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travel, journey, trip and voyage

Travel means ‘travelling in general’. It is normally uncountable.

  • My interests are music and travel.

The plural travels is sometimes used; it suggests a rather grand programme of travelling or exploration.

  • He wrote a wonderful book about his travels in the Himalayas.

A journey (more common in British English) is one ‘piece’ of travelling.

  • Did you have a good journey? (not Did you have a good travel?)
  • I met Megan on my last journey to England. (not … my last travel.)

A trip is a return journey together with the activity (business or pleasure) which is the reason for the journey.

  • I’m going on a business trip next week. (= I’m going on a journey and I’m going to do some business.)
  • Daniel’s school is organising a skiing trip to the Alps.

Compare:

  • ‘How was your journey?’ ‘The train broke down.’
  • ‘How was your trip?’ ‘Successful.’

We do not so often use trip for expeditions which have a very serious purpose, are very hard and/or take a very long time.

  • In 1863 the President travelled to Dakota to make peace with the Indians. (not … made a trip to Dakota to make peace …)
  • Amundsen made his journey to the South Pole in 1911. (not Amundsen made his trip to the South Pole …)

A long sea journey is often called a voyage.

Note the preposition: on a journey/trip/voyage.