Spanish for Elementary Learners: Talk About Upcoming Trips with ir a + Infinitive
Learn to say where you're going on a big trip, share a simple itinerary, and contrast long trips with weekend plans using ir a + infinitive.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
In this lesson, you'll learn to talk about an upcoming trip that is bigger and longer than a weekend plan. You'll use the pattern ir a + infinitive to say what you're going to do, add time expressions like el próximo mes, and share a simple itinerary with days and activities. You'll also learn how to ask someone about their trip. The focus is on clear, useful Latin American Spanish that works across countries, with notes on regional differences where they matter.
By the end, you can…
- say where I'm going on a big trip and when, using ir a + infinitive and time expressions.
- share a simple itinerary with days and activities.
- ask someone about their upcoming trip and understand a basic answer.
- contrast a long trip with a weekend plan using different time frames.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Voy a viajar a Japón el próximo mes.
I'm going to travel to Japan next month.
boy ah byah-HAR ah ha-PON el PROHK-see-mo mes
Use this to state a big trip and its timing. El próximo mes is common in Latin America; also el mes que viene.
Voy a estar allí dos semanas.
I'm going to be there for two weeks.
boy ah es-TAR ah-YEE dos se-MAH-nas
Use estar for duration in a place. Dos semanas shows the trip is longer than a weekend.
El primer día, voy a visitar Tokio.
On the first day, I'm going to visit Tokyo.
el pree-MEHR DEE-ah boy ah bee-see-TAR TOH-kyoh
El primer día introduces the first itinerary item. Notice primer drops the -o before a masculine singular noun.
¿Qué vas a hacer en tu viaje?
What are you going to do on your trip?
keh bas ah ah-SER en too BYAH-heh
A friendly question to ask about someone's plans. Use vas for tú; use va for usted.
Este fin de semana voy a descansar, pero el próximo mes voy a viajar.
This weekend I'm going to rest, but next month I'm going to travel.
ES-teh feen deh se-MAH-nah boy ah des-kan-SAR PEH-roh el PROHK-see-mo mes boy ah byah-HAR
This contrasts a small weekend plan with a big trip. Notice the same ir a pattern works for both.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
Use ir a + infinitive to talk about future plans: voy a viajar (I'm going to travel), vas a visitar (you're going to visit), vamos a salir (we're going to go out). Conjugate ir to match the person: yo voy, tú vas, usted va, nosotros vamos, ellos van. Then add an infinitive like viajar, visitar, estar, hacer. For a big trip, add a time expression: el próximo mes, en dos semanas, el año que viene. Example: El próximo mes voy a viajar a Japón y voy a estar allí dos semanas.
When to use it
Use ir a + infinitive for plans you've already decided, including big trips and simple weekend plans. For a long trip, you'll often combine several sentences: Voy a viajar a Japón el próximo mes. El primer día, voy a visitar Tokio. El segundo día, voy a ir a Kioto. To contrast with a weekend plan, change the time expression: Este fin de semana voy a descansar, pero el próximo mes voy a viajar. If you're making a sudden decision, Spanish often uses the simple future instead: Viajaré a Japón. In everyday Latin American speech, ir a + infinitive is more common for planned trips.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
¿Qué vas a hacer el próximo mes?
What are you going to do next month?keh bas ah ah-SEHR el PROHK-see-mo mesVoy a viajar a Japón. Voy a estar allí dos semanas.
I'm going to travel to Japan. I'm going to be there for two weeks.boy ah byah-HAR ah ha-PON boy ah es-TAR ah-YEE dos se-MAH-nas¡Qué emocionante! ¿Qué vas a hacer allí?
How exciting! What are you going to do there?keh eh-mo-syo-NAN-teh keh bas ah ah-SEHR ah-YEEEl primer día, voy a visitar Tokio. El segundo día, voy a ir a Kioto.
On the first day, I'm going to visit Tokyo. On the second day, I'm going to go to Kyoto.el pree-MEHR DEE-ah boy ah bee-see-TAR TOH-kyoh el se-GOON-doh DEE-ah boy ah EER ah KYOH-tohA little context goes a long way
In many Latin American varieties, el próximo mes and el mes que viene are both common; el próximo mes is widely understood. For 'next week', some say la próxima semana, others la semana que viene. In Spain, you'll also hear el mes que viene and the simple future more often in casual speech. When talking about a trip, it's polite to show interest with ¡Qué emocionante! or ¡Qué padre! (Mexico) / ¡Qué chévere! (Caribbean and parts of South America). These expressions vary by region, so choose one that fits the local context.
One thing to watch for
Using the present tense for a planned trip: *Voy a Japón el próximo mes* to mean 'I'm going to Japan next month.'
Try this instead: For a planned future trip, use ir a + infinitive: Voy a viajar a Japón el próximo mes. The simple present voy a Japón usually means 'I go to Japan' or 'I'm going to Japan' right now, not a future plan. If you want to say you're going to a place in the future, add an infinitive like viajar or ir: Voy a ir a Japón el próximo mes. Note that in Spain, the simple present is often used for near-future plans (e.g., Mañana voy a Madrid), so this distinction is strongest in Latin American usage.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'I'm going to travel to Japan next month' using ir a + infinitive?
Show a sample answer
Voy a viajar a Japón el próximo mes.
Voy a viajar matches 'I'm going to travel', and el próximo mes means 'next month'. You could also say el mes que viene in many regions.
2Change this weekend plan into a big trip: 'Este fin de semana voy a descansar.' Make it about next month and traveling.
Show a sample answer
El próximo mes voy a viajar.
Replace the time expression and the infinitive. You could also say El mes que viene voy a viajar. Both are correct; the key is ir a + infinitive with a future time expression.
3Ask a friend 'What are you going to do on your trip?' in Spanish.
Show a sample answer
¿Qué vas a hacer en tu viaje?
Use vas for tú. If you're speaking formally, use va: ¿Qué va a hacer en su viaje? Both are correct depending on the relationship.
Use ir a + infinitive for planned trips, add a time expression like el próximo mes, and list itinerary items with el primer día, el segundo día. Contrast a weekend plan with a big trip by changing the time expression and the activity.
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