English can often sound a little different in the real world compared to classroom lessons. Instead of using long, formal sentences, people often rely on short phrases that carry a lot of meaning into just a few words.
You’ll hear phrasal verbs at airports and hotels, on public transport and in conversations with locals. Knowing these expressions will help you understand native speakers and fellow travelers better, so let’s explore the phrasal verbs that matter most for travelers.
“Check In”: Settling In to Your Journey
Check-in is one of the first phrases you’ll hear while traveling, and it’s also one of the most useful to know.
At the airport, it refers to the process of confirming your flight, dropping off your luggage and getting your boarding pass. If you’re at a hotel, check-in means reporting to and registering your stay at reception.
You might hear phrases like, “We need to check in two hours before departure,” or “You can check in online or at the airport desk.” Even if you’re navigating Bermuda cruise logistics, this is a phrase you’re bound to hear.
A common mistake is mixing up check-in and check-out, or forgetting the preposition entirely, so pay attention to how staff use it on signs and in announcements.
“Set Off”: Starting Your Adventure
Set off is used to describe the moment a new journey or adventure begins.
You’ll hear it in sentences like “We set off early to avoid traffic,” or “They set off for the airport at sunrise.”
Compared to the verb leave, set off is more descriptive and a lot more conversational. It’s used to suggest intention and movement, which is why you’ll find it in travel stories, blogs and everyday spoken English.
What’s important to note is that set off shouldn’t be used to describe small movements, like moving from one room to the next. The phrase also stays consistent in past tense, so you don’t need to worry about irregular conjugations.
“Look Out”: Staying Aware While Traveling
Look out is a phrasal verb you’ll hear in situations where awareness is needed, and it has two main uses.
The first is as a quick warning when there’s an immediate hazard, like a step, a closing door or oncoming traffic. The second use is about staying alert over time, as in “Look out for pickpockets,” or “Look out for your bag on the metro.”
In terms of travel, this phrase can also be connected to packing smart. When you pack your valuables in a secure bag or keep your essentials within reach, it’s easier to look out for your belongings.
Just don’t confuse look out with look for, because the former is about awareness, while the latter is about actively searching for something.
How to Practice Phrasal Verbs Before Your Trip
The best way to get comfortable with travel phrasal verbs is to hear and use them in real situations. Reading travel blogs and paying attention to airport and hotel signage can help you understand how these phrases are used naturally.
You can even watch travel vlogs and airport announcement videos to train your ear to recognize these phrases at a normal speaking speed.
Lastly, make a point of practicing short, realistic sentences aloud before your trip, particularly the ones you might actually say while traveling.
Traveling with Confidence
Travel English doesn’t need to be perfect for it to be correct. It’s more about understanding what’s happening around you and being able to respond with confidence. The more you notice these phrases in context, the more natural they become, so keep paying attention and practicing, and your next trip should feel much easier to handle.
