spanish travel vocabulary pdf

Free Spanish Travel Phrasebook

Table of contents

Get your free spanish phrasebook sent right to your inbox, what’s inside your free spanish travel guide, 🙋‍♀️  the basics, 🏠  accommodation, 🚃  transportation, 🛍  shopping, 🏀  hobbies/fun, 🥂  socializing, 🗣  conversation aids, 🌤  time and weather, 💻  telecommunications, 🚨  emergencies, download our free english-to-spanish phrasebook, take your spanish a step further.

To get your free Spanish phrasebook PDF and start learning essential Spanish vocabulary for travel and other common scenarios, please enter your info below and be sure to click “Get my kit.” (Why a kit? Our Spanish conversation guide is just one of the resources in the free MosaLingua Language Learning Kit, a complete set of goodies for independent learners. You’ll love the rest of the resources in the kit, too, and it’s all free of charge! 😉):

This eBook contains 45 pages and 10 00+ words and phrases in Spanish, with English translations of course. It is organized by travel – related themes and ordered according to frequency of use (from the most commonly used vocabulary to more specialized terms).

If you’re planning a trip to Spain or Latin America, or if you simply want to improve your conversational Spanish, you’ll want to have this Spanish phrasebook by your side!

Topics in Your Spanish Travel Guide

To give you an idea of the themes covered in our phrasebook, here are some of the topics you’ll be able to talk about with the help of this Spanish travel guide :

• Polite phrases
• The essentials
• Starting a conversation
• Eating out, going to restaurants
• Meat and fish
• At a hostel
• Household chores
• Daily life at home
• Asking for things
• Going camping
• Public transportation
• Asking for directions
• The cardinal points
• Traveling by car
• At the airport
• Buying and negotiating
• Buying food
• Going shopping
• Arts and crafts
• Banking and dealing with money
• Outdoor activities
• Cultural and religious differences
• At the beach
• Meeting new people
• Going out, nightlife
• Feelings and opinions
• Common mistakes and difficulties
• Expressing agreement and disagreement
• Ending a conversation
• Talking about your love life
• Personality traits
• The human body
• Physical appearance
• At the barbershop or hair salon
• Occupations
• Talking about the future
• Temporal phrases
• Making phone calls
• Electronic devices
• Road accidents
• Important signs

All of the Spanish content above and more is available to you for free! To download your phrasebook, just click the “Get my kit” button below. Then, keep an eye on your inbox for your free Spanish Travel Phrasebook PDF  (we promise not to send you any spam, you have our word!):

If you want to learn more about the Spanish language, its vocabulary, grammar, culture, and more, have a look around our blog . If you’re not sure where to start, here are a few popular articles and guides our readers love:

• Learn proper Spanish pronunciation : get our free guide
• Dive into Spanish grammar : use the mini-lessons in our free grammar guide
• Tips and tools to learn Spanish, fast
• To find tools to help you with other important skills, check out the best online Spanish resources
• And for much, much more vocabulary, and a scientifically proven method for learning it, download the MosaLingua Learn Spanish app .

Happy learning and hope to see you again soon!

101 Common Spanish Phrases for Travel

It’s time to travel! Are you going to a Spanish speaking country? These 101 common Spanish phrases for Travel will help your trip go smoothly, and your journey will be much more enjoyable. If you can memorize these phrases before your trip, that’ll be ideal. 

But let’s face it, you are busy. Most likely, you’ll be even busier as your departure date gets closer. But don’t worry, I have created this common Spanish phrases for travel pdf for you! It contains all the travel phrases and words that appear in this post.

Sign up to get your copy of our common Spanish travel phrases pdf for free!

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101 Common Travel Phrases in Spanish PDF

Be sure to download it right now so you’ll have it on your cell phone, tablet, or laptop when you are abroad. It’s always a good idea to have it saved on your device, just in case you don’t have access to the Internet when you need it. You can sign up below to get a link to download the basic common Spanish phrases for the travel pdf file sent to you.

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What are the Common Spanish Phrases for Travel?

Here, we’ll cover 101 common Spanish phrases for travel that you will definitely want to know. 

First, let’s start with basic greetings and pleasantries, and move on to some of the very common and super useful Spanish verbs. Then we’ll talk about some Spanish travel phrases for getting around and shopping. 

Also, you’ll learn common Spanish phrases and words you will need at restaurants or hotels, and tourist activities. 

Lastly, we finish up with the important Spanish phrases for emergencies, just in case. So, let’s begin!

What are the Spanish words for travel?

First, what are the words for travel in Spanish? Below are the words that mean travel or a trip.

To travel – Viajar

To go on a trip – Ir de viaje

A trip – un viaje

Basic Spanish Phrases for Travel: Greetings and Pleasantries

When you are traveling to a Spanish-speaking country, learning some basic Spanish phrases goes a long way. Even if you don’t pronounce them correctly or make mistakes, most people would appreciate the time and effort you put into learning their language. So let’s start with some very basic Spanish phrases for travelers.

Hi – Hola

You can use this any time of the day as it means “Hi” or “Hello”, but people usually say this and then say one of the other greeting phrases below depending on the time of the day. So, for example, you might say, “Hola, Buenos días.”

Good morning

Buenos días

This is normally used in the morning hours before 12 noon.

Good afternoon

Buenas tardes

Then you would switch to “ buenas tardes ” in the afternoon until it gets dark outside.

Buenas noches

People would start saying “buenas noches” when it’s dark outside…maybe around 6pm-ish.

Good Bye – Adiós

A typical goodbye in any Spanish-speaking country in the world.

See you later.

Hasta luego.

Even though you may not be seeing each other for a long time or ever like a store clerk, it is common to say “hasta luego ” especially in Spain.

Excuse me (Can I have your attention?) / (Can I pass by?)

Discúlpe / Con permiso

So “ Discúlpe” is used to get someone’s attention. “ Con permiso ” basically means “with your permission.” You would say this when you walk in front of someone or need to pass by people in a crowded place because they are blocking your way. It’s like saying, “Excuse me, I’m passing by you.”

It’s always polite and good etiquette to say “please” in any country, right?

Don’t forget to show your gratitude and appreciation when someone did something nice for you.

No thank you

If you are not interested, you can politely decline by saying, “no gracias.”

What is your name? – ¿ C ó mo se llama usted?

This is a formal version and an informal version is “ ¿C ómo te llamas?” In Mexico or Latin America, it would be better to use the formal version. In Spain, the informal version is pretty common unless you are speaking to someone who is much older than you or a government official, doctor, police officer, etc., you get the idea. A general rule of thumb is if your conversation partner looks about your age or younger, then it’s safe to use the informal version.

My name is ________. – Me llamo ______.

This means literally, “I call myself _______.” You can also say “Soy + your name.”

Nice to meet you. – Mucho gusto (Mexico), Encantado/a (Spain)

In most Latin American countries, “mucho gusto” is the most common way to say “nice to meet you.” In Spain, if you are female, you would say “encantada” ; and if you are male, you would say “encantado.”

How are you? – ¿ C ó mo est á usted?

This is a formal way to ask how a person is. If you are talking to a friend or someone about your age or younger, you can say, “ ¿C ómo est ás?”

I’m good. – Estoy bien.

Just a simple “bien” would work as well. However, to be more polite, you can add “gracias,” so it’ll be “estoy bien, gracias” or “bien, gracias.”

Do you speak English? – ¿Habla inglés?

If you are asking this question to someone, you probably don’t know this person. So it would be appropriate to use this formal form. If you are asking a child or someone who is about your own age or younger, you can use an informal form and say, “ Hablas inglés? “

I don’t speak Spanish. – No hablo espa ñ ol.

Yes / No – Sí / No

I’m sure you’ve heard of these before. Yes!

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Can you speak slowly? – ¿ Puede hablar m á s despacio?

Natives seem to speak really fast when you first start learning a new language. So you can ask them to speak slowly.

Can you repeat it? – ¿Puede repetirlo?

You can also ask them to repeat what they have just said by saying this phrase.

I understand – Entiendo.

If you understand what they are saying, you can say “entiendo.” If not, you can say the following…

I don’t understand – No entiendo.

Well, if you don’t understand what they are saying, don’t just agree. Make sure you understand what they are saying by asking them to write it down. Once it’s written down, you can use Google to translate it!

Can you write it down, please? – ¿Puede escribirlo?

Yup, ask them to write it down or at least confirm by repeating what was said. You might want to keep a pen in your purse when traveling.

A little – un poco

You may hear other versions like “un poquito” or “un poquit ín” meaning a little tiny bit.

A lot – mucho

Also, you can use “un montón” meaning “A LOT!”

Nothing – Nada

Well, I have nothing to add…ha ha ha, sorry… (by the way, in Spanish, ha ha ha is written “ja ja ja”)

What time is it? – ¿Qu é hora son? (Mexico), ¿ Qu é hora es? (Spain)

For some reason, in Mexico, hora (hour) is used as a plural form, that’s why “son” is used instead of “es.”

Common Spanish Verbs for Travel: Need, Want, and Have

I need ________.

Necesito ________.

I don’t need _____.

No necesito _______.

I want ________.

Quiero_________.

I don’t want _______.

No quiero ________.

Do you have ______?

Tiene ______?

I have _______.

Tengo ________.

I don’t have _______.

No tengo ______.

Spanish Phrases for Transportation and Getting Around

Where is the bus stop? – ¿D ónde est á la parada de autob ús?

If you are looking for a bus station/terminal where many buses meet, you can use “Central de autobuses”, “Terminal de autobuses”, or “Estaci ón de Autobuses.” The last one is more common in Spain.

Do you go to downtown? – ¿Va al centro?

If you are unsure about which bus to take, you can always ask the bus driver if his/her bus goes to where you intend to go before you get on.

How do I get to the Museum of Natural History? – ¿C ómo llego al museo de histor ia natural?

You can use this phrase to ask for directions to some place.

Is it close? – ¿Est á cerca?

This is a bit tricky one because in most Spanish-speaking countries, people often tell you “it’s close,” but that doesn’t really mean it’s close! It could be, but you just never know how a person feels about a distance.

Is it far? – ¿Est á lejos?

If it’s far, you can also ask “ ¿Cu ánto tiempo se tarda en llegar allí?” – How long does it take to get there? to clarify how far it is.

What time does the train leave? – ¿A qu é hora sale el tren?

Whether it’s your train, bus, or flight, you can use this phrase to ask its departure time. The bus is “el autob ús” and the flight is “el vuelo.”

It leaves at 8:30 in the morning. – Sale a las ocho y media de la mañana.

More about the numbers a little bit further down. If it’s in the morning, “ de la mañana” and in the afternoon and early evening, “de la tarde.” And at night, “de la noche” and in the really early morning would be “de la madrugada.”

What time does it arrive? – ¿A qu é hora llega?

So this is referring to the transportation or a third person (he/she/it). What time do we arrive? Would be “ ¿A qu é hora llegamos?”

It arrives at 3 in the afternoon. – Llega a las tres de la tarde.

If you want to say “We arrive” then use “Llegamos.”

Where can I buy tickets? – ¿ D ó nde puedo comprar boletos? (Mexico), ¿ D ó nde puedo comprar billetes? 

In Mexico, tickets are called “boletos” ; but in Spain, they are called “billetes.” “Billetes” also meansbills in both countries. For example, “un billete de d ólar” means a dollar bill.

Round trip/one way – Viaje redondo / viaje sencillo (Mexico), ida y vuelta / S ó lo ida (Spain)

I would like 2 tickets. – Me gustar ía dos boletos. (First class, Economy class – premera clase, clase econ ómica )

Again, tickets are “billetes” in Spain. One ticket would be “un boleto” or “un billete.”

I missed my flight. – Perd í mi vuelo.

Literally, it means “I lost my flight.” So, you can swap the noun and say “Perd í mi maleta” – “I lost my suitcase” as well.

Here’s my passport. – Aqu í est á mi pasaporte.

Another similar phrase is “ Aqu í lo tiene,” basically meaning “here you have it” or “here it is.”

I’m here on vacation/on holiday. – Estoy aqu í de vacaciones.

In Spanish, vacation is usually plural “vacaciones.”

I’m going to stay for one week. – Me voy a quedar una semana (two weeks – dos semanas).

Staying only for a few days? Then you can say, “Me voy a quedar unos d í as.” “ Day” in Spanish is “d ía” (singular) and “d ías” (plural) and month in Spanish is “mes” (singular) and “meses” (Plural).

Where is the baggage claim? – ¿ D ónde está el reclamo de equipaje?

There are several different words for baggage claim: la cinta de maletas, la cinta de equipaje, la cinta de recogida de equipaje , etc. “Equipaje” means luggage.

I can’t find my suitcase. – No encuentro mi maleta.

If you can’t find a person, then you would add “a” in front of the person’s name. For instance, “No encuentro a Maria.”

How much does it cost to take me to________? (Taxi) – Cuanto por lleverme a _______?

Ask a cab driver how much it costs to take you to your destination before getting on the cab to avoid any unpleasant surprises. Researching how much a taxi to your destination should cost beforehand can give you a general idea.

Stop here, please. – Pare aqu í, por favor.

Wait a moment, please. – Espere un momento, por favor.

Is it free? (open/available) – ¿Est á libre?

Common Spanish Travel Phrases and Words for Shopping

I need to exchange dollars for pesos. – Necesito cambiar d ólares por pesos.

Banks in other countries tend to close earlier than the ones in the U.S. So if you think you might need to get some cash out, don’t forget to plan ahead.

Is there______? – ¿Hay _____?

This one is very easy but useful at stores, restaurants, and many other places.

What is that? – ¿Qué es eso?

You can point something and ask “ ¿Qué es eso?” If it’s right by you, then “ ¿Qu é es esto?” (What is this?).

Can I see it? – ¿Puedo verlo?

“ ¿Puedo?” means “Can I?” A very useful phrase. Definitely, it’s helpful to memorize this one.

I’m just looking. – Solo estoy mirando.

When you walk into a store and a store clerk asks you if they can help you find something. You can say , “ Solo estoy mirando. Gracias.” if you don’t intend to buy anything. At most department stores, store clerks work on commission, so they tend to be very eager to help you.

Can I try it on? – ¿Me lo puedo probar?

“El probador” means the fitting room.

Do you have size 40? – ¿Tiene talla cuarenta?

Clothing and shoe sizes are quite a bit different in each country, so be sure to check online before you go and get a general idea.

Numbers: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100

– N ú meros: uno, dos, tres, cuatro, cinco, seis, siete, ocho, nueve, diez, veinte, treinta, cuarenta, cincuenta, sesenta, setenta, ochenta, noventa, cien

This quick study guide is packed with useful information and has a section on numbers as well. It is a perfect reference flip chart for beginners.

You can also learn how to pronounce Numbers in Spanish in this post .

t’s too big/small – Es demasiado grande/chico (or chica).

“Grande” means big or large, and “chico(a)” means small (you can also use “peque ño(a)” ). I wouldn’t worry too much about whether the object you are referring to is a feminine or masculine noun at this point. People will understand you even if you don’t match the genders.

“Demasiado” means “too” something (adjective). So you can use it to say so many other things. For instance, “Es demasiado largo” (it’s too long), “Es demasiado corto” (It’s too short.).  

How much is it? – ¿Cu ánto cuesta?

You can just point at something and say, “ ¿Cu ánto cuesta?” And if you are buying multiple ítems and want to know how much the total cost is, you can say, “ ¿Cu ánto cuesta en total?” or ¿Cu ánto es?

It’s too expensive. – Es demasiado caro.

Similar to the phrase above. “Caro(a)” means expensive, and “barato(a)” means cheap.

Can you give me a discount? – ¿ Me puede dar un descuento?

In Mexico and Latin America, if you are shopping at a local market, you can almost always get a discount. So it’s worth asking so you don’t end up paying tourist’s prices.

Do you have anything cheaper? – ¿Tiene algo m ás barato?

This is kind of similar to the one above. “Algo” means something or anything, and “m ás” means “more” and makes an adjective comparative when you put it before the adjective. Less is “menos.”

I’ll take it. – Me lo llevo.

If you like it and you’re going to buy it, then you’ll say “me lo llevo.” If you’re buying multiple items, a plural form of “ lo” which is “los” should be used. So you’ll say “me los llevo.” If you want to be super correct, select one of the followings “lo, la, los, or las” to match the gender of the item(s) you are purchasing…but that’s not crucial at all, so no worries.

Do you accept credit card? – ¿ Aceptan tarjeta de cr é dito?

Cash is “efectivo” and debit card is “tarjeta de d ébito” although most U.S. debit cards are not accepted at stores in foreign countries.

Check out these 75 Cool and Useful Travel Accessories You Can’t Leave without!

What time does it open? – ¿A qu é hora cierran?

In mid-to small-sized cities in Spain, many stores close for lunch for a few hours, then reopen after lunch. Their lunch is from about 2 pm to 4 or 5 pm.

What time does it close? – ¿A qu é hora abren?

Banks tend to close earlier than the ones in the U.S., and they often have different (shorter) business hours for Fridays and Summer months as well.

Useful Spanish at a Restaurant or Hotel

While traveling, these Spanish phrases will definitely come in handy. At a bar or café, you can just pick any available table, but I would recommend making a reservation if you are going to a restaurant.

I have a reservation. – Tengo una reservaci ón.

You can use this phrase at a restaurant or at a hotel when you check in.

Is there free wifi? – ¿Hay wifi grat ís?

“El Usuario” is the user name and “la contraseña” is the password.

I lost the key to my room. (at a hotel) – Perd í la llave de mi habitaci ó n.

It doesn’t work. – No funciona.

If something in your hotel room doesn’t work, you can say, “ No funciona + the thing that’s not working. ”

I would like _______. – Me gustar ía _______.

You can also say, “Quisiera______” “Quisiera” is a more polite form of “quiero” – I want.

I would not like_______. – No me gustar ía _______.

Is this spicy? – ¿Esto pica? or “Es picante?”

Mexican salsas can be super spicy, so I always ask before trying them…although they often say, “no, no pica nada!” – “no, it’s not spicy at all!” Spanish food is generally not spicy, though.

Is it sweet or salty? – ¿Est á dulce o salado?

If you are like me and enjoy trying new foods, you’ll need this phrase.

Gluten free – Sin gluten, Libre de gluten

Gluten-free products are not as common in Spain or Latin American countries as they are in the U.S. Or I should say most products are not labeled “gluten-free” as they are in the U.S.

The bill, please. – La cuenta, por favor.

You will need this phrase at restaurants.

Is tip included? – ¿ Est á incluído la propina?

In Spain, tipping is not customary at Tapas bars although appreciated. However, when dining at a restaurant in both Spain and Mexico, 10-15% of the bill is common if the service fee is not included.

Where is the bathroom? – ¿ D ó nde est á el ba ñ o? or “ ¿ D ó nde est án los ba ñ os? (plural)

Another word for the restroom is “ el servicio )” in Spain.

Occupied/busy – Ocupado

For example, “El ba ño est á ocupado.” – The bathroom is occupied.

“Estoy ocupado(a)” – I’m busy.

Vacant – Libre (bathroom), Vacante (hotel rooms)

“Libre” also means available or free.

Essential Spanish Phrases for Tourist Activities

Is it free? (no cost) – ¿Es grat ís?

Can I enter? (is it allowed to enter?) – ¿Se puede entrar?

If you are not sure if it’s okay to enter, it’s good to ask first, especially at religious places or semi-private tourist spots.

Is it safe? – ¿Es Seguro?

Is it dangerous? – ¿Es peligroso?

No smoking – No fumar.

Smoking is prohibited in enclosed public places in at least Spain and Mexico. So, bars, restaurants, nightclubs, etc. are non-smoking.

Do not touch – No tocar.

You’ll often see a sign with this phrase and an image of a hand crossed out at museums, historical buildings, etc.

I want to go to _______. – Quiero ir ______.

You can use this phrase for a taxi driver, a bus driver, someone when you are asking for a direction, etc.

Important Spanish Phrases for Emergencies

Can you help me? – ¿Me puede ayudar?

If you need help with your luggage or you are lost, this phrase will come in handy.

My wallet was stolen. – Me robaron mi caretera.

“Me robaron” + whatever the item that was robbed. Be extra careful of pickpockets, especially in big cities or in crowded places.

I don’t feel well. – No me siento bien.

When you feel better, you can say, “me siento mejor.” “Mejor” means better, and “peor” means worse.

My stomach hurts – Me duele el est ómago.

The basic structure of this sentence is “Me duele” + the part of your body that is hurting. You can also find more phrases and vocabulary about your physical conditions on this post.

I need to go to hospital. – Necesito ir al hospital.

Remember the “H” is silent. So, you would pronounce “hospital” as though it’s “ospital” with an accent on the “a”.

Help! – ¡Socorro!

Hopefully, you won’t need to use this one or any of these phrases in this emergency section while traveling, but it’s better to be prepared. So, don’t forget to memorize this word just in case.

Are You Ready to Use These Spanish Phrases for Travel?

I’m so excited for you that you are going to Spanish-speaking countries soon or planning a trip in the future. Hope you have a super fun adventure wherever and whenever you go! I hope these Spanish travel phrases help your trip be trouble-free and filled with wonderful, lasting memories.

Oh, did you download our free basic Spanish phrases pdf ? You can print it out and tuck it in your backpack pocket or save it on your digital devices. Here’s where you can download it.

Oh, one last thing…

How to say be safe in Spanish?

In Spanish, “Be safe!” can be translated as either one of these four phrases.

¡Que vuelvas sano y salvo!  (Hope you return safe and sound)

¡Que regreses sano y salvo!  (Hope you return safe and sound)

¡Que te vaya bien en tu viaje!  (Hope everything goes well with your trip) 

¡Que te salga bien en tu viaje!  (Hope everything turns out well for your trip).

As you have noticed that their literal translations are a bit different, but these are the closest phrases in Spanish that there are to “be safe” in English.

Don’t forget to check out this post: How to say Airport in Spanish: Spanish words and phrases you need at the airport.

Have an amazing trip and Happy Spanish-ing!

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• 101 Survival Spanish Phrases for Travel Every Traveler Needs to Know
• How to Introduce Yourself in Spanish 
• Easy Spanish Greetings: How to Greet in Spanish

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The Essential Spanish Phrases for Travel PDF

As I mentioned in my post on  the benefits of foreign language for travel , I think that learning the basics of the language to any country you visit is a great way to bettter experience the local culture. If you’ve read my post on Sagunto , you may know that I studied abroad there and speak it at about an intermediate (B2) level. I love this language, and seeing it’s popularity, I am glad that I spent time learning it.

As there are many countries around the world where Spanish is the primary language, it is pretty likely that you’ll hit one of these countries on your travels. This post will cover the basics of Spanish phrases for travel, which you can use as your pocket guide while traveling to any Spanish-speaking country!

Table of Contents

The Top Resources for Learning Spanish

• iTalki : Practice with Live Teachers at a low cost
• LingoPie : Learn the language by watching videos in Spanish
• Short Stories : Expand your Spanish vocabulary with easy to read short stories

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Spanish Language Overview

Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world, after Mandarin! There are 442 million speakers of Spanish around the globe, and it is the official languages of 21 countries across Europe, Africa, and the Americas. These specific countries and territories include:

• Puerto Rico 

It is a Romance language, meaning it comes from Latin. That means that learning Spanish will certainly help you with learning the other Romance languages. Particular in the areas of grammar and root words. 

get your free download!

Spanish phrases pdf.

This free download includes all the key Spanish phrases that you will need for your travels throughout Spain, Mexico and any Spanish-speaking country. In addition, get details on the best resources to improve your speaking and listening skills as well.

History of the Spanish Language

The history of the Spanish language is shaped by centuries of cultural, political, and linguistic influences. Its roots can be traced back to the Roman Empire, when Latin was introduced to the Iberian Peninsula around the 3rd century BCE. Over time, Latin evolved into various dialects, blending with local languages spoken by native Iberian populations. However, it was during the medieval period, particularly after the Moorish conquest of Spain, that the foundations of modern Spanish began to take shape. 

The influence of Arabic and other languages spoken by the Moors infused the evolving Romance dialects with new vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. The gradual reconquest of Spain by Christian kingdoms led to the unification of the language, and by the 13th century, a standardized version of Spanish, known as Castilian, emerged as the dominant dialect. With the colonization of the Americas by the Spanish, the language spread across the globe, becoming one of the world’s most widely spoken languages. 

Spanish Pronunciation Tips

Spanish pronunciation can be a delightful challenge for language learners, but with a few key tips, mastering the sounds becomes more attainable:

• One important aspect is understanding that Spanish has a consistent sound-to-letter correspondence, meaning letters are usually pronounced the same way regardless of their position in a word. It is also crucial to pay attention to vowel sounds, as they are clear and distinct in Spanish. Mastering the five vowel sounds, namely “a,” “e,” “i,” “o,” and “u,” will greatly enhance pronunciation accuracy. 
• Another tip is to focus on correctly pronouncing the rolled “r” sound, which is a unique feature of Spanish. Practicing tongue trills or tapping the tongue against the roof of the mouth can help achieve this sound. 
• Additionally, being aware of syllable stress is crucial since Spanish is a syllable-timed language. Recognizing which syllables are stressed can improve both comprehension and fluency. 
• Finally, listening to native Spanish speakers and immersing oneself in Spanish language media can greatly aid in developing an authentic and natural pronunciation. 

Your Spanish Phrases for Travel Cheatsheet

Spanish greetings.

Below are basic Spanish greetings you’d use to greet or say goodbye to locals:   

• Hello –  Hola
• Hello/Goodbye –  Chao
• How are you?  – ¿Cómo estás?
• Good morning –  Buenos días
• Good afternoon –  Buenas tardes
• Good night / Good evening –  Buenas noches
• Goodbye –  Adiós
• What is your name? –  ¿Cómo te llamas? / ¿Cómo se llama? (formal)
• My name is…  – Me llamo…
• My name is…  – Mi nombre es (less commonly used)
• Nice to meet you –  Mucho gusto / Encantado(a) a conocerle
• Have a great day! –  ¡Que tengas un buen dia!
• See you later –  Hasta luego
• How are you? –  ¿Como estás?
• What’s up?  – Qué pasa?
• Very well –  Muy bien
• I’m fine  – Estoy bien
• Okay / So-so –  Más o menos
• And you?  – ¿y tú?

Essential Phrases

Essential phrases are those you’d use most frequently, outside of greetings of course.

• Yes  – Sí
• No  – No
• Thank you  – Gracias
• Thanks a lot  – Muchas gracias
• You’re welcome  – De Nada
• Excuse me  – Perdón / Disculpe / Permiso / Con permiso 
• I’m sorry  – Lo siento
• Do you speak English?  – ¿Hablas inlgés?
• I don’t speak English  – No hablo inglés
• I don’t understand  – No entiendo
• Please  – Por favor
• Slowly  – Despacio
• Repeat  – Repita
• Where is the bathroom?  – ¿Dónde está el baño?

Days, Months, and Time

The days of the week and all other phrases related to telling time.

• Day  – Día
• Week  – Semana
• Sunday  – Domingo
• Monday  – Lunes
• Tuesday  – Martes
• Wednesday  – Miércoles
• Thursday  – Jueves
• Friday  – Viernes
• Saturday  – Sábado

Months/Year

• Month  – Mes
• Year  – Año
• January  – enero
• Februar y – febrero
• March  – marzo
• April  – abril
• May  – mayo
• June  – junio
• July  – julio
• August  – agosto
• September  – septiembre
• October  – octubre
• November  – noviembre
• December  – deciembre

Telling Time

• Minute  – Minuto
• Hour  – Hora
• Time  – Hora / Tiempo
• What time is it?  – ¿Qué hora es?
• It is 1:00  – Es la una
• It is 2:00 / 3:00  – Son las dos / tres
• What day is today? –  ¿Qué día es hoy?
• Tomorrow  – Mañana
• Yesterday  – Ayer
• Morning  – Mañana
• Midday  – Mediodía
• Midnight  – Medianoche
• Night  – Noche
• (Three weeks) ago  – Hace (tres semanas)
• Today  – Hoy
• Now  – Ahora

Phrases and words for getting around town.

• Where is…?  – Dónde está…
• The bus stop  – La parada de autobús 
• The bank  – El banco
• The museum  – El museo
• The park  – El parque
• The hospital  – El hospital
• The airport  – El aeropuerto
• The church  – La iglesia
• How do you get to…?  – ¿Cómo se va a…?
• Left  – Izquierda
• Right  – Derecha
• Straight  – Derecho
• Turn to the.. . – Gira a la…
• How far away is…?  – ¿Qué tan lejos está…?
• It is two blocks away  – Está a dos manzanas. 
• It is five minutes away  – Está a cinco minutos. 
• What is the address?  – Cuál es la direccion? 

Transportation

Phrases and words for traveling to further destinations. 

• By bus  – En autobús
• By train  – En tren
• By car  – En coche / en carro 
• By plane  – En avión
• By subway / metro  – En metro  
• Where is the train station?  – ¿Dónde está la estación de tren?  
• Where is the bus stop?  – ¿Dónde está la parada de autobús? 

Phrases and words to use when ordering food at a restaurant.

• Restaurant – El restaurante
• Breakfast – El desayuno
• Lunch – El almuerzo
• Dinner – La cena
• Appetizer – Entrada
• Main Course – Plato principal
• Desert – Postre
• What do you recommend?  – ¿Qué nos recomienda?
• I would like (to order) – Querría…
• The bill please – La cuenta por favor
• I’m vegetarian  – Soy vegetariano/a 
• I’m allergic  – Soy alérgica 
• Red wine  – Vino tinto
• White wine  – Vino blanco

Phrases and words to use when out shopping. 

• How much does it cost?  – ¿Cuánto cuesta? 
• Store  – La tienda 
• Price  – El precio 
• Money  – El dinero
• Credit card –  Tarjeta de crédito 
• Do you accept credit cards?  – Se acepta tarjetas de crédito? 
• Cash  – Dinero en efectivo
• Discount  – El descuento
• Shirt  – La camisa
• Blouse  – La blusa
• Pants  – Los pantalones
• Shoes  – Los zapatos
• Suit  – El traje 
• Swimsuit  – El traje de baño 

Regional Spanish Differences

From Latin America to Spain, Spanish does remain intelligible, but there are some particularities that may be useful to know: 

Spain Spanish

One of the most prominent differences lies in the pronunciation and accent. In Spain, the Spanish accent tends to be more sibilant and has a softer, lisping quality, particularly in regions like Andalusia. Latin American Spanish, on the other hand, often features a clearer pronunciation of consonants and is generally considered to have a more melodious cadence.

Vocabulary is another area where variations can be observed. While the core vocabulary remains largely the same, there are differences in terms of certain words and expressions used in Spain versus Latin America. For instance, words related to everyday objects, food, and slang can vary between the two regions. Moreover, grammatical variations exist as well. In particular, the “plural you” used in Spain is  vosotros , instead of  usted  like it is in most of Latin America. 

Rioplatense Spanish

Also known as River Plate Spanish, this term refers to the distinct variety of Spanish spoken in the areas surrounding the Río de la Plata region, which includes Argentina and Uruguay. This variant of Spanish exhibits several particularities that set it apart from other Spanish dialects. One notable feature is the pronunciation, characterized by a unique intonation and rhythm.

Rioplatense Spanish has a strong Italian influence, reflecting the significant Italian immigration to the region in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. As a result, speakers often pronounce “ll” and “y” as a “zh” sound, known as “yeísmo” or “sh” sound, which is distinct from the “y” sound in standard Spanish.

Additionally, the Rioplatense dialect includes a variety of local idioms, slang, and vocabulary that differ from other Spanish-speaking regions. Words borrowed from Italian, known as “lunfardo,” are prevalent in the dialect and contribute to its distinctive flavor. 

Cuban Spanish

Also known as “Cubano” or “Cubanismo,” this dialect possesses a distinct set of particularities that make it stand out within the Spanish-speaking world. One notable feature of Cuban Spanish is its pronunciation. The “s” sound at the end of words and syllables is often softened or omitted, a phenomenon known as “seseo.”

Additionally, the “r” sound is often rolled or trilled more prominently, giving Cuban Spanish a melodic and vibrant quality. Another characteristic of Cuban Spanish is the frequent use of augmentatives and diminutives to convey emphasis or affection. These suffixes, such as “-ito” and “-ote,” are commonly added to nouns and adjectives.

Cuban Spanish also showcases a rich vocabulary influenced by Afro-Cuban, Caribbean, and African linguistic elements, along with borrowings from English and French. Furthermore, the dialect features distinctive idiomatic expressions, humor, and wordplay that reflect the unique cultural identity and wit of the Cuban people. 

Mexican Spanish

This variety of Spanish is what is most often taught in the US, and is also known as “español mexicano” or “mexicanismo”. One notable feature of Mexican Spanish is its pronunciation. It is characterized by a softening or elision of certain consonants at the end of words, such as the “s” sound, a phenomenon known as “seseo” (like Cuba).

Another distinctive aspect is the pronunciation of the “x” sound, which is often pronounced as an “h” sound. Mexican Spanish also includes a vast array of unique vocabulary, idiomatic expressions, and regional slang, known as “mexicanismos.” These linguistic elements are deeply rooted in the country’s history, indigenous cultures, and influences from Nahuatl, the Aztec language, as well as other indigenous languages.

Moreover, Mexican Spanish has borrowed extensively from English, particularly in the realm of technology and popular culture. 

Practicing Spanish

Here is a youtube video (and channel) that will be useful for practicing your Spanish:

The Spanish Travel Phrases PDF

Download this PDF so that you can have all the key Spanish phrases at your fingerprints. Practice will make you more confident, so here is your chance to start learning more now!

Spanish Phrases for Travel | Final Thoughts….

That completes my list of the basic Spanish phrases for travel! I hope that this list serves as a useful guide when you venture out to any of the 21 countries where Spanish is the official language! To get the most out of this list, you should practice often before taking your trip.

Even better than just using this list is practicing your new vocabulary with a real person! If this interests you, check out my favorite language resource,   iTalki .  You can use this site to practice with a tutor, formal teacher, or others just seeking to do a language exchange (for free!). The paid lessons have very cheap options, with some as low as $5 an hour.  Check it out!

Travel Guides for Spanish Speaking Countries:

• Barcelona in Four Days
• Two Days in Granada
• One Day in Málaga
• What to Do in Cartagena, Colombia
• Lima Travel Guide
• What to do in Cusco
• Climbing Machu Picchu Mountain

Additional Language Guides:

• Portuguese for Travel
• French for Travel
• Italian for Travel
• Greek for Travel
• Thai for Travel
• Japanese for Travel

Don’t forget to pin this for later!

Christen Thomas is the founder of TravelWanderGrow, established in 2018. She has lived abroad and traveled extensively to over 30 countries. In addition, she is a certified Travel Advisor and is an expert in planning trips focused on city history and culture. As a frequent traveler, she also shares tips on how to prepare to travel well and how to save money while doing so.

12 Comments

Handy – I have a son who lives in Spain – be good to throw a bit of Spanish at him next time we talk on the phone

Ha! I like that idea Ron 🙂

Thanks for a great article with some key phrases! There is enough here to help you get by when on holiday. I always try my best to communicate with the natives it only seems polite to do so as you are a guest in their country!

My thoughts exactly, Andy!

This is so much great information.

I took Spanish in high school.. a couple years ago at least and I still do remember some phrases.

A really helpful phrase I used frequently when I was in Mexico last November was – Hablas ingles? It saved me and my husband’s bums when we almost got stuck in a different place because our tour bus left without us.

Thanks! Kahlua

Yes, that phrase is one of the best ones to know – can certainly help get you out of a bind, Kahlua!

I’m definitely pinning this! Spain will be a trip we take at some point and this is so handy. My husband studied abroad in Spain in college. ☺️

Glad you found this useful Laura!

Oh this is interesting! I wish I had the money to go abroad but I really love your posts!

Thanks, Audrey. Hope you can travel soon!

This is such a useful little post! Wish I read it about 6 weeks ago before I went on holiday lol

Haha – I understand that! You can always just use it for your next trip though 🙂

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91 Top Spanish Travel Phrases & Words for Travelers

Are you planning a well-deserved vacation? Is your destination a Spanish-speaking country? If so, you may want to take the time to learn some essential Spanish travel phrases that can help you communicate. 

There’s no doubt that English is a widely spoken language . But if you travel to a Spanish-speaking country, your chances of randomly finding someone who speaks enough English to help you aren’t that high. Trust me, I have seen enough confused tourists to know.

To avoid any communication issues, I’ve built a list of 91 crucial Spanish travel phrases that will help you get by on your vacation. Are you wondering how on earth you are supposed to pronounce them if you don’t speak Spanish? Fear not! I’ve also included the audio recordings to help you overcome this issue.

Here is a quick overview of the situations we’ll cover and the resources you’ll find in this guide:

• Common verbs for travel
• Phrases & Vocabulary for the Airport
• Phrases to Use in a Restaurant
• Phrases & Words to Ask for Directions
• Phrases to Use at a Hotel
• Downloadable PDF

Basic Spanish Travel Phrases, Questions & Words

When it comes to Spanish vocabulary for travelers, there are some essential words that you’ll use more frequently or that can help you sound more polite when addressing a native speaker. Let’s start with some greetings and expressions to catch a person’s attention.

As you’ll see in the examples I’ve provided, these words are usually placed at the beginning of the sentence. 

• Hola – Hi / Hello 
• ¿Qué tal? – Hello / What’s up
• Buenos días – Good morning
• Buenas tardes – Good afternoon
• Buenas noches – Good evening / Good night 
• Disculpa / Disculpe – Excuse me / Sorry
• Perdón – Sorry / Excuse me 
• Señorita – Miss
• Joven – Young man / Mr. 

The following question words and expressions can also be useful when you travel:

• ¿Qué…? – What…?
• ¿ Cuál …? – Which…?
• ¿Dónde…? – Where…?
• ¿ A qué hora …? – What time does…?
• ¿Qué hora es? – What time is it?
• ¿Cuándo…? – When…?
• ¿Cómo…? – How….?
• ¿Podría…? – Could you…?
• ¿Cuánto cuesta…? – How much…? 

Hola , ¿ cuánto cuesta el llavero? Hi , how much is the keychain?

Disculpe , ¿ dónde está la catedral? Excuse me , where is the cathedral?

Señorita, ¿ podría darme otro formulario? Miss, could you give me another form?

Buenos días , ¿ a qué hora abre el museo? Good morning, what time does the museum open?

Basic Spanish verbs for traveling

Many simple Spanish travel phrases are built with the verbs querer , gustar and poder , which we use to make requests. These are the most common forms that you’ll need:

• Quiero … – I want…
• Quisiera … – I would like…
• Me gustaría … I would like…
• ¿Puede…? – Can you…?
• Tiene / Tengo … – Has / Have

As you can imagine, these expressions are very versatile because they can be combined with different words for tourists:

Quiero dos boletos.  I want two tickets. 

No tengo cambio.  I don’t have change. 

Me gustaría una habitación con vistas al mar.  I would like a room with an ocean view. 

Quisiera visitar el museo de artes.  I would like to visit the art museum. 

¿ Puede decirme dónde está la parada? Can you tell me where the bus stop is?

Disculpe, ¿ podría ayudarme? Excuse me, could you help me?

Travel Phrases & Spanish Vocabulary for the Airport

You’re likely to find more than one person who speaks English at the airport. However, this is an excellent opportunity to start practicing your Spanish. Here are some common phrases that you’re probably going to encounter or use while at the airport:

• ¿Va a documentar su maleta? – Are you going to check your bag?
• ¿Me permite su pasaporte? – Can I have your passport? 
• Por favor, abroche su cinturón – Please, fasten your seatbelt
• ¿Desea algo de beber? – Would you like something to drink?
• Por favor, regrese a su asiento – Please, go back to your seat
• Llene este formulario, por favor – Please, fill in this form
• ¿Cuál es el motivo de su visita? – What’s the reason for your visit?
• ¿Dónde puedo cambiar dinero? – Where can I exchange money?
• ¿Dónde están los baños? – Where are the restrooms? 

In addition to these phrases, here are some words that may be useful in this situation. Remember that you can combine the words below with the expressions and questions you learned in the previous section.

[Basic Spanish expression] + [airport vocabulary]

Quisiera un asiento en el pasillo .  I would like an aisle seat . 

Disculpe, ¿a qué hora aterrizamos ? Excuse me, what time do we land ?

¿Podría ayudarme? Mi equipaje está perdido .  Could you help me? My luggage is missing . 

¿Cuántas maletas va a documentar ? How many bags are you going to check ?

Buenos días, ¿tiene café ? Good morning, do you have coffee ?

Spanish Phrases for Tourists in a Restaurant

As a tourist, you’re probably going to spend some time trying different foods at restaurants. Here are some common phrases you can use and are likely to hear at a restaurant.

• ¿Qué desea ordenar? – What would you like to order?
• ¿Me puede dar unos minutos? – Could you give me a few more minutes?
• ¿Desea ordenar algún postre? – Would you like to order a dessert?
• ¿Qué lleva…? – What’s in the…? 
• ¿Qué platillo me recomienda? – What dish do you recommend? 
• ¿Todo bien? – Is everything okay?
• ¿Le hace falta algo? – Is there something you need?
• ¿Me puede traer la cuenta? – Could you bring me the bill?
• Soy alérgico a … – I’m allergic to…

Here are other terms that can be useful in this type of situations:

Joven, ¿cuál es la especialidad de la casa? Young man, what’s the specialty of the house?

Quisiera ordenar dos postres, por favor.  I would like to order two desserts, please. 

Disculpe, ¿qué platillo me recomienda? Excuse me, what dish would you recommend to me? 

¿Me podría traer un cuchillo y un vaso de agua? Could you bring me a knife and a glass of water?

Take Note: If you want to learn more about this topic, I recommend you check this guide on ordering food in Spanish . 

Spanish for Visiting the City & Asking for Directions

One of the biggest challenges you may face is communicating with native speakers when visiting the city or a tourist attraction. Here are some of the most common Spanish phrases for travel that you may need in this situation:

• Con permiso / Permiso – Excuse me
• ¿Dónde está el/la…? – Where is the…?
• ¿Cómo llego a…? – How do I get to…?
• Estoy buscando… – I’m looking for
• No hablo mucho español – I don’t speak Spanish very well
• ¿Hay algún/alguna… por aquí? – Is there…around here?
• ¿Hablas inglés? – Do you speak English?
• ¿ Puedes repetirlo? – Can you repeat that again?
• ¿Me podría ayudar? – Could you help me?
• ¿ Nos puedes tomar una foto? – Can you take a picture of us?
• ¿ Nos puedes tomar otra ? – Can you take another one of us?
• ¿ Dónde puedo tomar…? – Where can I take…?
• ¿Por aquí pasa el camión…? – Is this place on the bus route? / Does the bus come by here?  
• ¿ Cómo se llama este lugar? – What’s the name of this place?

Take Note: Con permiso is a polite way to ask people to let you through. So, we use this phrase in crowded places or when walking on the street.

On the other hand, people are likely to give you the following answers: 

• Está… – It’s…
• Siga caminando …- Keep walking…
• De vuelta a/en – Turn…
• Siga derecho –  Go straight…
• Camine – Walk…

Additionally, here are some basic words that you can use or might hear when visiting the city:

Here are some examples of how to use these Spanish words and expressions:

Disculpe, ¿ dónde está la estación de tren? Excuse me, where is the train station?

Buenas tardes, estoy buscando el museo.  Good afternoon, I’m looking for the museum. 

Camine dos cuadras y dé vuelta a la izquierda.  Walk two blocks and turn left. 

Perdón, ¿ hay algún restaurante por aquí? Excuse me, is there a restaurant around here?

Hola, ¿ me podría ayudar ? Quiero ir al museo.  Hi, could you help me ? I want to go to the museum.

Spanish Phrases for Hotels & Accommodations

Although nowadays it’s easier to make reservations before your trip, there may be some situations where you need to speak Spanish to communicate with staff and others in your hotel. Here are some essential phrases applicable to this context:

• Tengo una reservación a nombre de … – I have a reservation for…
• Quisiera hacer una reservación – I would like to make a reservation. 
• No funciona … – It doesn’t work…
• ¿Me puede mandar más toallas? – Could you send me more towels? 
• ¿Incluye desayuno? – Is breakfast included? 
• ¿ Cuenta con acceso a internet? – Is the internet included?
• ¿Cuál es la contraseña? – What’s the password?  
• ¿En qué piso está la habitación? – On what floor is the room? 
• ¿Me permite su tarjeta? – Can I have your card? 
• El cuarto se entrega a la … – The checkout time is…

As for vocabulary, these are some of the words that you may want to keep in mind:

Señorita, ¿dónde está el elevador ? Miss, where is the elevator ?

Buenos días, la regadera no funciona .  Good morning, the shower doesn’t work . 

¿A qué hora termina el servicio a la habitación ? What time does room service end? 

Spanish Expressions for Souvenir Shopping

Even if you’re not a big spender, it’s likely that at some point you may want to do some shopping. These are the key expressions that you need in this situation:

• ¿Cuánto cuesta…? – How much is..?
• ¿ Tiene otra talla? – Do you have another size?
• ¿Qué otros colores tiene? – Do you have other colors?
• Me queda grande – It’s too big for me.
• Me queda apretado – It doesn’t fit.
• No me queda – It doesn’t fit.
• ¿Cuánto va a ser? – How much will it be?
• No tengo cambio – I don’t have change. 
• ¿Acepta tarjeta? – Do you take cards? 

On the other hand, these are some of the expressions that the clerk may use with you:

• ¿En qué le puedo ayudar? – How can I help you?
• Pregunte/Vea sin compromiso – You can ask/see, without any obligation.
• ¿Buscaba algo en especial? – Are you looking for anything in particular?
• ¿En qué talla? – What size?
• ¿Cómo le quedó? – How does it fit? 
• ¿Buscaba algún color en especial? – Were you looking for a particular color?
• ¿Quiere que le muestre algo? – Would you like me to show you something? 
• Es el último que me queda – It’s the last one. 
• ¿Tiene un billete más pequeño? – Do you have a smaller bill? 
• ¿Qué tamaño buscaba? – What size were you looking for?
• Aquí tiene – Here you go. 

As for vocabulary, here are some common objects that you may find during your trip:

Check the examples below. Notice that you can combine this specific vocabulary with the basic words and questions you learned at the beginning of this article. 

¿Tiene dulces típicos ?  Do you have traditional candies ? 

¿Podría darme tres llaveros ? Can you give me three keychains ? 

Final Points: Spanish for Travelers

Many tourists visiting Spanish-speaking countries face communication difficulties. Let’s face it, there might be some people that speak English and will be able to help you. But chances are that, at some point, you’ll need to use some Spanish. When in Rome, do as the Romans do, right?

To help you with this, I’ve prepared this guide for tourists with basic expressions, questions and words that you’ll use in most traveling situations. Just remember that:

• Many of these travel phrases are built with ‘ querer’, ‘gustar’, ‘poder’ and ‘tener’ . 
• Questioning words can take you pretty far if you combine them with the appropriate vocabulary. 
• You use greetings and words to address people to sound more polite.

Hopefully, this guide will help you keep basic conversations. ¡Buena suerte and (disfruta) enjoy your vacation!

Spanish Resources for Tourists & Travelers

To make your trip as enjoyable as possible and get the most out of speaking Spanish, I recommend checking out the free resources below. Here’s my pro tip: Quickly read them and write down a “script” of the most common Spanish phrases, words and expression you’ll need to use while you travel.

Download the PDF with Spanish Phrases & Vocabulary for Traveling

Learning Spanish can be an incredible experience. But it can also be challenging at times, especially when you’re visiting a new place. I’ve created a free PDF for this guide which you can download with the key Spanish phrases, expressions and words you need to start speaking the language while still enjoying your vacation.

Related Guides & Spanish Vocabulary

If you’re traveling to Mexico or another Latin American, Spanish-speaking country then this guide will show you all the vocabulary and phrases you need to interact and order your food at a restaurant .

One of the best ways to get ready for a day of speaking a foreign language is by achieving an easy win as soon as possible at the start of the day. Here are different expressions that native speakers use to say ‘good morning’ in Spanish , which is easy to incorporate into your conversations as well as common Spanish greetings and farewells .

How to Ask for & Reserve a Hotel Room in Spanish : In this article you’ll find different questions and phrases that you and the hotel staff are likely to use when booking a hotel room. 

Daniela Sanchez

¡Hola! Soy Daniela Sanchez, I've been studying Spanish professionally as well as teaching it in Mexico and online for over 10 years. I’ve taught Spanish to a wide array of foreigners from many backgrounds. Over the years, I've made it my mission to work hard on refining many challenging to understand grammar topics to make my students' learning experiences easier, faster and more enjoyable. Read More About Me

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74 Common Spanish Travel Phrases

One of the most common answers language learners give when we’re asked why we chose to learn that language is because we like the country or countries where it’s spoken. Therefore, it’s not a surprise that if you’re learning Spanish, you might like to visit Spain. So why not learn Spanish travel words and phrases?

Whether you choose to travel to Spain for a short holiday or for a longer time, here you’ll learn all the vocabulary you need to find your way in Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, or any other city you want to visit. You probably already know that Spanish people aren’t that great at speaking English, especially in small towns, so if you want to avoid misunderstandings, this is the way to go.

Our purpose today is to teach you some common Spanish travel phrases that will help you be understood if you need help while you’re traveling in Spain—or if you want to order food, book a hotel room, get a cab, or take the bus. But even more importantly, we’re going to help you understand the answers you’ll receive!

Surely you don’t want to ask a local how to get to your hotel only to not understand the answer. That would make the whole process of learning the questions quite useless, wouldn’t it? Well, there’s no need to worry, because we’re making sure our guide of Spanish for travelers includes all of the Spanish phrases for travel you’ll need.

Without further ado, let’s delve into our list of useful Spanish words for tourists!

Table of Contents

• Ten Basic Expressions
• Nine Simple Conversation Phrases
• Nine Basic Spanish Phrases for Travel
• Seven Sentences You Might Need When Shopping
• Nine Sentences You Might Need in a Restaurant
• Nine Sentences to Ask for and Give Directions
• Six Expressions You Might Need in Case of an Emergency
• Five Flattery Phrases
• Ten Useful Phrases to Go through Language Problems
• How SpanishPod101.com Can Help You Learn Spanish

1. Ten Basic Expressions

Let’s start from the beginning. It’s practically impossible to have a proper conversation without using any of these basic expressions, so you’re going to need them. If you already know them, don’t worry; you can skip this section! And keep in mind that to hear these Spanish travel phrases with pronunciation, as well as more Spanish words and phrases, you can visit our vocabulary lists on our website.

As most of you might already know, Hola means “Hello.” It’s by far the most commonly used greeting in Spanish and can be used at any time of the day.

If you would like to learn more ways of greeting someone, you can check out our article How to Say Hello in Spanish .

Once again, this is one of the most common Spanish words. It means “Thank you” and it’s obviously a basic word in many conversations. We would like our tourists to be polite, so we hope you use it a lot!

Now you know how to say “Thank you,” but do you know what to say after someone thanks you in Spanish? De nada literally means “Of nothing” and it translates to “You’re welcome.”

In our first list of basic expressions in Spanish, we can’t forget to include words like “Yes” and “ No .” Again, you probably already knew that sí means “yes,” but here it is just in case!

This is clearly one of the easiest travel phrases in Spanish for most of you. No in Spanish means “no.”

6- Lo siento

Lo siento is one of the most common ways of saying “I’m sorry” in Spanish and you can use it the majority of the time when you wish to apologize to someone. But if you would like to know what the most appropriate expression is for different situations, feel free to read our article on How to Say “Sorry” in Spanish .

7- No hablo español

If you don’t feel comfortable enough speaking Spanish yet, it might be useful for you to be able to say “I don’t speak Spanish.” If you want to apologize for not speaking Spanish, remember that you can combine it with the previous expression on the list: Lo siento, no hablo español .

8- Me gusta

Whenever you want to express that you like something, you can say Me gusta . If you want to be specific and say what it is that you like, you can add a verb in its infinitive form, a noun, or a pronoun.

Example: Me gusta bailar. Translation: “I like dancing.”

Example: Me gustan los helados. Translation: “I like ice cream.”

9- No me gusta

If you don’t like something, all you need to do is add no just before me gusta .

Example: No me gusta correr. Translation: “I don’t like running.”

10- Por supuesto

The last expression on this list might not be as important as the rest, but it’s still good to know. Por supuesto means “of course.”

2. Nine Simple Conversation Phrases

Besides the basic expressions we just saw, there are a few sentences you might need to know so that you can have a basic conversation when you meet someone for the first time. These are often included in some of the first lessons when you start learning a language, but they’re always good to review.

You might want to take a look at our Top 10 Sentence Patterns for Beginners in case you’re not too familiar with them yet.

1- ¿Cómo te llamas?

One of the first questions you might ask someone you just met is “What’s your name?” This is one of the key Spanish travel phrases you should know, especially when it comes to forming relationships while in Spain.

2- Me llamo Ana / Soy Ana .

Obviously, if you learn how to ask what someone’s name is, you also need to know how to reply! Two of the most common ways of saying “My name is…” are Me llamo … or Soy … followed by your name. The last one only means “I’m…” but just like in English, it’s still an option.

3- ¿Cuántos años tienes?

This is another common question: “How old are you?” Interestingly, when we talk about our age in Spanish, we use the verb tener , which means “to have.” This means that the literal translation to this question is “How many years do you have?”

4- Tengo 25 (veinticinco) años.

As mentioned above, the literal translation to this answer is “I have 25 years.” Of course, it translates to “I am 25 years old.”

If you’re not yet comfortable with numbers in Spanish, we have you covered: check out our Numbers in Spanish article .

5- ¿De dónde eres?

This question means, “Where are you from?” Because people are normally curious when they hear a foreign accent or language, it tends to be heard quite frequently when someone’s traveling.

6- Soy de Australia / Soy australiano/a.

There are two different ways of replying to the previous question, and they’re very similar to what you would say in English. Soy de Australia means, “I am from Australia,” and Soy australiano (or australiana ) means “I’m Australian.”

To learn more nationalities in Spanish, take a look at our Spanish Vocabulary for Nationalities .

7- ¿Dónde vives?

And finally, here’s our last basic question. ¿Dónde vives? means “Where do you live?”

8- Vivo en Londres

As you might expect, this sentence is the answer to the previous question. Vivo en Londres means “I live in London.” We chose this city because its name is a bit different than it is in English.

Now you might be wondering if all cities have different names in Spanish. Well, luckily, this doesn’t always happen, but it does happen sometimes. Normally, when they’re not that easy to pronounce for Spanish speakers, the names will be changed. Here’s a list of Names of World Cities in Spanish that might help you.

9- ¿Me puedes sacar una foto?

This sentence isn’t as important as the rest, but it’s still really useful to know when you’re traveling. If you travel solo and your parents want to see how you’re doing on your travels, but you’re not a big fan of selfies, you’re going to have to ask someone to take a photo of you.

The way of asking “Could you take a photo of me?” in Spanish is ¿Me puedes sacar una foto?

Of course, if you’re traveling as a couple or even with a group, you might still want to ask a local to take a photo of you. You can ask this question in the plural by saying: ¿Nos puedes sacar una foto?

For a few more useful questions, take a look at our Top 15 Spanish Questions You Should Know for Conversations .

3. Nine Basic Spanish Phrases for Travel

Let’s get to more specific and useful Spanish travel phrases. Regardless of where you’re traveling, you’ll be taking cabs, trains, or buses. This is why we’ve listed a few sentences you might need if you take any of these means of transportation.

In each of these examples, we’ve marked in bold the most important part of the sentence. So, if you need to use any of these essential Spanish travel phrases for transportation, you’ll use the part in bold and change the rest of the sentence whenever you need to.

1- Three Sentences You Will Need When You Take a Cab

• ¿ Dónde puedo coger un taxi? Translation: “ Where can I take a cab?”
• Me puedes llevar a la calle San Juan, ¿por favor? Translation: “ Could you take me to Saint John’s Street, please?”
• Al aeropuerto, por favor. Translation: “ To the airport, please.”

2- Three Sentences You Will Need When You Take a Train

• Dos billetes para ir a Pamplona, por favor. Translation: “ Two tickets to go to Pamplona, please.”
• Un billete de ida y vuelta a Madrid, por favor. Translation: “ One round-trip ticket to Madrid, please.”
• ¿ En qué andén se coge el tren R5? Translation: “ On which platform can I take the R5 train?”

3- Three Sentences You Will Need When You Take a Bus

• ¿ Me puedes avisar cuando lleguemos al Museo del Prado? Translation: “ Could you let me know when we arrive to the Museo del Prado?”
• ¿ Dónde me bajo para visitar la catedral? Translation: “ Where do I get off to visit the cathedral?”
• ¿ Qué autobús tengo que coger para ir a Valencia? Translation: “ What bus do I need to take to get to Valencia?”

4. Seven Sentences You Might Need When Shopping

No matter what kind of trip you’re on, you’ll need to buy something at some point. It could be food, clothes, medicine…who knows. We’ve put together a few sentences you might need in order to buy something in Spain. These may be more advanced Spanish phrases for travel, but you can definitely master these with enough practice!

1- ¿Cuánto cuesta?

When we’re shopping, we sometimes need to ask about the price of a product, more often than not due to misplaced price tags. This is why asking “How much does this cost?” is such an important question to know. Obviously, the answer to this question is even more important. Here’s an example of how a conversation might go:

Example: A: Perdona, ¿cuánto cuesta esta chaqueta? B: Cuesta 35 (treinta y cinco) euros.

Translation: A: “Excuse me, how much does this jacket cost?” B: “It costs 35 euros.”

In case you skipped the simple conversation section in this article, we’ll remind you once more that if you want to know more about numbers in Spanish, you can check out our Numbers in Spanish article .

2- ¿Qué me recomiendas?

This question means, “What’s your recommendation?” and you might need to use it when you’re not sure what to get.

For example, one thing we’re really proud of in Spain is our jamón . You might want to try it when you visit Spain, but when you come to our supermarkets or restaurants and see all the different kinds we have, you might be confused.

In our example, because we’re asking for a specific recommendation, we’ll add a noun—the thing we’re interested in—after qué . This is optional except when what you’re referring to isn’t that obvious.

Example: A: Qué jamón me recomiendas? B: Este es buenísimo y no es muy caro.

Translation: A: “What ham do you recommend?” B: “This one is really good and it’s not too expensive.”

3- Quiero cambiar dólares a euros.

When traveling, you might need to exchange your currency for the local one, which in this case is the Euro. Specifically, the translation of this sentence is, “I want to exchange dollars for euros.”

For more information on talking about money or currency in Spanish, you might find it useful to check this vocabulary list of Words Related to Trade .

4- ¿Cómo puedo conseguir un descuento?

You might not be able to use this one as often as the other sentences on this list, depending on where you are, but it’s still good to know how to ask the question, “How can I get a discount?”

5- ¿Tienes esta camisa en otro color?

In case you see a shirt you like, but you can’t stop thinking that it would look better in a darker color, you might want to know how to ask ¿Tienes esta camisa en otro color? which means “Do you have this shirt in a different color?”

Other similar questions you might need to ask include asking for a different size. Here’s an example:

Example: A: Perdona, ¿tienes estos pantalones en una talla más grande? B: Lo siento, solo tenemos esta talla o una más pequeña.

Translation: A: “Excuse me, do you have these trousers in a bigger size?” B: “I’m sorry, we only have this size or a smaller one.”

6- ¿Se puede pagar con tarjeta?

You’ll never have to ask “Can I pay by card?” in a big supermarket, but it might be helpful if you’re buying something in a small store, or in a local market.

7- ¿Dónde hay un cajero?

In case the answer to the previous question is “No” and you currently don’t have any cash on you, you’re going to need to ask where the nearest ATM is. The way to ask this is ¿Dónde hay un cajero?

If you think you might have trouble understanding the possible answers to this question, keep reading this article!

5. Nine Sentences You Might Need in a Restaurant

When it comes to Spanish travel and tourism vocabulary, we think that restaurant words and phrases just about top the list.

In this section, we’ve included a few sentences you’ll need in a restaurant. However, if we started listing all the vocabulary you would need to order food, we would be here all night long, so this is why we recommend our video All Food and Restaurant Phrases You Need . In this video, Rosa will explain everything you need to know about food in general, and also about Spanish food.

1- Mesa para dos, por favor.

Unless you’re at a fast-food restaurant, normally one of the first things you’ll have to tell the waiter is how many people will be eating, so that they can pick the right table for you. This situation can take place in a few different ways.

For example, the waiter might ask you as soon as you walk in how many people there will be. There are a few ways they can ask you this question, but the one thing we know for sure is that it will include the word cuántos , which means “how many.” He could ask ¿Cuántos son? which means “How many are you?” or ¿Mesa para cuántos? which means “Table for how many?” among others. If you’re asked this question, you can just say the number, or the magic sentence in the title.

There’s a second way this could happen: the waiter might count how many people he sees before asking that question. For example, if he counts four people, he might directly ask: ¿Mesa para cuatro? , which means, “Table for four?” If he gets the number right, you can just reply Sí . If he gets it wrong, you can correct him with the right number.

Finally, the third way this situation could go. You could be faster than the waiter and say Mesa para dos, por favor , which means “Table for two, please.” We previously said this is a magic sentence; let us explain why. If you’re still nervous whenever you need to speak Spanish and you didn’t understand what the waiter said to you, they’ll completely understand if you just say these words. Just like that, you’re in! Now let’s get you ready for what comes right after that.

2- ¿Cuál es el menú del día?

It’s common for Spanish restaurants to have a special menu for each day . Before deciding what you want to order, you can ask them ¿Cuál es el menú del día? which means “What’s the menu of the day?”

If you don’t like the special menu, don’t worry, because they’ll always have more options on the regular menu.

3- Por favor, ¿me tomas nota?

It’s quite likely that the waiter will approach you after you’ve been deciding what to get for a while. But in case you’re getting hungry and the waiter hasn’t asked what you would like to eat yet, when you see him you can ask him Por favor, ¿me tomas nota? which translates to “Can you write down my order, please?”

4- ¿Qué van a tomar?

Once the waiter has approached your table, you’ll be asked what you would like to order. It’s common for waiters to use the formal usted instead of tú , so the sentence we’ve suggested, ¿Qué van a tomar? , uses that form.

Another similar question the waiter might ask you is: ¿Ya han decidido qué van a tomar? which means “Have you decided what you’re going to have?”

Notice that both examples are in the plural. If you were eating by yourself in the restaurant, the waiter would ask ¿Qué va a tomar? instead.

5- Yo tomaré…

Of course, if you’re eating in a restaurant, you need to know how to tell your waiter what you would like to eat. Here’s an example of how to order your food in Spanish.

Example: Yo tomaré las costillas de cerdo con ensalada. Translation: “I will have the pork ribs with salad.”

6- ¡Camarero/camarera!

If you need to call the waiter for any reason, unless you know his or her name, you’ll have to say “Waiter!” or “Waitress!” This is one of the many reasons why you should know how to say it in Spanish. If your server is a girl, you’ll have to say ¡camarera! , and if it’s a man, you’ll say ¡camarero! If you feel like that’s a bit too rude for you, you can also say Perdona , which means “Excuse me.” Here’s an example that we hope you won’t need:

Example: ¡Camarero! ¡Hay un pelo en mi sopa! Translation: “Waiter! There’s a hair in my soup!”

7- ¿Algo más?

This question means, “Anything else?” and might be asked after you’ve ordered your food and the waiter wants to make sure that you’ve finished.

The answer to this question, if you have in fact finished ordering, could be No, eso es todo , which means “No, that is all.” If you still want to order something else, you can of course say Sí , followed by your next order.

8- Tengo alergia a…

For people with allergies, it’s important to be able to let the waiter know about it. The way to say, “I’m allergic to…” is Tengo alergia a …

Example: Tengo alergia a los cacahuetes. Translation: “I’m allergic to peanuts.”

You might also want to ask if a specific dish contains an ingredient in particular.

Example: Perdona, ¿la crema de calabaza lleva lactosa? Translation: “Excuse me, does the pumpkin soup contain lactose?”

To be even safer, you can check Spanish Materials and Resources from Food Allergy Research & Education for some help.

9- La cuenta, ¿por favor?

The last sentence on this list is what you might need to say last, before you leave. As you might have guessed, this is how to ask for the bill. This sentence means “The bill, please?” and even though you could ask using a full sentence instead, this is all you’ll need.

6. Nine Sentences to Ask for and Give Directions

We’re sure you knew this section would come. After all, learning directions are some of the most essential travel phrases in learning Spanish and we don’t want you to get lost when you visit our beautiful country. But if you do, we want to help you find your way.

Here are some sentences you might need if you’re lost or can’t find your destination. Because these sentences have quite simple meanings, we don’t think you’re going to need anything but their translations.

1- Estoy perdido.

Translation: “I’m lost.”

2- ¿Dónde está la estación?

Translation: “Where is the station?”

3- ¿Cómo se va a la Plaza Mayor?

Translation: “How can I get to the Main Square?”

4- ¿Dónde está el baño?

Translation: “Where is the bathroom?”

5- Está aquí mismo

Translation: “It’s right here.”

6- Está detrás de este edificio

Translation: “It’s behind this building.”

7- Ve/gira hacia la derecha

Translation: “Go/turn to the right.”

8- Ve/gira hacia la izquierda

Translation: “Go/turn to the left.”

9- Ve recto

Translation: “Go straight.”

7. Six Expressions You Might Need in Case of an Emergency

We really hope you never need to use any of these expressions, but they’re important and need to be included in this article. Just in case, here are some emergency expressions.

Translation: “Help!”

2- ¡Necesito ayuda!

Translation: “I need help!”

3- Llama a una ambulancia.

Translation: “Call an ambulance.”

4- ¿Hay algún médico?

Translation: “Is there any doctor?”

5- Llama al 112 (cien doce)

Translation: “Call 112 [the emergency number].”

6- He perdido la cartera/pasaporte.

Translation: “I’ve lost my wallet/passport.”

8. Five Flattery Phrases

Whenever you travel to a different country, locals love hearing that you’re having a good time on your trip and that you’re enjoying the country. If you want to criticize something, be careful and gentle, because as they say, you can criticize your own country as much as you want, but if a foreigner does it, they’re wrong. So if anyone asks you, try to focus on the positive side!

Here’s a few basic phrases you could use to express what you like about your trip, as well as a couple more you might need when you meet a local.

1- Me gustan los españoles.

Translation: “I like Spaniards.”

2- Me gusta la comida española.

Translation: “I like Spanish food.”

3- Me encanta España.

Translation: “I love Spain.”

4- Muy amable, gracias.

Translation: “Very kind, thank you.”

5- ¿Tienes Facebook o Instagram?

Translation: “Do you have Facebook or Instagram?”

9. Ten Useful Phrases to Go through Language Problems

Some of the most important Spanish travel phrases may be those that will help you overcome language barriers. So we want to have you covered in case you have trouble understanding someone or don’t feel too confident speaking Spanish. Just calm down and remember that you’re still learning and that we’re here to help you. The next few expressions are some of the most useful Spanish words for tourists, so pay attention.

1- ¿Hablas inglés?

Translation: “Do you speak English?”

2- No te entiendo.

Translation: “I can’t understand you.”

3- No lo sé.

Translation: “I don’t know.”

4- ¿Me lo puedes repetir?

Translation: “Could you repeat that?”

5- ¿Puedes hablar más despacio?

Translation: “Could you speak slower?”

6- No hablo español.

Translation: “I don’t speak Spanish.”

7- ¿Cómo se dice esto en español?

Translation: “How do you say this in Spanish?”

8- ¿Cómo se pronuncia esta palabra?

Translation: “How do you pronounce this word?”

9- Escríbelo, por favor.

Translation: “Write it down, please.”

10- ¿Lo puedes deletrear?

Translation: “Could you spell it?”

10. How SpanishPod101.com Can Help You Learn Spanish

Now that we’ve reached the end, we realize you’re probably thinking that these are too many expressions for you to learn straight away. We’re afraid you’re going to have to do some studying, but hey, we promise it’s going to be totally worth it! When you start learning a language, there’s nothing like the feeling of starting to understand and being understood. And we’re sure you see now that the travel phrases in Spanish language learning are so useful!

At SpanishPod101.com, there’s so much more you can learn, no matter what your level is. And now, with our guide of Spanish phrases for travelers and our Don’t Travel Without Knowing These Top 10 Verbs list , you can go anywhere in Spain. Be sure to check out all of our resources , so that you can master the language and culture while having fun!

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Spanish School in Mexico City

Spanish Travel Vocabulary: +50 Essential Words and Phrases for Your Next Trip

Are you planning a trip to a Spanish-speaking country like Mexico? Whether it’s for business or pleasure, knowing some basic Spanish travel vocabulary can go a long way in making your trip more enjoyable. From ordering food to asking for directions, having a few key phrases in your back pocket can help you navigate your way through any situation where you might need to speak Spanish.

Table of Contents

One of the most important phrases to know when traveling in a Spanish-speaking country is “¿Dónde está…?” This means “Where is…?” and can be used to ask for directions to a specific location, such as a restaurant, museum, or hotel. Another useful phrase is “Quiero reservar una habitación” which means “I want to book a room.” This can come in handy when you arrive at your destination and need to find accommodations.

Other essential Spanish travel vocabulary includes ordering food and drinks at restaurants or coffeshops. “La cuenta, por favor” means “The bill, please” and is a polite way to ask for your check at a restaurant. “Una cerveza, por favor” means “A beer, please” and is a simple way to order a drink. With a few basic phrases under your belt, you’ll be able to communicate more effectively and make the most of your trip to a Spanish-speaking country.

Basic Spanish Greetings

Hola and buenos días.

If you want to greet someone in Spanish , the most basic way to do it is by saying “Hola” or “Buenos Días”. “Hola” is equivalent to “Hello” in English, and “Buenos Días” means “Good Morning”. You can use these greetings at any time of the day, but “Buenos Días” is only appropriate to use in the morning.

Mucho Gusto and ¿Cómo Te Llamas?

When meeting someone new, it’s polite to introduce yourself and ask for their name. In Spanish, you can say “Mucho Gusto” which means “Nice to meet you”. After that, you can ask “¿Cómo te llamas?” which means “What’s your name?”.

¿Cómo Estás? and ¿Cómo Está?

If you want to ask someone how they are doing, you can say “¿Cómo estás?” if you are talking to someone familiar or “¿Cómo está?” if you are talking to someone more formal or older than you. Both of these phrases mean “How are you?”.

Remember that in Spanish, it’s common to use greetings and small talk before getting into the main topic of the conversation. Using these basic greetings can help you make a good first impression and show that you are friendly and polite.

• Use “Hola” or “Buenos Días” to greet someone.
• Say “Mucho Gusto” to introduce yourself.
• Ask “¿Cómo te llamas?” to ask for someone’s name.
• Use “¿Cómo estás?” or “¿Cómo está?” to ask how someone is doing.

Essential Spanish Travel Phrases

When traveling to a Spanish-speaking country, it’s always helpful to know some basic phrases to make your trip smoother. Here are some essential Spanish travel phrases to get you started.

Por Favor and Gracias

“Por favor” means “please” and “gracias” means “thank you.” These two phrases are essential when interacting with locals in Spanish-speaking countries. Here are some examples of when to use them:

• When ordering food: “Quisiera una mesa para dos, por favor” (I would like a table for two, please).
• When asking for directions: “¿Podría decirme cómo llegar al museo, por favor?” (Could you tell me how to get to the museum, please?).
• When receiving help: “¡Muchas gracias por su ayuda!” (Thank you very much for your help!).

Estoy Perdido and ¿Habla Inglés?

“Estoy perdido” means “I am lost” and “¿Habla Inglés?” means “Do you speak English?” These phrases can be especially useful when navigating a new city or asking for directions. Here are some examples:

• “Perdón, estoy perdido. ¿Podría ayudarme a encontrar la calle X?” (Excuse me, I am lost. Could you help me find X street?)
• “¿Habla Inglés? No hablo mucho español” (Do you speak English? I don’t speak much Spanish).

Quisiera and Aquí

“Quisiera” means “I would like” and “aquí” means “here.” These phrases can be useful when ordering food or making purchases. Here are some examples:

• “Quisiera un café con leche, por favor” (I would like a latte, please).
• “¿Tiene este suéter en mi talla? Quisiera probármelo” (Do you have this sweater in my size? I would like to try it on).
• “¿Cuánto cuesta este recuerdo aquí?” (How much does this souvenir cost here?).

By learning these essential Spanish travel phrases, you’ll be able to communicate more effectively with locals and make the most of your trip.

Spanish Vocabulary for Transportation

When traveling to a Spanish-speaking country, it’s important to know some basic transportation vocabulary to get around easily. Here are some common Spanish words and phrases related to transportation.

Airport and Airplane

If you’re flying to your destination, you’ll want to know some airport and airplane vocabulary.

• El aeropuerto – airport
• El avión – airplane
• El vuelo – flight
• La terminal – terminal
• El mostrador de facturación – check-in counter
• La puerta de embarque – boarding gate
• El equipaje – luggage
• La maleta – suitcase
• El control de seguridad – security checkpoint

Train and Bus

If you’re traveling by train or bus, you’ll need to know some vocabulary related to stations and schedules.

• El tren – train
• El autobús – bus
• La estación – station
• El horario – schedule
• El billete – ticket
• El andén – platform
• El tren de cercanías – commuter train
• El autobús urbano – city bus

Taxi and Uber

If you prefer to take a taxi or Uber , here are some useful words and phrases.

• El taxi – taxi
• El conductor – driver
• La tarifa – fare
• El taxímetro – meter
• La dirección – address
• El destino – destination
• El punto de recogida – pick-up point
• El número de teléfono del taxi – taxi phone number

Remember, knowing some basic Spanish transportation vocabulary can make your trip much easier and less stressful. So, whether you’re taking a plane, train, bus, taxi, or Uber, be sure to brush up on your vocabulary before you go.

Spanish Travel Vocabulary for Accommodation

Hotel and hostel.

If you’re planning a trip to Latam, you’ll need to know some basic Spanish vocabulary for accommodation. Whether you’re staying in a hotel or a hostel, it’s important to be able to communicate with the staff. Here are some key phrases to help you out:

If you’re staying in a hostel, you’ll want to know some additional vocabulary:

Inn and Room

If you’re looking for a more traditional Spanish accommodation experience, you might want to stay in an inn. Here are some phrases that will be helpful when communicating with the staff:

No matter where you stay, it’s always a good idea to learn some basic Spanish phrases to help you communicate with the locals. With these vocabulary words, you’ll be able to navigate the Spanish accommodation scene with ease.

Spanish Vocabulary for Dining

When traveling to a Spanish-speaking country, it’s important to know some basic Spanish vocabulary for dining. Here are some essential words and phrases that will help you navigate menus and order food with ease.

Restaurant and Menu

• Restaurante – restaurant
• Menú – menu
• Carta – menu (also means “letter” or “card”)
• Plato del día – dish of the day
• Especialidades de la casa – house specialties
• Entradas – appetizers
• Platos principales – main courses
• Postres – desserts
• Cuenta – bill

When you enter a restaurant, it’s common to be greeted with “¡Buenas tardes!” (good afternoon) or “¡Buenas noches!” (good evening). If you’re not sure what to order, you can ask the waiter or waitress “¿Qué me recomienda?” (What do you recommend?) or “¿Cuál es el plato del día?” (What’s the dish of the day?).

Beer and Breakfast

• Cerveza – beer
• Tinto de verano – summer red wine (a popular Spanish drink)
• Café – coffee
• Té – tea
• Zumo – juice
• Pan tostado – toast
• Huevos revueltos – scrambled eggs
• Tortilla española – Spanish omelet (made with potatoes and onions)
• Churros con chocolate – fried dough pastry with chocolate sauce (a popular breakfast treat)

In Spain, it’s common to have a light breakfast of coffee and toast or a more substantial breakfast of eggs or a Spanish omelet. Churros con chocolate is a popular breakfast treat that’s also enjoyed as a snack or dessert. In Mexico you can order some “chilaquiles” with eggs.

Now that you have some basic Spanish vocabulary for dining, you can confidently order food and drinks at restaurants in Spanish-speaking countries. ¡Buen provecho! (Enjoy your meal!)

Spanish Vocabulary for Shopping

When traveling to a Spanish-speaking country, it’s important to know some basic vocabulary for shopping. Here are some useful words and phrases to help you navigate your way through the mall, market, supermarket, and bank.

Mall and Market

• Centro comercial – Mall
• Tienda – Store
• Escaparate – Shop window
• Vitrina – Display case
• Comprar – To buy
• Vender – To sell
• Regatear – To haggle
• Precio – Price

When shopping at a market, it’s common to negotiate the price of goods. Don’t be afraid to haggle, but remember to be respectful and polite.

Supermarket and Bank

• Supermercado – Supermarket
• Carrito de compras – Shopping cart
• Caja – Checkout
• Banco – Bank
• Cajero automático – ATM
• Dinero – Money
• Cambio – Exchange rate

When shopping at a supermarket, be sure to bring your own shopping bags or be prepared to pay for them. When visiting a bank, you may need to provide identification and wait in line. ATMs are widely available, but be aware of potential fees for using them.

Remember to always be polite and respectful when shopping, and don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it. With these basic vocabulary words, you’ll be able to navigate your way through the shops and markets of any Spanish-speaking country.

Spanish Vocabulary for Sightseeing

When traveling to a Spanish-speaking country, it’s important to know some basic vocabulary for sightseeing. This will help you navigate through different attractions with ease and communicate effectively with locals. Here are some useful Spanish words and phrases to enhance your sightseeing experience.

Museum and Park

If you’re planning to visit a museum or park in Mexico, these are some words you should know:

When you’re at a museum, you might want to ask for a map or inquire about the exhibits. Here are some useful phrases:

• ¿Dónde está el mapa? (Where is the map?)
• ¿Cuánto cuesta la entrada? (How much is the entrance fee?)
• ¿Cuál es la exposición principal? (What is the main exhibition?)

At a park, you might want to know about the different activities available. Here are some phrases you can use:

• ¿Hay un área de picnic? (Is there a picnic area?)
• ¿Dónde puedo alquilar una bicicleta? (Where can I rent a bike?)
• ¿Cuándo cierra el parque? (What time does the park close?)

Tour and Places

When you’re on a tour or visiting different places, these are some words you should know:

If you’re on a tour, you might want to know about the different stops or landmarks. Here are some useful phrases:

• ¿Cuál es la próxima parada? (What is the next stop?)
• ¿Cuánto tiempo estaremos aquí? (How long will we be here?)
• ¿Puedo tomar fotos? (Can I take pictures?)

When you’re visiting different places, you might want to ask for directions or recommendations. Here are some phrases you can use:

• ¿Cómo llego a la playa? (How do I get to the beach?)
• ¿Cuál es el mejor restaurante en la ciudad? (What is the best restaurant in the city?)
• ¿Hay algún lugar que deba visitar? (Is there any place I should visit?)

By knowing these basic Spanish words and phrases, you’ll be able to enjoy your sightseeing experience in a Spanish-speaking country to the fullest.

Spanish Vocabulary for Emergencies

When traveling to a foreign country, it’s always a good idea to familiarize yourself with some basic vocabulary for emergencies. In Spain, knowing some key phrases can help you navigate unexpected situations with ease. Here are some important words and phrases to keep in mind:

Customs and Baggage

If you have any issues with your baggage or need to go through customs, these phrases may come in handy:

• La aduana – Customs
• El equipaje – Baggage
• ¿Dónde está la aduana? – Where is customs?
• ¿Dónde puedo recoger mi equipaje? – Where can I pick up my baggage?
• Tengo una reclamación de equipaje – I have a baggage claim

Passport and Boarding Gate

When it comes to your passport and boarding gate, it’s important to know the right vocabulary:

• El pasaporte – Passport
• La puerta de embarque – Boarding gate
• ¿Dónde está la puerta de embarque? – Where is the boarding gate?
• ¿Puedo ver su pasaporte, por favor? – Can I see your passport, please?
• Tengo un problema con mi pasaporte – I have a problem with my passport

By familiarizing yourself with these key phrases, you can feel more confident and prepared in case of an emergency while traveling in Spain. Remember to stay calm and polite, and don’t hesitate to ask for help if you need it.

Learning Spanish for Travel

If you’re planning to travel to a Spanish-speaking country, it’s a great idea to learn some basic Spanish phrases and vocabulary. Not only will it help you communicate with locals, but it will also enhance your overall travel experience. Here are some resources to help you learn Spanish for travel:

PDF and Download

One of the easiest ways to learn Spanish for travel is through downloadable PDFs. These resources are often free or low-cost and can be accessed from anywhere. Some popular options include:

• Lonely Planet Spanish Phrasebook
• Spanish for Dummies Cheat Sheet
• FluentU’s Spanish Travel Vocabulary PDF

These PDFs typically include common phrases and vocabulary for travel situations such as ordering food, asking for directions, and checking into a hotel.

Video and Test

Another way to learn Spanish for travel is through videos and tests. Videos can help you with pronunciation and understanding context, while tests can help you gauge your progress and identify areas where you need improvement. Some popular options include:

• Speak Like a Mexican Youtube Channel
• SpanishPod101’s Travel Spanish Video Lessons
• Babbel’s Spanish for Travel Quiz

These resources are often interactive and engaging, making learning Spanish for travel fun and enjoyable.

Overall, learning Spanish for travel can greatly enhance your travel experience. Whether you choose to learn through PDFs or videos, the key is to practice consistently and have fun with it. With some basic Spanish vocabulary under your belt, you’ll be able to navigate Spanish-speaking countries with ease.

Traveling in Spanish-Speaking Countries

When traveling to a Spanish-speaking country, it’s important to have some basic vocabulary to help you communicate with locals and navigate your way around. Here are some essential phrases to know when traveling to Spain and Mexico, as well as Argentina and Peru.

Spain and Mexico

If you’re planning a trip to Spain or Mexico, here are some helpful phrases to know:

• Hola – Hello
• Adiós – Goodbye
• Por favor – Please
• Gracias – Thank you
• De nada – You’re welcome
• Sí – Yes
• No – No
• Habla inglés? – Do you speak English?
• Dónde está…? – Where is…?
• Cuánto cuesta? – How much does it cost?

In Spain, it’s common to use the formal “usted” instead of “tú” when addressing someone you don’t know well. In Mexico, “tú” is more commonly used.

Argentina and Peru

If you’re traveling to Argentina or Peru, here are some phrases that will come in handy:

• Chau – Goodbye

In Argentina, it’s common to use the informal “vos” instead of “tú” when addressing someone you know well. In Peru, “tú” is more commonly used.

Remember to always be polite and respectful when speaking with locals, and don’t be afraid to ask for help or clarification if you need it. With these basic phrases, you’ll be able to navigate your way around Spanish-speaking countries with ease.

About The Author

Ricardo Hernández

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71 Spanish Vacation Vocabulary to Aid Your Travels (Pronunciation Included)

So you’ve decided to travel to a Spanish-speaking country .

Your luggage is ready, your passport is up-to-date, your trip has been booked…

But what about your Spanish vocabulary ? Are you ready to have your first real-life conversation in Spanish ?

Whether you’re going to spend the next few weeks on the beach, in the mountains or even underground , you’ll find the words you need here.

Spanish Vacation Nouns

• 1. el recuerdo  (the souvenir)
• 2. el regalo  (the present, the gift)

3. el billete de ida y vuelta (the round-trip ticket)

• 4. la maleta  (the suitcase, the bag)
• 5. el pasaporte  (the passport)

6. el DNI (ID card)

• 7. el turista  (the tourist, the vacationer)
• 8. el paisaje  (the landscape)
• 9. el avión  (the plane)
• 10. el coche  (the car)
• 11. la gasolina  (the gasoline, the fuel)
• 12. la gasolinera  (the gas station)
• 13. las vistas  (the view)
• 14. la playa  (the beach)
• 15. el museo de…  (the museum of…)
• 16. el cine  (the movie theater)
• 17. la piscina  (the swimming pool)
• 18. el mar  (the sea)
• 19. el concierto  (the concert)

20. las gafas de sol (the sunglasses)

• 21. la cámara de fotos  (the photo camera)

22. la videocámara (the video camera)

23. las sandalias / las chanclas (the flip-flops, the sandals).

• 24. la agencia de viajes  (the travel agency)
• 25. las llaves  (the keys)
• 26. el helado  (the ice cream)
• 27. la heladería  (the ice cream parlor)
• 28. la tumbona  (the lounger)
• 29. la terraza  (the terrace)
• 30. el flotador  (the float, the rubber ring)
• 31. la Oficina de Turismo  (the Tourist Information Office)
• 32. la farmacia  (the drugstore, the pharmacy)

33. la tarjeta de crédito / la tarjeta de débito (the credit/debit card)

• 34. el cajero automático  (the ATM machine)
• 35. la avería  (the breakdown)

36. el carné / el permiso de conducir (the driver’s license)

37. la queja / la reclamación (the complaint).

• 38. la sombrilla  (the shade, the umbrella)
• 39. la escala  (the stopover)
• 40. el auxiliar de vuelo  (the flight attendant)
• 41. la tripulación  (the crew)

42. la habitación individual / la habitación doble (the single/double/twin room)

• 43. el secador de pelo  (the hairdryer)
• 44. la atracción turística  (the tourist attraction)
• 45. la ciudad  (the city)

46. el casco antiguo (the old town, the historic center)

Spanish vacation verbs, 47. viajar , ir de viaje , hacer un viaje (to travel, to go on a trip).

• 48. ir de vacaciones  (to go on vacation)
• 49. pasar las vacaciones  (to vacation)
• 50. estar de vacaciones  (to be on vacation)

51. hacer fotos / tomar fotos / sacar fotos (to take pictures)

• 52. montar a caballo  (to go horseback riding, to ride a horse)

53. hacer una excursión , ir de excursión (to go for a ramble/a hike)

54. hacer una reserva , reservar (to make a reservation, to book).

• 55. confirmar una reserva  (to confirm a reservation/booking)
• 56. ir de camping  (to go camping)
• 57. hacer las maletas  (to pack, to pack your luggage)
• 58. visitar  (to visit, to tour, to see, to go, to pay a visit)
• 59. tomar un taxi  (to take a taxi)
• 60. quedarse  (to stay, like at a hotel)
• 61. descansar  (to rest, to relax)
• 62. alquilar  (to rent)
• 63. hacer un castillo de arena  (to build a sandcastle)
• 64. leer un libro  (to read a book)

65. divertirse , disfrutar , pasárselo bien (to have fun, to have a blast, to enjoy oneself)

• 66. ir de compras  (to go shopping)
• 67. hacer turismo  (to sightsee)
• 68. ver los lugares de interés  (to visit places of interest)
• 69. dar un paseo  (to go for a walk)
• 70. hacer una barbacoa  (to barbecue)
• 71. hacer un picnic  (to have a picnic)

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

1. el recuerdo   (the souvenir)

Recuerdo comes from the verb recordar , which means to remember. That is why a memory is also called a recuerdo in Spanish!

2. el regalo   (the present, the gift)

They say “the present is a gift.” In Spanish, this can be said el presente es un regalo or even el presente es un presente .

You can buy the whole round-trip ticket, or un billete de ida (a one-way ticket) and un billete de vuelta (a return ticket).

Bear in mind that  billete  is used in Spain, while Latin American countries will typically use boleto or pasaje , depending on the country.

4. la maleta   (the suitcase, the bag)

I think this is one of those funny words every language has.

If you use it in the singular, it is translated as “suitcase.” Each individual bag you have is a maleta .

However, if you use it in the plural, you can translate it as “luggage” or “baggage.” You do not have to count how many suitcases you have (unless you want to). You can just refer to all of them as a whole:

Dame esa maleta . (Give me that suitcase.)

¿Están listas tus maletas ? (Is your luggage ready?)

5. el pasaporte   (the passport)

Never forget your passport or ID when leaving home, let alone when leaving your country!

DNI means Documento Nacional de Identidad (National Identity Document). I know you probably do not have one (yet), but if you are traveling to, say, Spain, do not expect people to say ID. For us, any ID is a DNI (deh-eneh-ih), and that is how we will say it to you.

Many European people have passports, but now you are able to travel throughout the whole European Union ( viajar por toda la Unión Europea ) by using just your European ID .

However, if you come from America, you will need a passport or a visa ( un visado in Castilian Spanish, also referred to as   una visa in some Latin American countries) .

A typical sentence you will hear when checking in is:

DNI o pasaporte, por favor. (ID card or passport, please.)

This may sound rude to you, but it is not. Despite being in the form of an order, it is rather a shorter way of asking:

¿Puede mostrarme su DNI o su pasaporte, por favor? (Could you show me your ID card or passport, please?)

7. el turista   (the tourist, the vacationer)

This Spanish word is very similar to its English counterpart , so it should not be problematic at all.

Just remember that nouns ending in -ista do not have a specific feminine form. Male and female tourists are both called turistas .  You just change the determiners and any other accompanying word:

el turista / la turista , los turistas / las turistas (the tourist, the tourists)

este turista / esta turista , estos turistas / estas turistas (this tourist, these tourists)

un turista español / una turista española , unos turistas españoles / unas turistas españolas (a Spanish tourist, some Spanish tourists)

8. el paisaje   (the landscape)

9. el avión   (the plane), 10. el coche   (the car).

For more information about the word “car” and its different translations into Spanish, such as carro and auto , take a moment to learn your Spanish transportation terms .

11. la gasolina   (the gasoline, the fuel)

Gasolina is a word normally used to refer to any kind of fuel for your car in general. However, we also use it to specifically refer to gasoline.

If your car uses diesel, do not use gasolina! Choose the gasóleo   or gasoil   dispenser.

12. la gasolinera   (the gas station)

Since  gasolina is used to refer to fuel in general, you fill your tank at the gasolinera .

13. las vistas   (the view)

You can use this word in its plural form if you are talking about landscapes. The singular form la vista   normally refers to our sight, although you can use it to talk about the view too:

La vista desde esta ventana es muy bonita. (The view from this window is very pretty.)

14. la playa   (the beach)

What can I say? Let’s go to the playa !

15. el museo de…   (the museum of…)

You can always find a museum that appeals to you. Always! Some of my favorites are:

El museo de Ciencias (The Science Museum)

El museo de Etnología (The Museum of Ethnology)

El museo de Arte Moderno (The Museum of Modern Art)

16. el cine   (the movie theater)

17. la piscina   (the swimming pool).

For people like me who love traveling during the winter, I recommend visiting a piscina cubierta   (an indoor pool).

Note that it’s also common to hear the word alberca   used to say “swimming pool” in Mexico and some Central American countries.

18. el mar   (the sea)

19. el concierto   (the concert).

If you travel to Barcelona, do not miss the conciertos al aire libre   (open-air concerts). They are simply great!

Note that you may also hear the term lentes  used to refer to sunglasses (and also eyeglasses) in some countries in Latin America.

21. la cámara de fotos   (the photo camera)

Let’s be honest, many people these days do not use photo or video cameras anymore. We use our cell phones to record our memories now, but you can still learn what these words mean.

24. la agencia de viajes   (the travel agency)

25. las llaves   (the keys).

It does not matter if we are talking about your house keys ( las llaves de tu casa ), the keys of the apartment you have booked ( las llaves del apartamento que has alquilado ) or the hotel key card ( la tarjeta llave del hotel ), just do not lose any of them, please!

26. el helado   (the ice cream)

27. la heladería   (the ice cream parlor), 28. la tumbona   (the lounger).

This is the kind of lounger you would use   by the pool, on the beach, in your garden, etc.  Tumbona comes from the verb tumbarse , which means to lie down.

29. la terraza   (the terrace)

30. el flotador   (the float, the rubber ring).

What about manguitos   (arm floats)? Do you think you will need them?

31. la Oficina de Turismo  ( the Tourist Information Office )

32. la farmacia   (the drugstore, the pharmacy).

Depending on where you are traveling to, you may also hear people call the drugstore la botica .

34. el cajero automático   (the ATM machine)

Remember to always print or ask for your comprobante   (receipt, slip) when using an ATM machine!

35. la avería   (the breakdown)

Avería comes from averiarse   (to break down). I hope you do not have problems with your car, but just in case, remember the following:

Mi coche se ha averiado . (My car has broken down.)

Necesito una grúa. (I need a tow truck.)

Disculpe, mi coche se ha averiado. ¿Puede llamar a una grúa, por favor? (Excuse me, my car has broken down. Could you please call a tow truck?)

There is no difference in Spanish between these two terms. Both refer to the document you should keep with you at all times while driving!

Presentar una reclamación means “to file a complaint”—but let’s hope there is no need for this!

38. la sombrilla   (the shade, the umbrella)

Sombrilla literally means “little shadow.”

39. la escala   (the stopover)

Here is how you would use this one:

Hago escala en Buenos Aires. (I’m stopping over in Buenos Aires.)

40. el auxiliar de vuelo   (the flight attendant)

41. la tripulación   (the crew).

You can also choose the type of bed you want:

la cama individual (the single bed)

la cama de matrimonio / la cama doble   (the double/queen bed)

43. el secador de pelo   (the hairdryer)

You can ask at your hotel:

¿Hay secador de pelo en el cuarto de baño? (Is there a hairdryer in the bathroom?)

44. la atracción turística   (the tourist attraction)

45. la ciudad   (the city).

Remember that many cities do not allow cars into their historic centers. Look for any Calle Peatonal   (Pedestrian Street) sign, just in case!

These three verbs mean exactly the same, but bear in mind their construction is very different:

Voy a viajar a Madrid. (I am going to travel/go on a trip to Madrid.)

Voy a ir de viaje a Madrid. (I am going to travel/go on a trip to Madrid.)

Voy a hacer un viaje a Madrid. (I am going to travel/go on a trip to Madrid.)

48. ir de vacaciones   (to go on vacation)

49. pasar las vacaciones   (to vacation), 50. estar de vacaciones   (to be on vacation).

I know these three last verbs are pretty similar, but they are used in different contexts, just like in English:

Voy a ir de vacaciones a Perú. (I’m going to go on vacation to Peru.)

Estoy pasando las vacaciones en Perú. (I am vacationing in Peru.)

Estoy de vacaciones en Perú. (I am on vacation in Peru.)

Remember that in some places you are not allowed to use the flash ( no puedes usar el flash ).

52. montar a caballo   (to go horseback riding, to ride a horse)

You can use these two verbs interchangeably, but you had better remember that depending on the one you use, you might have to use a preposition . Besides that, the sentence construction looks a little different.

Have a look:

He hecho una reserva de hotel para dos personas. (I have made a hotel reservation for two people.)

He reservado un hotel para dos personas. (I have made a hotel reservation for two people.)

55. confirmar una reserva   (to confirm a reservation/booking)

I highly recommend ( te recomiendo encarecidamente )  that you confirm all your bookings before starting your trip.

You would not want to arrive in a foreign country and realize you have no place to sleep ( no tienes un lugar donde dormir )!

56. ir de camping   (to go camping)

Oh, look! An English word! Yes, we have more and more English words in Spanish !

However, if you want to be super Spanish when in a Spanish-speaking country, say acampar   (to go camping) instead of ir de camping .

They both mean exactly the same, but I am sure people will be quite impressed with your Spanish skills!

57. hacer las maletas   (to pack, to pack your luggage)

We “do” the suitcases in Spanish, because… why not?

58. visitar   (to visit, to tour, to see, to go, to pay a visit)

Visitar is one of those verbs which, depending on the object, will or will not need the personal a . Remember the rule: if the object is alive, you need the personal a:

Me gusta visitar museos. (I like going to museums.)

Ayer visité a mi hermana. (I visited my sister yesterday.)

59. tomar un taxi   (to take a taxi)

60. quedarse   (to stay, like at a hotel).

Watch out when using this verb, because it has different forms with very different meanings. Here you have some of them:

Quedarse (to stay at a place):

Nos quedamos en un hotel. (We stayed at a hotel.)

Quedar + noun or time (to remain, to be left):

No quedan cervezas. (There are no beers left.)

Quedan dos minutos. (There are two minutes left.)

Quedar (to arrange to meet):

Quedamos a las cinco. (We arranged to meet at five.)

Quedar bien a alguien / Quedar mal a alguien. (to look good on somebody/to look bad on somebody):

Esta camisa no me queda bien . (This shirt doesn’t look good on me.)

61. descansar   (to rest, to relax)

62. alquilar   (to rent).

More and more tourists are deciding to rent an apartment ( alquilar un apartamento )  for vacation rather than stay at a hotel.

It allows them to save money ( ahorrar dinero ) and they get much more freedom to do what they want, when they want ( hacer lo que quieran cuando quieran ) .

Note that you may also hear the verbs arrendar   or rentar  used in some Latin American countries to say “to rent.”

63. hacer un castillo de arena   (to build a sandcastle)

64. leer un libro   (to read a book).

You can use these three verbs interchangeably, but remember that pasárselo bien is a reflexive verb and has the object pronoun lo   (or la   in Latin American Spanish: pasárse la bien ).

Bear this in mind when you conjugate it:

Note that vosotros is not used in Latin American Spanish. You should use ustedes instead.

66. ir de compras   (to go shopping)

67. hacer turismo   (to sightsee).

In Spanish, we say “to make tourism,” which may sound quite weird but it is not that crazy when you think about it!

68. ver los lugares de interés   (to visit places of interest)

This verb is equivalent to visitar las atracciones turísticas   (to visit the tourist attractions).

69. dar un paseo   (to go for a walk)

70. hacer una barbacoa   (to barbecue), 71. hacer un picnic   (to have a picnic).

And while having a picnic, we say goodbye to this post.

Don’t feel overwhelmed by the amount of new words here. You don’t need to learn them all at once. Commit to learning five or ten per day and you’ll have them learned in no time! And to make sure the new words stick, try learning in context instead of simply rote learning them all.

One resource which combines memory techniques with in-context learning is the app and website FluentU , where you can reinforce vacation words by creating your own multimedia flashcards.

I hope you have enjoyed this trip to “Spanish vacation vocabulary” station.

See you next time!

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StoryLearning

Learn A Language Through Stories

67 Essential Spanish Travel Phrases Every Traveller Needs To Know

Spain. Mexico. Argentina. Peru. Colombia.

If you're learning Spanish , the mere the mention of these countries can leave you daydreaming about your next trip abroad.

And although there are many incredible things to do and see in Spanish-speaking countries, what really makes these places special are the local people.

So before you pack your bags and jump on a plane, why not learn a little Spanish to help you make the most of your trip?

In this post, you’ll learn 67 Spanish phrases for travel that can help you survive in the language during your trip abroad. And who knows, they might even help you make a few new friends too!

To make it easier for you, I’ve divided the phrases up into different categories:

Table of Contents

Take the time to learn a few of these key Spanish travel phrases and you’ll be able to mix with the locals, get by in various situations and have a much more enjoyable and authentic experience during your trip.

By the way, if you want to learn Spanish in time for your trip, my top recommendation for language learners is my Uncovered courses, which teach you through StoryLearning®.  Click here  to find out more and try out the method for free.

Press play on the video below to learn Spanish travel phrases thanks to a story. Otherwise, keep scrolling to discover all 67 Spanish travel words and expressions.

First Things First: Greetings To Use On Arrival

Knowing how to greet people is the most basic thing you can learn in a foreign language. And yet its importance shouldn't be underestimated.

Even if you aren’t fluent enough to hold a long conversation, a simple ¡Hola! ¿Qué tal?  (Hello, how are you?) can make all the difference.

You'll be able to use these expressions as soon as you arrive at your destination, whether it's at the airport, the train or bus station, or the hotel.

People appreciate it if you make an effort to speak their language when you visit their country, even if it’s only a few words.

Spanish-speaking countries are especially polite and greeting people correctly will go a long way towards endearing you to the locals, be they friends, people you meet in shops or on the street.

• ( BWAY-nos DEE-as)
• (BWAY-nas TAR-des)
• (BWAY-nas NOH-chays)
• (KOH-moh eh-STAH)
• (KOH-moh eh-STAHS)
• (bee-EN  GRA-thee-as [Spain] / GRA-see-as [Latin America])
• (KOH-moh te YA-mas?)
• (May YA-moh… )
• (MOO-choh GOO-stoh)

And of course, let’s not forget common courtesy!

• (por fa-BOR)
• (GRA-thee-as [Spain] / GRA-see-as [Latin America])

If you get stuck in your Spanish conversation, you can always fall back on these next two phrases to get you out of trouble.

• (yo no en-tee-EN-doh)
• (Ab-la in-GLAYS)

Get What You Want On Your Trip With The Verb Querer 

Once you’ve finished greeting someone, you’ll need to be able to move on to the crux of your conversation and to do that you’ll need to learn a couple of common verbs.

There are hundreds of Spanish verbs to learn and, to make your life more difficult, these verbs conjugate (change form).

This means learning a verb is never as simple as learning one word; you have to learn multiple different forms.

Having said that, you might be surprised by how far you can get only knowing one simple verb: I want .

It may not make you the most sophisticated Spanish speaker but 9 times out of 10 it will get you what you, well, want .

The verb in question is querer (to want) and in the first person form, it becomes quiero (I want).

Let’s take a look at how you can use it:

• (yo kee-EH-ro oon me-NOO)
• (YO kee-EH-ro oon taxi)
• (yo kee-EH-ro OO-na ser-BAY-za)

If you’d like to be a bit more polite (which is usually a good idea), you can also use:

• (kee-see-EH-ra…)

Asking For & Understanding Directions On Your Trip

Whether you’re looking for the toilet in a restaurant or trying to find a hotel to stay at, you’ll inevitably need to ask for directions at some point during your trip.

The simplest way to ask where something is, is to use ¿Dónde está? followed by the noun you are looking for:

• (DON-day es-TAH el BAH-nyo?)
• (DON-day es-TAH el BAN-koh?)
• (DON-day es-TAH la KA-yay de al-cal-AH?)

When travelling in a foreign country, if you're asking someone on the street for directions, don’t forget your manners! To get someone’s attention, start by saying:

• (Dis-KUL-pay)
• (Con per-MEE-soh / Per-DOH-nah-may)
• (eh- stoy per-DEE-doh)

Asking for directions is one thing but it’s pretty pointless if you don’t know how to understand the directions that are given to you!

Memorise these phrases to help you understand what the friendly locals are trying to tell you when you ask for their help:

• (A la de-RE-cha)
• (A la iz-kee-ER-da)
• (De-RE-cho)
• (En la es-KEE-nah)
• (a OO-na KWAD-rah)

Getting Around Spanish-Speaking Countries

If you’re not keen on walking everywhere, you'll need to be able to find out about local transport options to find your way around wherever you are.

Here are a few simple phrases you can use to locate a bus, train or taxi and get to wherever you need to go:

• (DON-day PWAY-doh en-kon-TRAR oon taxi?)
• (DON-day eh-STAH la pa-RAH-dah de ow-to-BOOS mas ser-KA-nah?)
• (DON-day eh-STAH la es-tah-see-ON de ferro-carr-EEL mas ser-KA-nah?)
• (KWAN-to KWES-ta oon bee-YET-ay PA-ra …)
• (oon bee-YET-ay PA-ra … por fa-BOR)

At A Restaurant On Your Travels

Each Spanish-speaking country has its own unique flavours and cuisine for you to try when you travel!

Food is definitely one of the big attractions to cities like San Sebastian in Spain and Buenos Aires in Argentina , so you'll need to make sure you have a basic grasp of food vocabulary ahead of your journey!

To start with, you need to be prepared to hear and understand certain questions in restaurants, such as:

• (kee-EH-res AL-go PA-ra koh-MER?)
• (kee-EH-res AL-go PA-ra beh-BER?)
• (KAY kee-EH-res koh-MER?)

When you read the menu, you'll see the available food grouped into different categories, just like in an English menu:

• (oo-na en-TRA-da)
• (oon PLA-toh prin-si-PAL)
• (oon POS-tray)
• (OO-na beh-BEE-da)

When you're ready to order, use either  quiero (I want) or  quisiera (I would like) with the items on the menu to tell the waiter what you'd like. For example,  quiero…

• (OO-na SOH-pah)
• (OO-na en-sa-LA-da)
• (el POY-oh)
• (la CAR-nay)
• (oon AG-wa)
• (oon BEE-noh TIN-toh / BLAN-koh)
• (OO-na ser-BAY-sa)
• (oon ka-FAY)

So, for example, to order that ice-cold beer you're looking forward to at the end of a long day, you'd say  quiero una cerveza.

If you're not sure what to try, you can always ask your waiter for a recommendation:

• (kay may re-kom-ee-EN-dah?)

In most restaurants in Spanish-speaking countries, the staff will be more than happy to suggest a particularly tasty local dish for you to try.

If you're a vegetarian or you have dietary complications, these next two phrases are essential:

• (soy be-he-tah-ree-AH-noh/nah)
• (TEN-go al-ER-hee-ah a las noo-EH-ses)

Finally, let's learn a couple of quick phrases you can use to ask about prices and pay the bill.

• (KWAN-to KWES-ta? )
• (la KWEN-ta por fa-BOR)

Key Spanish Question Words For Your Trip

Over the course of your journey, you'll almost certainly find yourself asking lots and lots of questions.

You might not have a huge Spanish vocabulary to draw on, but if you know the basic question words, you'll be able to get by in almost any common situation you might find yourself in.

Here are some key Spanish question words you need to know:

• (KWAN-doh?)
• (A kay AW-ra?)
• (KWAN-toh?)
• (KWAN-tohs)
• (kah-dah KWAN-toh?)
• (por KWAN-toh tee-EM-poh)

Once you’ve got these question words in your memory bank you’ll start noticing the patterns in Spanish grammar which will help you to move away from the basic Spanish phrases every tourist is using.

As you learn new words on your trip, you'll be able to combine them with these question words to start forming your own sentences and questions!

Get Ready For Adventure With These Spanish Travel Phrases!

Take the time to memorise these key Spanish travel phrases and you'll have everything you need to get the most out of your journey.

With just a few words of Spanish, I'm sure you'll meet lots of amazing people and have plenty of life-changing experiences along the way.

Who knows, perhaps spending some time visiting a Spanish-speaking country will motivate you to strive for fluency?

If this article has inspired you to both travel and to learn Spanish, then I've got something to get you started on your Spanish learning journey. 

I'm a big believer in the power of story to enable you to learn a language. That's why I've created an entire beginner course dedicated to learning Spanish by immersing yourself in an engaging story.

It's my Spanish Uncovered course, and it's designed to take you from beginner to B1 Intermediate level.

Click here for more information on the course, test it out for free and to find out how it'll help you.

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Spanish Travel and tourism vocabulary PDF list

• Post author By Matosan314
• Post date March 27, 2020

Spanish Words for Beginners : Travel and tourism

– essential vocabulary list –.

Here’s a complete Spanish vocabulary list about travel and tourism. Increase your Spanish vocabulary fast and efficiently with this useful words list!

DOWNLOAD THE FULL PACKAGE IN ONE CLICK: 100 SPANISH VOCABULARY LISTS

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• Tags spanish

• Books / Audiobooks
• Learning Method
• Spanish Culture
• Spanish Grammar
• Spanish Travel
• Spanish Vocabulary and Expressions
• Study Guide

50 Essential Spanish Phrases for Travelers

0  Comments

January 10, 2018

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Your bags are packed and everything’s all set. But wait--before you leave for a Spanish-speaking destination, make sure you’re armed and ready with this list of the very basic Spanish travel phrases.

Just a few essential phrases are enough to tide you over during your trip, so make sure to have this list handy or better yet, memorize them! Don’t worry, it’s super easy, and the pronunciation won’t trip you up at all.

Get this list in PDF format

You can also download this list in a printer-friendly PDF version. Simply click the download button below.

So are you ready?

Here is your list!

Common Spanish Travel Phrases

there you have it---your list of the most common Spanish travel phrases. 

You can also read some related articles here:

[Quiz] Do you know these common Spanish phrases?

50 Common Spanish Phrases

For a more complete list of Spanish phrases, grab your copy of the Spanish Phrasebook by My Daily Spanish! It’s got all the phrases you need to survive---and even thrive---in a Spanish-speaking environment.

Make your travel hassle-free with this e-book that covers all possible scenarios while traveling in a Spanish-speaking country. Check it out below!

About the author 

Janey is a fan of different languages and studied Spanish, German, Mandarin, and Japanese in college. She has now added French into the mix, though English will always be her first love. She loves reading anything (including product labels).

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70+ Spanish Phrases for Travel You NEED to Know (PLUS Free Printable)

Take your Spanish vacation experience to the next level with these common Spanish phrases for travellers.

Whether you’re heading to Spain or the Americas, Spanish is one of the best and most useful languages to learn. Once you learn a few phrases,  can make use of your Spanish skills in over 11 countries around the world.

Why else should you learn Spanish? Well, it makes learning other languages, especially Romance languages like Portuguese , Italian , French and Romanian much easier.

Want to have fun whilst learning European Spanish, Latin American Spanish or Argentinian Spanish? Struggling to find decent Spanish language resources available? I recommend getting uTalk . Available as a desktop site and app, uTalk is awesome for learning key words and phrases in Spanish (either in European , Latin American, or Argentinian Spanish), especially if you want to use it for travel purposes.  It’s great for beginners getting started in a language and invaluable for intermediates looking to fill in gaps in their vocabulary and pronunciation. 

What I love most about uTalk is that you can jump around their extensive library of topics and choose what you want to learn, when you want, and at your own pace.  Because I believe in uTalk so much, I reached out to them and we’ve teamed up to offer you an exclusive 30% OFF reader discount across all of uTalk’s 140 languages! This offer isn’t available anywhere else! Click here to claim your exclusive 30% discount in European Spanish ,  Latin American Spanish here, and Argentinian Spanish here.

Have a laugh with these hilarious Spanish expressions

Let’s take a quick look at the Spanish language so you’re a bit more clued up on its origin, use, and vocabulary.

I hope you enjoy this post as much as I enjoyed bringing it together. If you have any requests for other languages, let me know in the comments section!

Where is Spanish spoken?

Being the official or national language in Spain, Equatorial Guinea, and 19 countries in the Americas, Spanish is one a great language to have under your belt as you travel.

There are some 418 million speakers in Americas alone. Instituto Cervantes claims that there are around 477 million Spanish speakers with native competence, 572 million who speak Spanish as a first or second language and more than 21 million students who are learning Spanish.

Spanish is one of the six official languages of the United Nations and is an official lang u age of the European Union.

A brief history of Spanish

Originating in the Castile region of Spain, Spanish ( español ) is also known as Castilian ( castellano ).

Spanish evolved from several dialects of Vulgar Latin in Iberia after the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century.

Spanish began to spread beyond mainland Europe in the early 16th century when the Spanish Empire established colonies in the Americas, as well as territories in Africa, Oceania and the Philippines.

Ancient Greek contributed substantially to Spanish vocabulary, in addition, up to 75% of modern Spanish is derived from Latin.

What’s not well-known is that Arabic has also left a substantial mark on Spanish vocabulary having been in contact with the language very early on. Around 8% of Spanish vocabulary is of Arabic origin, making it the second most important influence after Latin.

Pronunciation

Spanish spelling is very phonetic with only a few exceptions. This means that if you know how to pronounce the letters of a word, it’s relatively easy to sound out the word itself. A bonus characteristic for new learners.

Accents and Stress

In Spanish, where you place the stress in a word can alter its meaning. Here are some general rules to follow:

• If a word is marked with an accent, then that syllable receives the stress.
• if the word ends in a consonant other than N or S , the stress occurs on the last syllable (eg. hospital = “os-pee-TAL”)>
• if the word ends in a vowel, N or S , the stress occurs on the next to last syllable (eg. muchacho = “mu-CHA-cho”)
• In Spain (Except in some parts of Andalusia, and in the Canary Islands) a English ci/ce or z sound makes a English “TH”. In Latin America, it makes the “S” sound.

Essential Spanish Phrases for Travel with Pronunciation

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Greetings Essentials Questions Eating Out Getting Around Numbers Days Emergencies

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Travelling to Spain or Latin America? Don’t be treated like a tourist! Live your best travel experiences and learn Spanish for less than the cost of eating at a tourist trap restaurant or a taxi driver who has “taken you for a ride”.  In addition to my free Spanish travel phrase guide , I’ve made it even easier for you to master the Spanish language so you can create lifelong memories as you mingle with locals , get local tips , avoid tourist traps , and make new friends . Join my popular Spanish course here.

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Interested in learning Spanish? Don’t miss these!

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• 7 Top Differences Between Spain Spanish and Latin American Spanish You Didn’t Know
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• Is Spanish Hard to Learn? [7 Common Mistakes and Top Grammar Tips]

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Over to you!

Which of these common Spanish phrases do you find most useful? Which other phrases would you like to know? Let me know using the comments section below or join me on social media to start a conversation.

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed this post.

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100+ Basic Spanish Words and Phrases for Travelers

Ready to boost your Spanish skills before your next trip to a Spanish-speaking country with this list of essential Spanish words and phrases? No matter where you’re going, from Cancun to Madrid, we’ve got you covered.

Learning some basic Spanish words and phrases will come in super handy during your travels. Don’t worry if you still need to improve your Spanish—you can brush up before your trip and get some practice during your stay. Trust us, you’ll come back feeling motivated to take more Spanish classes!

Keep reading to learn the most common Spanish travel phrases. Read them, practice them, download them in the free PDF we’ve included below, and take them with you on your next vacation!

Now, just choose the category that interests you most (listed in the Table of Contents), or learn them all.

¡Vamos! Let’s go!

Join more than 559 million people on the planet who speak Spanish! Sign up for your free trial Spanish class today. ➡️

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Basic Spanish Greetings for Travelers

Basic Spanish Phrases To Ask for Directions

Basic spanish for travelers: accommodations, basic spanish words and phrases for medical emergencies, spanish vocabulary for dining out, spanish transportation for your vacation, basic spanish survival phrases, basic spanish greetings for travelers .

Get ready for friendly Spanish speakers. You’ll see strangers greeting you, and they will expect the same in return. So here are some useful words and phrases in Spanish for tourists to use on a more local level.

• Hola – Hello
• Buenos días – Good morning
• Buenas tardes – Good afternoon
• Buenas noches – Good evening / Good night
• ¡Mucho gusto! – Pleased to meet you!
• Encantado/encantada – Nice to meet you
• ¿Qué tal? – What’s up?
• ¿Qué onda? – What’s up?
• ¿Cómo te llamas? – What’s your name? (Informal)
• ¿Cómo se llama? – What’s your name? (Formal)
• Me llamo… – My name is…
• ¿Cómo está? – How are you? (Formal)
• ¿Cómo estás? – How are you? (Informal)
• Muy bien, gracias – Very well, thank you.

You might like:

• ¿Cómo estás? – Everyday Spanish Greetings You Can Use
• Spanish Greetings (Free Spanish Lessons for Kids)
• How To Introduce Yourself in Spanish

100+ Spanish Words for Travelers

Impress locals and make your travels a breeze with our free PDF of the top Spanish words for travelers from hotels to restaurants and beyond!

Not everything can be found on Google Maps! That’s why a necessary part of Spanish phrases for travel must include asking for directions. Here’s a quick and easy list to get started with:

• ¿Dónde está…? – Where is…?
• ¿Dónde hay…? – Where is there…?
• Un banco – a bank
• El sanitario – the bathroom
• Busco… – I’m looking for…
• Necesito un cuarto para ___ personas – I need a room for ___ people.
• A la derecha – On the right
• A la izquierda  – On the left
• Todo recto – Straight ahead
• Derecho – Straight ahead
• En la esquina – On the corner
• A una cuadra, a dos cuadras – One block away, two blocks away
• A Vocabulary Guide to Giving Directions in Spanish
• Exploring My Neighborhood (Free Spanish Lessons for Kids)

Spanish for tourists must include necessary words and phrases useful for checking in somewhere.  

Whether you choose a big hotel or an Airbnb apartment, the following basic Spanish words will come in handy: 

• Tengo una reserva a nombre de… – I have a reservation under the name of…
• Estancia de tres noches – Three-night stay
• Una habitación para dos personas – A room for three people
• Cama matrimonial – a double bed
• Un balcón – A balcony
• Una terraza – a terrace 
• Vista al mar / al jardín / a la ciudad – A view over the sea/the garden/to the city
• La alberca – The swimming pool
• ¿A qué hora sirven el desayuno? – What time do you serve breakfast?
• ¿Puedo pedir un check-out tardío? – Can I have a late check-out?
• ¿Cuál es la contraseña de Wifi? – What ‘s the Wifi password?
• ¿Tienen servicio de habitación? – Do you have room service?
• Necesito una cama extra – I need an extra bed
• El gimnasio – The gym
• El restaurant – The restaurant
• La playa – The beach
• El vestíbulo – The hall
• A Traveler’s Guide to Hotel Vocabulary in Spanish
• How To Make Polite Requests in Spanish

While we hope that your vacation goes smoothly, it’s always a good idea to be prepared for the unexpected. Practice some of the following words and expressions just in case. 

It’s better to be safe than sorry!

• ¿Dónde hay un hospital? – Where’s a hospital?
• ¿Dónde hay una farmacia? – Where’s a pharmacy?
• Necesito un doctor – I need a doctor.
• No me siento bien – I’m not feeling well.
• Tengo un seguro – I have insurance.
• ¿Habla inglés el doctor? – Does the doctor speak English?
• Me puede dar una receta para… – Can you give me a prescription for…
• ¿Pueden darme una inyección? – Can you give me an injection?
• La cita médica – Doctor’s appointment
• La cita de seguimiento – Follow-up appointment
• Rayos-X – X-ray
• Toma de sangre – Blood collection
• El yeso – Cast
• La tos – Cough
• La fiebre – Fever
• La garganta – Throat
• El estómago – Stomach 
• La espalda – Back
• La cabeza – Head

You might like: 

• Vocabulary Guide: At the Hospital in Spanish
• How to Go to the Doctor in Spanish: Vocabulary and Dialogues
• 50 Essential Medical Phrases for Your Upcoming Physical

When traveling to a Spanish-speaking country, it’s important to know basic Spanish words and phrases that you may use in restaurants. By learning these terms, you’ll be able to confidently navigate menu items and communicate your food preferences. So why wait?

¡Aprende estas palabras y disfruta de tu comida! Learn these words and enjoy your food!

• Quisiera… – I would like… 
• Una mesa para… – A table for (number of people)… 
• Un menú – A menu
• Un menú de bebidas – A beverage menu
• Una sopa – A soup
• Una ensalada – A salad
• Una hamburguesa – A hamburger
• Un plato principal – A main dish
• Una entrada – A starter
• Un postre – A dessert
• Un vaso de agua – A glass of water
• Una copa de vino – A glass of wine
• Una cerveza – One beer
• Un café – One coffee
• Un té – One tea

El camarero is the term for “waiter” in Spain, whereas el mesero is more frequently used in Latin America. To go beyond the basics, try using one of these phrases:

• ¡Amigo!/¡Amiga! – Waiter! /  Waitress! (In Lat. América)
• ¡Señor! / ¡Señora! – Waiter! /  Waitress! (In Spain)
• ¿Qué me recomienda? – What would you recommend?
• La cuenta, por favor – The bill, please
• ¿Aceptan las tarjetas? – Do you accept credit cards? 
• ¿Puedo pagar con la tarjeta? – Can I pay by card?
• The Ultimate Vocabulary Guide to Restaurants in Spanish
• For Here or to Go? How to Order Food in Spanish
• The Easy Guide to Food and Drink Vocabulary in Spanish

Here is a detailed travel vocabulary that will make moving around easier for you. Use the following words while going by plane, bus, train, or any other mode of transportation:

• Un trén – A train
• Un camión/Un bus – A bus
• Un avión – A plane
• Un carro de alquiler – A rental car
• Su pasaporte, por favor – Your passport, please.
• Quisiera cambiar mi reserva – I would like to change my reservation.
• Equipaje de mano – Hand luggage
• ¿ A qué hora es el embarque? – What time is boarding?
• Un boleto de ida – One way ticket
• Un boleto de ida y vuelta – Round trip ticket
• ¿Tienen pases de un día, de una semana o de un mes? – Do you have one-day, one-week, or one month passes?
• ¿De que plataforma sale? – What platform does it depart from?
• ¿Cuál es la puerta de embarque? – What is the boarding gate?
• El asiento de pasillo – The aisle seat
• El asiento de ventanilla – The window seat
• 100+ Words and Phrases Related to Transportation in Spanish
• A Traveler’s Guide to the Chicken Bus in Guatemala

Naturally, it’s impossible to predict all the situations for which you may need to pre-learn some words. So, here are some expressions that are useful in different contexts.

If you’re planning a trip to a Spanish-speaking country and want to feel more confident communicating with locals, consider signing up for a free trial class with Homeschool Spanish Academy. Our native Spanish-speaking instructors provide high-quality instruction from anywhere in the world, and you’ll be able to practice the most important Spanish words and phrases before your trip. Plus, you’ll receive free lesson materials that you can take with you on your journey. Give it a try and see how HSA can support your language learning goals!

• Por favor – Please
• Gracias – Thank you
• Perdón – I’m sorry
• Disculpe – Excuse me
• ¿Hablá Inglés? – Do you speak English?
• No hablo español – I don’t speak Spanish
• Quisiera…/Me gustaría – I would like to…
• Quiero/No quiero – I want to/I don’t want to
• ¿Cuánto cuesta? – How much is it?
• ¿Qué hora son? – What time is it?
• ¿Tiene…? – Do you have…. 
• Tengo/No tengo – I have/I don’t have
• No entiendo – I don’t understand.
• Dinero – Money
• Uno, dos, tres, cuatro, cinco, seis, siete, ocho, nueve, diez – One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten
• Veinte, treinta, cuarenta, cincuenta, sesenta, setenta, ochenta, noventa, cien – Twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, sixty, sixty, seventy, eighty, ninety, one hundred
• 25 Most Used Spanish Phrases to Survive Any Conversation
• A Quick Guide to Expressing Your Needs in Spanish
• 101 Basic Sentences in Spanish Every Beginner Wants to Know
• 100 Easy Spanish Words for True Beginners

Your Spanish Adventure Starts Here!

Ready to put your Spanish skills to the test? Consider downloading the free PDF of this article to take with you on your trip or using it during a free Spanish class to practice your pronunciation. Who knows? You may get so excited about your vacation that you decide to take more Spanish lessons.

Regardless of how you choose to practice, we hope you feel more prepared for your travels. Have a great trip!

Ready to learn more Spanish vocabulary? Check these out!

• How to Talk About the Temperature in Spanish: Fahrenheit, Celcius, and Descriptions
• Car Parts Spanish Vocabulary List: Learn Using Pictures
• Top 15 New Year’s Resolutions in Spanish
• Talk About Hurricanes And The Weather in Spanish
• Spanish Words with Multiple Meanings in Latin America
• World Mental Health Day: A Vocabulary Guide for Mental Health Workers
• Expressing Appreciation in Spanish on World Teachers’ Day
• Art and Painting Vocabulary in Spanish
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June 17, 2021 · Learn Spanish , travel

Complete Travel Vocabulary in Spanish

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Since we want you to make the most out of your  Spanish classes in Barcelona ,  you could use this new feature as a tool to keep practicing what you are learning in your regular classes at  Vamos Academy Barcelona

So, if you are planning to keep travelling to other Spanish-speaking countries like Argentina , Peru , Mexico or Chile , or if your want to improve your communication skills, this new list will provide you with everything you need to know related to travel, customs, planes and tickets! In this travel vocabulary blog!   Fasten your seatbelt Dorothy, ’cause Kansas is going bye-bye.

Travel Vocab in Spanish:

• abrocharse (verb) / to fasten
• la aduana (noun) / customs
• el aduanero, la aduanera (noun) / customs agent
• el aeropuerto (noun) / airport
• la agencia de viajes (noun) / travel agency
• el agente de viajes, la agente de viajes (noun) / (travel) agent
• aterrizar (verb) / to land
• el auxiliar de vuelo, la auxiliar de vuelo / flight attendant
• el avión (noun) / airplane, plane
• el barco (noun) / boat, ship
• el boleto (noun) / ticket
• el boleto de ida y vuelta (noun) / round-trip ticket
• el bote (noun) / small boat
• la casa de cambio (noun) / currency exchange
• la casa rodante (noun) / camper
• el cinturón de seguridad (noun) / seatbelt
• manejar (verb) / to drive
• desabrocharse (verb) / to unfasten
• descansar (verb) / to rest, to take a break
• deshacer la valija (verb) / to unpack
• despegar (verb) / to take off
• el equipaje (noun) / baggage, luggage
• la escala (noun) / stopover
• la estación de tren (noun) / train station
• el estacionamiento (noun) / parking, parking lot
• estacionar (verb) / to park
• el tren (noun) / train
• la foto (noun) / photo
• el guía, la guía (noun) / guide
• la guía de papel (noun) / guidebook
• la habitación (noun) / hotel room
• la habitación doble (noun) / double room
• la habitación individual (noun) / single room
• el lago (noun) / lake
• llevar (verb) / to carry, to take
• el lugar de interés (noun) / place of interest
• la valija (noun) / suitcase
• la oficina de turismo (noun) / tourist office
• el pasajero, la pasajera (noun) / passenger
• el pasaporte (noun) / passport
• la pensión (noun) / inexpensive lodging, hostel
• el piloto, la piloto (noun) / pilot
• procedente de (expr.) / arriving from
• la puerta (noun) / gate
• la reserva (noun) / reservation
• el retraso (noun) / delay
• sin escala (adj) / nonstop
• sólo de ida (adj) / one way
• la tarjeta de embarque (noun) / boarding pass
• la terminal de equipaje (noun) / baggage claim
• el transbordador (noun) / ferry
• el tren de pasajeros (noun) / passenger train
• el turista, la turista (noun) / tourist
• las vacaciones (noun) / vacation
• viajar (verb) / to travel
• el viaje (noun) / trip, voyage
• el viajero, la viajera (noun) / traveller
• visitar (verb) / to visit
• el vuelo (noun) / flight
• la vuelta (noun) / return trip

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Learn Spanish with free, communicative lessons

Let’s talk about Travel in Spanish – Conversation cards

¡Hola! Thanks for using our resources. This time, we are sharing this nice PDF worksheet to practice some vocabulary and structures to talk about travel through a conversation cards activity. This group-work activity can be very useful to give students the chance to speak Spanish in the classroom under their teacher’s guidance.

Directions:

Students form groups of four to participate in this speaking activity.

Each group of students gets a copy of the PDF worksheet. First, they must cut out the conversations cards, which include beautiful drawings and questions about people’s travel experiences and habits in Spanish, such as: places they like to visit, how they move around to get there, what they buy or take with them, and so forth. In their groups, students must form a deck, shuffle it and take turns to draw a card at a time, and then answer the question on it. Each student must speak for at least 30 seconds, otherwise the conversation card should be returned to the deck. The student who speaks for 30 seconds straight using the right vocabulary for things like places around town, plus the correct structures like the present perfect in Spanish (can use any tense), will keep the card. The student who holds the most cards by the end of the game wins. Again, what matters is having students speak freely and as spontaneously as possible about travelling experiences during an acceptable period of time.

Spanish worksheet information:

Level : Intermediate Skill: Speaking Related Lessons:

• Forming the Present Perfect in Spanish: Sentences + Practice
• Making Future Plans in Spanish: IR + A + Infinitive
• Recommending cities and places to visit in Spanish
• Talking about Life Experiences in Spanish

Planning a trip to a Spanish-speaking country

In small groups, students decide on a Spanish-speaking country they would like to travel to. They should do some research about the country, especially about its most beautiful places, food and other activities they could do there together. They prepare a small presentation with slides or poster papers, the way they feel more comfortable, and finally present for the rest of the class. The main idea for this activity is to describe the trip in Spanish as if they were actually visiting that place, and explain what made this trip special for them. They can make up a story or two about the trip. The more creative, the better.