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13.3. Les vacances et les voyages

Talking About Vacations and Travel

13.3.1. The Main Idea

To talk about vacations and travel, use verbs such as voyager, partir, visiter, rester, and prendre.

voyager	to travel
partir	to leave / to depart
visiter	to visit a place
rester	to stay
prendre	to take

You can use these verbs with the futur proche, the futur simple, or the conditionnel.

Je vais voyager cet été.	I am going to travel this summer.
Je voyagerai l’année prochaine.	I will travel next year.
Je voyagerais si j’avais le temps.	I would travel if I had time.

13.3.2. Common Travel Words

les vacances	vacation / holidays
un voyage	a trip
un billet	a ticket
un passeport	a passport
une valise	a suitcase
un sac à dos	a backpack
un hôtel	a hotel
une chambre d’hôtel	a hotel room
une réservation	a reservation
un vol	a flight
un train	a train
une gare	a train station
un aéroport	an airport
une destination	a destination

13.3.3. Talking About Travel Plans

Je vais partir demain.	I am going to leave tomorrow.
Je vais voyager cet été.	I am going to travel this summer.
Je vais prendre l’avion.	I am going to take the plane.
Je vais prendre le train.	I am going to take the train.
Je vais réserver un hôtel.	I am going to book a hotel.
Je vais visiter un musée.	I am going to visit a museum.
Je vais rester trois jours.	I am going to stay for three days.

13.3.4. Asking About Travel

Tu pars quand ?	When are you leaving?
Tu pars où ?	Where are you going?
Tu vas où en vacances ?	Where are you going on vacation?
Tu voyages avec qui ?	Who are you traveling with?
Tu restes combien de temps ?	How long are you staying?
Tu prends l’avion ou le train ?	Are you taking the plane or the train?
Tu as une réservation ?	Do you have a reservation?

13.3.5. Talking About a Destination

Je vais en France.	I am going to France.
Je vais au Canada.	I am going to Canada.
Je vais aux États-Unis.	I am going to the United States.
Je vais à Paris.	I am going to Paris.
Je vais à Montréal.	I am going to Montreal.
Je vais dans une grande ville.	I am going to a big city.
Je vais à la campagne.	I am going to the countryside.

Use à with cities. Use en, au, or aux with countries.

13.3.6. Talking About Past Travel

Je suis allé à Paris.	I went to Paris. masculine speaker
Je suis allée à Paris.	I went to Paris. feminine speaker
J’ai visité un musée.	I visited a museum.
J’ai pris le train.	I took the train.
J’ai réservé une chambre.	I booked a room.
Je suis resté trois jours.	I stayed for three days. masculine speaker
Je suis restée trois jours.	I stayed for three days. feminine speaker
C’était très beau.	It was very beautiful.

13.3.7. Talking About Hypothetical Travel

Si j’avais le temps, je voyagerais.	If I had time, I would travel.
Si j’avais de l’argent, j’irais en France.	If I had money, I would go to France.
Si je pouvais choisir, je partirais demain.	If I could choose, I would leave tomorrow.
Si j’étais en vacances, je visiterais Paris.	If I were on vacation, I would visit Paris.
Si j’avais une semaine, je resterais plus longtemps.	If I had one week, I would stay longer.

13.3.8. Useful Travel Expressions

faire un voyage	to take a trip
partir en vacances	to go on vacation
prendre l’avion	to take the plane
prendre le train	to take the train
réserver un hôtel	to book a hotel
acheter un billet	to buy a ticket
préparer sa valise	to pack one’s suitcase
visiter une ville	to visit a city
rester à l’hôtel	to stay at the hotel
rentrer à la maison	to return home

13.3.9. Giving Opinions About Travel

C’est intéressant.	It is interesting.
C’est relaxant.	It is relaxing.
C’est cher.	It is expensive.
C’est fatigant.	It is tiring.
C’est stressant.	It is stressful.
C’est une bonne idée.	It is a good idea.
Ce serait intéressant.	It would be interesting.
Ce serait trop cher.	It would be too expensive.

13.3.10. Core Patterns

partir en vacances	to go on vacation
voyager en / au / aux + country	to travel to + country
aller à + city	to go to + city
prendre + transportation	to take + transportation
rester + time period	to stay for + time period
si + imparfait, conditionnel	if ___, would ___
Tu pars quand ?	When are you leaving?
Tu restes combien de temps ?	How long are you staying?

13.3.11. Practice

I am going to travel this summer.
I am going to take the plane.
I am going to book a hotel.
Where are you going on vacation?
How long are you staying?
I went to Paris. masculine speaker
I visited a museum.
If I had time, I would travel.
It would be too expensive.

13.3.12. Answers

I am going to travel this summer.	Je vais voyager cet été.
I am going to take the plane.	Je vais prendre l’avion.
I am going to book a hotel.	Je vais réserver un hôtel.
Where are you going on vacation?	Tu vas où en vacances ?
How long are you staying?	Tu restes combien de temps ?
I went to Paris. masculine speaker	Je suis allé à Paris.
I visited a museum.	J’ai visité un musée.
If I had time, I would travel.	Si j’avais le temps, je voyagerais.
It would be too expensive.	Ce serait trop cher.

13.3.13. Short Dialogue

A : Tu vas où en vacances ?	A: Where are you going on vacation?
B : Je vais à Montréal. Je vais prendre l’avion.	B: I am going to Montreal. I am going to take the plane.
A : Tu restes combien de temps ?	A: How long are you staying?
B : Je vais rester quatre jours. Et toi ?	B: I am going to stay for four days. And you?
A : Si j’avais le temps, j’irais en France.	A: If I had time, I would go to France.

13.3.14. Checkpoint

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to talk about vacations and travel plans, ask where someone is going and how long they are staying, describe past trips with the passé composé, and talk about hypothetical travel with si + imparfait + conditionnel.

13.3.15. Try It Out

Try saying this in French:

Where are you going on vacation?

I’m going to Montréal.

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Possible answer:

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Next: 13.4. Indiquer le mouvement →

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