The first matching activity introduces a water bottle, socks, a camera, flip-flops, a swim mask, sandals, trainers, and a scarf.

The vocabulary cards add more items. Group them to help you remember the words:

• Clothing: a bathing suit and pajamas.
• Toiletries and personal care: a brush, a hair dryer, makeup, shampoo, a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, and a razor.
• Camping equipment: a tent, a sleeping bag, batteries, and a flashlight.
• Other travel items: a towel, insect repellent, a first-aid kit, a pair of scissors, and sunscreen.

Toiletries is a useful group word for items used to wash and care for yourself. Trainers are shoes used for sport or casual wear. A bathing suit is clothing worn for swimming.

Notice how the item names work in a sentence: a toothbrush, a pair of scissors, some socks, and some toothpaste. Practice I am going to take a towel. and I need to pack some socks.

What should you take for different holidays?

The packing chart compares a beach vacation, a camping trip, and an overnight stay with a friend. Drag the vocabulary into the chart and practice its sentence starters: I need to take ..., I should take ..., and I have to take ....

Use the items in the activity to make classroom example sentences:

• On a beach vacation, I need to take a bathing suit.
• On a camping trip, I have to take a tent.
• For an overnight stay, I need to take a brush.

Discuss which item is most important in each example. Then choose another word from the vocabulary cards and make a new sentence with the same pattern.

Need to, have to, going to, and should

These patterns express different meanings. Use them to describe a necessary task, a requirement, a future plan, or a suggestion.

Keep the action verb in its base form after these patterns. Practice the verbs pack, take, bring, check, and prepare.

Giving advice with should and shouldn't

Build an advice sentence with subject + should + base verb. For negative advice, use shouldn't, the short form of should not.

• You should pack early.
• You should pack a jacket.
• You shouldn't overpack.
• You shouldn't forget your phone charger.

Overpack means pack too many things. Notice that should stays the same with different subjects: I should, she should, and they should. Use pack after should, rather than to pack.

Listening and reading practice

Watch the short business-trip video. Listen for the question What should I bring on this business trip? and the items named in the reply. The speakers mention a laptop, a cellphone, chargers, and a carry-on bag. Answer the video questions about the trip type, the items, and the reason given for the bag choice.

Read Preparing for Travel Abroad and look for sentences containing should and shouldn't. Identify the main ideas about preparation, clothing, travel essentials, and packing. Read the questions carefully and find the supporting sentences in the passage.

Next, complete the advice text about a trip to Kenya by choosing you should or you shouldn't. Focus on whether each sentence gives positive or negative advice. In the sentence-order activity, rearrange the words and read each completed sentence aloud.

Making a holiday to-do list in English

Organize an example list into things to prepare and things to pack. Write short action phrases first, such as make a list, choose clothes, and pack a bag. Then turn the phrases into sentences using the grammar patterns from the lesson.

Ask a partner What do you need to take? Answer with two vocabulary items. Take turns giving one suggestion with You should ...

Writing practice: three pieces of packing advice

Your friend is going on a beach holiday. Write three sentences using the starters You should ..., You shouldn't ..., and You need to ....

Model answer: You should pack a towel. You shouldn't overpack. You need to take a bathing suit.

Teachers can model an item name and an advice sentence before learners work in pairs. For self-study, repeat the vocabulary audio, complete the interactive tasks, and read your three sentences aloud. Finish by sharing one new word or phrase.

Review travel booking vocabulary in Lesson 20, or explore more free A1 English teaching materials.