IELTS Speaking cue cards › Travel Plans
Describe a trip you are planning to take in the future
Describe a trip you are planning to take in the future. You should say: - where you plan to go and what inspired you to choose that destination - how you intend to prepare and organise the journey - who you plan to travel with, if anyone and explain what you hope to gain personally from taking this trip.
How to approach it
Open with your destination and a vivid hook to grab attention, then move through the bullet points in order so your answer feels organised rather than rambling. Examiners reward coherent flow, precise vocabulary, and a genuine personal reflection at the end — so don't rush the final prompt about personal gain. Aim to speak for the full two minutes by adding specific details, such as place names, dates, or emotions, rather than vague generalisations.
1-minute preparation notes
- Destination: Japan – cherry blossom season, inspired by documentary
- Prep: budget spreadsheet, JR Pass, language app
- Travel companion: solo trip
- Personal gain: independence, cultural perspective, slow down
Band 8+ sample answer (Part 2)
Show the sample answer (try speaking first)
I'm planning a solo trip to Japan in the spring, and honestly, I've been dreaming about it for years. The idea first came to me when I watched a documentary about the cherry blossom season in Kyoto — the footage of those pale pink trees lining the canals was just breathtaking, and I thought, right, I have to experience that in person.
In terms of preparation, I've actually already started. I've put together a fairly detailed budget spreadsheet, I've booked my flights for late March, and I'm currently sorting out a Japan Rail Pass, which will let me hop between cities without any hassle. I've also been using a language app most evenings to pick up some basic Japanese — I think making even a small effort with the local language goes a long way when you're abroad.
As for company, I've decided to go alone. A few friends showed interest initially, but coordinating schedules turned into a headache, so I made the call to travel solo. I'm actually quite excited about that now.
What I really hope to gain from this trip is a stronger sense of independence. I tend to overthink decisions in everyday life, and travelling solo — navigating a completely unfamiliar culture, managing everything myself — feels like a genuine test of that. Beyond the personal challenge, I want to slow down and properly absorb somewhere rather than just ticking off sights. Japan's culture of mindfulness and craftsmanship really resonates with me, and I'm hoping I'll come back with a fresh perspective on how I live my own life.
Written for StudyChat as an example of a band 8+ answer. 259 words, about 2 minutes spoken.
Part 3 discussion questions
How do people's motivations for travelling change as they get older or move through different life stages?
I think motivations shift quite dramatically over time. Younger travellers often chase novelty and adventure — backpacking on a shoestring, cramming in as many countries as possible. As people settle into careers or start families, travel tends to become more about quality and meaning — perhaps revisiting a culture in depth or travelling somewhere for a specific purpose like a milestone birthday. Older travellers often prioritise comfort and connection over the thrill of the unfamiliar.
Do you think independent travel is more rewarding than booking an organised tour package? Why?
Generally, yes, though it really depends on the person. Independent travel forces you to problem-solve, engage with locals, and make spontaneous decisions, which I think builds real confidence and creates more memorable experiences. That said, organised tours open travel up to people who might otherwise find logistics overwhelming — older travellers or those visiting somewhere with significant language barriers, for instance. The reward comes from the fit between the trip style and the individual traveller's needs.
In what ways does international tourism both benefit and harm the local communities that host large numbers of visitors?
The benefits are fairly clear — tourism generates income, supports local businesses, and can fund the preservation of cultural sites. However, the harms are just as real. Overtourism in places like Venice or Bali has driven up housing costs, pushed residents out of city centres, and degraded the very environments that attracted visitors in the first place. The key issue is whether tourism revenue is actually reinvested in the community or simply extracted by large international companies.
Given growing environmental concerns, how do you think attitudes towards long-haul air travel might change in the coming decades?
I suspect attitudes will shift noticeably, though probably more slowly than environmentalists would like. As carbon offsetting schemes improve and sustainable aviation fuels become more viable, some of the guilt around flying may ease. However, I also think social pressure — what some call 'flight shame', which has gained traction in parts of northern Europe — will make long-haul leisure travel a more deliberate, less casual choice for many people. Fewer but more meaningful trips seems like the likely direction.
Useful language
- hop between cities – Natural way to describe easy movement from place to place, e.g. 'The rail pass lets you hop between cities effortlessly.'
- goes a long way – Means a small effort produces a big result, e.g. 'Learning a few phrases goes a long way with locals.'
- tick off sights – Informal idiom for visiting famous attractions quickly without depth; useful when contrasting shallow vs meaningful travel.
- on a shoestring – Means travelling with very little money; common collocation in travel contexts — 'backpacking on a shoestring.'
- absorb a place – Describes immersing yourself in a destination's culture rather than rushing through it.
- coordinating schedules – Useful phrase when explaining the logistics of group travel — 'coordinating schedules turned into a headache.'
- a fresh perspective – Strong collocation for describing personal growth gained from travel; pairs well with 'come back with.'
- drive up housing costs – Key phrase when discussing the negative economic impact of overtourism on local residents.
Common mistakes on this card
- Treating the final prompt as optional: many candidates run out of time before explaining what they hope to gain personally, which costs marks on task completion. Plan your 2 minutes so you always reach it.
- Speaking only in vague terms — saying 'I want to see many beautiful things' rather than naming a specific place, season, or personal reason. Specific detail is what pushes answers from Band 6 to Band 8.
- Confusing future forms: candidates mix up 'I'm going to go', 'I will go', and 'I'm planning to go' randomly. For a planned, organised trip, 'I'm planning to' and 'I've already booked' sound the most natural and accurate.
Record your answer and get a band score
Answer this card out loud, then the Part 3 questions. You get a band estimate on all four criteria, with pace, pauses and fillers measured from your recording.
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