Best Places to Travel in 2025

Are you tired of winter? Have you had enough of chilly nights, foggy mornings, rain, sleet and gale-force winds? Of course we are right in the middle of winter, halfway through the winter solstice and the spring equinox, time to celebrate the Gaelic Imbolc festival or the Christian Candlemas feast or St. Brigid's Day in Ireland..., or time to start planning your next holiday!

If you want to learn which are the coolest (and the hottest) holiday destinations this year you can read the BBC report The 25 best places to travel in 2025, and you will find sustainable holidays in exotic landscapes like Haa Valley, Bhutan (above) or the Western Australia bubblegum-pink lakes (below). The article is a compilation of 25 short, but vocabulary rich, descriptions with a picture, where context can help you to guess the meaning of unknown words, so the article (or a selection of destinations) can be recommended for highly-motivated B2+ students, C1 students and above. Here you can find a lesson plan for B2/C1 students with reading, vocabulary and speaking tasks (for the Word version, please click here). Some of the expressions students can pick up are:

 

[pink] bubblegum-coloured, to connect, to peer, the edge, a crashing [waterfall], sawtooth [spires], wondrous, to overwhelm, to grapple with [the negative effects], overtourism, a spot, the [cultural] heritage, to compile [a list], to soar, a bucket-list [destination], to trek, glamping. Dominica: a sperm whale, a groundbreaking [commitment to marine conservation], sustainable [tourism], to ease [arrival], to launch [a direct flight], to top [a list], a [hidden] gorge, a towering [waterfall], to feast, an eatery, a burgeoning [model]. Naoshima: polka-dotted, connoisseur, copper, to smelt, stunning, dwindling [population], unveiling of [artwork],  to scatter, one-of-a-kind, an [art] installation. The Dolomites: sawtooth [cliff], to be overwhelmed, a detour, rugged, a limestone [cliff], to sprawl, [Italians] in droves, stick-to-your-ribs [dishes], to be overlooked, to be poised [to change], to be stated [to co-host the Olympics], a ski lift, to enhance [connections to public transit], a cable car, a trail. Greenland: to span [more than 2 millio sq km], an ice cap, unspoiled wilderness, a coveted [geopolitical entity], stunning, spellbinding, dog sledding, a bucket-list [destination], a pledge, a launchpad for [hiking], a waterfront, glamping, a gateway, a jaw-dropping, gorgeous, scenic [green hills], dotted [with sheep farms]. Wales: awe-inspiring, up-and-coming, to showcase, to position [yourself], at the forefront, sustainable. Western Newfoundland and Labrador: mainland, a rugged [region], windswept, a towering [iceberg], to underpin, a boardwalk, a settlement, to enhance, to upgrade. Tucson, Arizona: to mark [an anniversay], a [hiking] trail, squash, to meld, a crop, a staple, edible [cacti], a prickly pear. Western Australia: to play second fiddle, a gateway, an [aviation] hub, to be poised [to become], to span, to encompass, pristine, bubblegum-pink [lakes], towering [forests], a winery, to snap [a selfy], a foraging [tour]. Sri Lanka: misty, a roaming [elephant], rolling [surf], to tick a box, bankrupcy, resilient, to get back on your feet, an oculus, to stargaze, to launch, a coolcation, a mixologist, to put your spin on [arrack], a startup, a tuk tuk. Panama: to hand [control], namesake, a waterway, to hint at [a possibility], to reseize, timely, to weave, lush, to boost, staggering. Rif Mountains: snowcapped [mountains], sweeping, [cultural] heritage, an earthquake, a medina, an [almond] grove, cedar, craggy [peaks], unwinding, white-washed. Bradford: to be poised [to step out], a mill, a brass band, an array of  [warehouses], a moor, rugged, an accolade. Jordan: breathtaking, stunning, to weave [through], rust, to be teeming with, illusive, to dwell, a gorge, to dive. Haa Valley, Bhutan: mesmerising, erstwhile [kingdom], nestled, pristine, graze, a bid for [visitors], canopy, a [bamboo] grove, a homestay, a glimpse. Hawaii: to devastate, a downturn, to embody, stewardship. Uzbekistan: to take over, to strive [to maintain], a startup. Haida Gwaii, Canada: off the coast, groundbreaking, [envisonmental] stewardship, a murrelet, to underscore. Emerald Coast, Nicaragua: mist-shrouded [rainforests], set [to be completed], a sprawling [capital], a [surf] hub, to lure in [backpackers], ridley, a leatherback [turtle]. Isle of Man: to be ringed, a cliff-fringed [island], Manx, brew, to partake, myriad, craggy [coastlines], a trekker, a wind-whipped [summit]. Gilgi-Baltistan, Pakistan: a slew [of initiatives], a coveted [trekking visa], a glance, to be dubbed, to brim with [lush valleys], pristine, cradled, a [cherry] blossom, an [apricot] orchard, undulating, to venture. Azores: marrooned [in the ocean], a [steaming] hot-spring, sparkling, to boast, a coral reef, a boon, eager, a scenic [drive], to hop your way, bubbling, lush, a [leisurely] stroll, bonafide. Kansas City, Missouri: a glow-up [year], heretofore, barbeque, slated [to open], renovations, an upgrade. Bolivia: to stargaze, a salt flat, to sip, a booming [town], an up-close [look], a capybara, a cougar, a macaw. Botswana: to be hailed as [a leader], high-income, to usher in [a new government], a cache, to bolster [tourism], to grant [free entry], a wetland, a cheetah, savannah, a [luxury] lodge, a blend, mokoro, an armchair safari, an owl. Oslo: tongue-in-cheek, to nod, overetourism, to sully, to showcase, to lure [visitors], [organic] produce. 

A very different list of destinations is provided by Lonely Planet, you can check it out at "Best in Travel 2025". But if you want to watch wonderful videos, you can click below on Ryan Shirley's "Top 10 Places to Visit in 2025 (Year of Travel", which is recommended for C1 students. 

Happy Imbloc/ Candlemas/ St Brigid's Day!

Best Wildlife Photographers and (Silly) Pictures, 2024

In October, the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year Award 2024, was announced by the Natural History Museum in London, and Alberto Román Gómez (Spain) won the under 10 years award with the picture "Free as a Bird" (left). You can gaze at the stunning photos and read the descriptive captions in The Guardian report "Wildlife photographer of the year 2024 winners -in pictures". The captions are very succinct and precise so, rather suitable for C1 learners and above, where these words, among other, will come up: record-breaking [59,228 entries], an exhibition, a tadpole, a swarm, to snorkel, a lily pad, a stonechat bird, hefty, tricky, ownership, to roll [a log] over, to fruit, [slime] mould, a springtail, a split second, focus stacking, to mirror, a spot, a [camera] trap, a prey, an [elusive] lynx, fungi, gnarled, a birch tree, a lichen, a timeless [beauty] etc. 

NPR also covered the same competition with a more factual article, "Lynx, tiger and tadpoles, oh my: See the Wildlife Photographer of the Year winners", which is longer, more cohesive and easier to read perhaps, so, it can be recommended for B2 students and above, who will find words like: a lynx, a tadpole, a swarm, a lily pad, to lay [in wait], to track [animals], to set up, [camera] traps, to frame, a shot, to seize the moment, to stretch, to wrestle, a yacare caiman, a falcon, underwater, to narrow down, to be featured, a venue, to spark [creation], to coil itself, a snout, to snorkel [painstakingly], a lily pad, silt, to dodge, stunning, to hatch, wetlands, to rally [the community together] etc.

To add a touch of humour to wildlife art, B2 students can either have a peek at the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Gallery of Winners and Finalists 2024 or read the USA Today report on the winners of that competition, "'Squirrel stuck in a tree' tops funniest wildlife photos of the year: See the pictures". The final list of goofy winners was published on December 10th.

The pics will certainly bring a sunny smile (or raucous laughter) to learners, who may pick up new words like: a squirrel, [stuck], to stick, smooching, owlets, to highlight, a compromising [position], a [tree] hole, hind [legs], a statement, a raucous [laughter], to be shortlisted, ecstatic, to narrow down, a standalone [photograph], to showcase etc.

Back in April, the winners of the World Nature Photography Awards 2024 came out. B2 learners and above can click above to look at amazing pictures, and find interesting words in the captions and explanations like: hired, waterproof, a gannet, to dive into [water], anglerfish, a reef, a cheetah, a herd, a topi, dotted [across the valley], to cling [onto a foal], to launch, iconic [iguanas], a lizard, to bask, and many more.

Other interesting wildlife photography awards to check out are the British Wild Photography Awards and National Geographic best wildlife photos from 2024.

The Gates Foundation

Bill Gates talks to Professor Jim Al-Khalili about his life, his philanthropic work, vaccines, conspiracy theories and one of his hobbies, pickleball, on the BBC Radio-4 programme The Life Scientific. 

The interview is rather long (35:59), and has no script, so, it is recommended for C2 students, although they speak slowly and clearly and the vocabulary is not particularly difficult. Next you can find a list of some interesting words, which can be used as a rough listening guide for lower-level students: a [college] drop-out, a super-villain, his ethos, to take on [issues], child-mortality rates, to feed [that enthusiasm], malaria, diarrhea, pneumonia, to partner with [governments], a mind-blowing [successful advent], [to organise] the funding, goofy [things], Slow-Horses, to fit in [exercise], pickleball, a low-key [interest], billionaireland, community [work], a [company] board, Planned-Parenthood, voracious, your niche, a flair for [programming], noughts & crosses, entranced, a [computer] bug, a payroll [programme], a [school] schedule, [to minimize] the disruption, endearing [level of complexity], a grade, hardcore, to reach out to [somebody], a [growing] buzz, exponential [capability], a spreadsheet, to drop out [of university], a fond [memory], to linger on well-trodden ground, a managerial [role], a  mistep, work-centric, commitment, to jump in, empowerment, an evangelist, monomaniacal, to mellow [you out], to overturn, to drag on, to get through, to figure out, to devote [time to something], [to change] the narrative, measles, smallpox, bednets, the chair [of a company], to strike me as [strange], mindset, developing countries, malnourished, to wield [that power], Gavi, a high bar, TB, at the forefront, expertise on [vaccines], an outlandish [conspiracy theory], to cull [the world population], a shortcut, to step down, debt, a [political] upheaval, to deliver [better education], to bridge [the polarization], to pursue [my curiosity].

Melinda French Gates gave an interview to Time magazine two months ago, after she started to pursue her own philanthropic goals away from the Gates Foundation. The YouTube clip (5:05) with subtitles is suitable for C1 students.  You can listen to her below:

Elections in India, Mexico and South Africa

Three major emerging countries have held general elections recently: South-Africa, Mexico and India.

 India is the largest democracy in the world and the current 2024 elections have taken place in seven consecutive phases, starting from April 19 to June 1 to elect the 543 members of the Lok Sabha, the House of the People. There are two major coalitions vying for power, the right-wing NDA, lead by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the multi-party INDIA alliance, led by the Indian National Congress (INC). Election results are being declared on June 4th, you can follow the tally on "Lok Sabha Election Results", a web page in The Times of India, which includes a short video (3:12) "Lok Jabha Elections 2024: BJP, INDIA Bloc Chase Kingmakers's Nitish Kumar, Chandrababu Naidu",

 

where C2 students will come across interesting words like: to write [someone] off, a pundit, [against] the backdrop, a kingmaker, a [political] camp, the run-up, to fall short of [a majority], infamous, to reach out [to somebody], steadfast [support], to have a say, a portfolio, to implement [key policy changes]. You can also take a look at the New York Times page India Live Election Results and Map 2024, where you will find a national map with the winning coalition in each constituency. Finally, you can check the latest updates like the BBC News article "Modi declares victory in close-than-expected Indian election" or, for a full coverage of the election results and analysis from an Indian perspective, you can check out the news website The Wire.

 

 

AP News covers the elections in Mexico with several articles under the headline "Mexico elections update: Claudia Sheinbaum set to become president". In one of the stories, signed by Sara España, Mexico will have its first woman president, what will that mean?", B2 students and above can find expressions like: a ruling [party], to concede, to break through [200 years of male governments], to go down in history, to break [a longstanding] ceiling, harsh [conditions].

In South Africa a new era began after the African National Congress (ANC) lost its overall majority for the first time in 30 years. The ANC won 40.2% of the vote, down from 58% in the pervious election, and it will have to negotiate a coalition government with other parties, which opens an unprecedented political scenario since democracy started with Nelson Mandela's presidency after apartheid. Mohammed Haddad writes a comprehensive account of the vote in South Africa election results. What happens next?" for Aljazeera, which could be accessible to B2 students and above with 

key election vocabulary like: to surpass, a ballot, ruling, short of [a majority], turn out, to cast [a vote], allocation, a [Parliament] seat, [members of Parliament] to be sworn in, the speaker [of Parliament], to ensure, smooth [transition of power], poor [performance], to rule out [a coalition], to sack, a crackdown, to step down, to appoint, to take over, impeachment, to make up, remaining, to comprise.

If you need some background information about South Africa, you can read Damian Zane's, Dorothy Otieno & Olaniyi Adebimpe's article "South Africa in eight charts ahead of crucial vote", published in BBC News on May 22, where C1 students and above will come across key words like: 

 

[to go to the] polls, a power cut, an opinion poll, to herald, to fall steadily, a high water mark, a survey, to drop below [50%], GDP [per capita], a downward [trend], income, well-off, to mismanage, to be buffeted, a spike [in prices], a household, a driver [of inequality], to hit [young people] hard, to pledge, to tackle [crime], an assault, rape, to wage [a war against women], load shedding, a respite, to blight, outage, to disrupt, a draw, to target, a scapegoat, to demonise.

World News Media Congress, Zaragoza 2022

 Zaragoza has recently hosted the World News Media Congress, WAN-IFRA, where news corporation leaders, editors, journalists and academics have discussed the latest trends, innovations and challenges in the profession: disinformation wars, polarization, fake news, social media, trust, press freedom, female leadership, young readers, monetization of news services, audience engagement, financial sustainability, Web3, artificial intelligence, blockchain technology, metaverse, diversity and inclusion have been some of the subjects of debate in the different summits and seminars of the conference.

Here you can watch a short video clip (4':30") of the World Editors Summit "Resetting Newsroom Priorities" by Adriaan Basson, Editor-in-Chief of News24, South Africa, where he explains the successful transformation of the company. The video comes with a listening task entitled "A Successful News Website" and the answer key. This task is suitable for C1 students.

Some of the words you will find in the video are: to be up to, a breaking news website, payable, the hype, Afrikaans, aggregation, a wire, the motto, the lotto, UGC (User Generated Content), to shift, trusted, a slogan, era, disinformation, fake news, to pivot, freemium, a subscriber, a trade model, to reset, newsroom, a stream, a publisher, investigative [journalism], in-depth, a podcast, a sub-editor, a complaint.

During the conference, King Philip VI of Spain presented Piotr Stasinski and Joanna Krawczyk of Gazeta Wybcorza with the Golden Pen of Freedom for delivering independent journalism in authoritan contexts in Poland. The Women in News Editorial Leadership Award was given to Faith Zaba, editor of The Zimbabwe Indenpent, Diana Moukalled, editor of Daraj Media, Lebanon and Regina "Ging" Reyes, editor of ABC-CBN News, Philippines. And the Digital Media Awards Worldwide went to Spain, Philippines, Singapore, New Zealand and South Africa.

The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2022

Travel + Leisure magazine has just published the 50 Best Places to Travel in 2022, for their affluent American readers, featuring Alaska (left) among other national and international destinations. 

C1 students can do some virtual travel with the article 50 Best Places to Travel in 2022, they can look at the beautiful pictures and pick up English words galore, as the text is packed with descriptive adjectives, nouns and verbs like: a far-flung destination, a thrill, travel restrictions galore, albeit, to cross off [destinations], the hospitality industry was hit hard, downtime, to venture, to reap [the benefits], valiant [efforts], to teem with [fresh-air activities], to be raring, to make up for, splashy, hard-hit destinations, buzzy, stateside, to hold back, wellness, farm-to-table living, to stretch, overlooked, unspoiled [villages], picturesque, stunning, sleepy, underdog, harbinger, an eco-lodge, glamping, a [food] hotspot, local produce, an eager [traveler], vast, towering snow-capped [peaks], pristine [wilderness], to roll out [itineraries], to launch [new ships], myriad, a gathering, easy-going, to resume [service], a fleet [of jets], a sprawling [resort], perks, butler, to debut, a shutdown, a compelling [reason], seals, heli-hiking, a craps table, to skip, crystal-clear waters, [50 miles] off the coast, a day pass, to be whisked away, to indulge [in local food], conch, stew, rock lobster, hiatus, to keep an eye for, junkanoo, an all-inclusive [stay], vibrant, a spa, hammam [treatment], vendors, to stroll down, a boardwalk, ocean-front [food], rainforests, diver, a barrier reef, abundance, casual [spots,], luxe [resorts], an oceanfront [villa], a nonstop [flight], charm, a shining [example], a rooftop [library], an oenophile, unassuming, a wine cellar, draped, a estate, resilience, on tap, hilltop [suites], to glimpse, glitzy, to unveil, [room] renovations, an outpost, a mogul, to snag [the term], a venue, a low-key [escape], stunning, white-washed [buildings], to lust after, cerulean blue, to peruse, to seek out, to hop [aboard], to wield [lightsabers], to brush shoulders with, to be slated, to encapsulate [a definition], a [steel] monolith,

to be buzzing [with energy], to bolster, to carve out a name, the [luxury travel] realm, riesling [wine], to knock, a lighter-bodied [red wine], a [foodie] draw, festival roster, to grasp onto its charms, quaint [downtown], chock-full, storefronts, lining, sidewalk, [race] riots, a winery, a rock quarry, a quirky-cool [enclave], brand-new, a lush [setting], rolling [hills], nourishing [food], to be raised, to be foraged, bustling, to tack on [to], a [presidential] decree, to seek [to combat], amenities, a carbon-neutral footprint, to kick its signature into high gear, a cue, to soak, hot springs, a speakeasy [bar], a budding [surf scene], a state-of-the art [wave pool], a [wave] lagoon, pending [city approvals], a splash zone, a craft beer hotspot, a [biking] trail, alum, to grab [headlines], to make strides, to showcase, jetty, wary [of travelling], solace, to hop on [a flight], to straddle [three regions of Zambia], a hot air balloon, a sundowner, a lofty [resolution], to commence, sparkly [new] digs, to [venture] off the beaten track, snorkeling, scuba diving, to top, to splash out on [dinner and a show], to wrap [a project], a racetrack, the attendees, a medley [of cultures], a smattering [of terrain], verdant [rain forests], to blend, hawker food stalls, a coveted [resort], turquoise, an overwater [villa], primed for [snorkeling], zip-lining, to meld, sleek,

available for charter, a slew of [hotel openings], a [cocktail] curator, to set sail, a tagline, a suspended bridge, an all-nighter, high-end, alluring, otherworldly, cloud-shrouded, an uptick, to partake, volcanic terroir, a grueling [hike], ample [opportunities], a humpback [whale], an orca, to spot, nuanced, a gateway, to tag [a turtle], a hideaway, to put [an area] on the radar, a hub, moss-draped [streets], slick, hazy [ales], sours, a taproom, luster, to garner, cooped-up [city dwellers], to be enthralled, vortex, stargazing, to follow suit, revamped, glitz, to flock, skijöring, snowkiting, tobogganing, to pop up, rugged [land], a penthouse [room], over-the-top [hotels], a flagship [hotel], a stretch [of a path], a hillfort, [gourmet Mexican] fare, boho-chic [lodgings], a beachcomber, to lift off, to ramp up, a jaunt, the edge [of space], a dealbreaker. 

If you prefer urban travel, you can look at the pictures of the 25 Best Cities to Travel in 2022, also from Travel + Leisure magazine, which puts Oaxaca and San Miguel de Allende (Mexico) at the top of this inventory and Ubud (Indonesia) ranking 3rd. The Spanish city of Seville is also included in this year's list at number 11. 

"Our Planet" in International Biodiversity Week

You can celebrate International Biodiversity Week (18- 22 May) by watching the first episode of the Netflix documentary "Our Planet", which has just been released on YouTube.  The stunning beauty of the images, the music, and the impeccable English on the voice of Sir David Attenborough will surely open an imaginary window to the wonders of our natural world and the fragility of its future preservation.
Subtitles are available, so this 49':27" documentary can be enjoyed by B2 students and above.