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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:

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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131 Useful Spanish Travel Phrases Every Traveler Should Learn

Have you been dreaming about your upcoming vacation to Spain?

Eagerly awaiting your backpacking trek through South America?

Whatever the case, your trip to any Spanish-speaking country will be so much more fun and meaningful if you can communicate with locals .

But what kind of Spanish travel phrases do you even need to know?

Below are the essentials— the most common Spanish phrases for travel to help you upgrade your trip from “goodw” to “great.”

1. Basic Spanish Greetings and Phrases

2. basic spanish phrases for everyday use, 3. asking for directions in spanish, 4. spanish travel phrases for the hotel, 5. spanish travel phrases for the restaurant, 6. spanish phrases for the airport and ticket offices, 7. medical emergencies in spanish, 8. spanish phrases for having a bit of fun.

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

Spanish-speaking countries are generally very polite and you must always be courteous and say “hello” and “how are you?”

Don’t worry about making mistakes. Most people will try their utmost to understand you and to make sure you understand them. Try your best and they will be happy to reciprocate!

Buenos días — Good morning
Buenas tardes — Good afternoon
Buenas noches — Good evening
¿Cómo te llamas? — What’s your name? (informal)
¿Cómo se llama? — What’s your name? (formal)
Me llamo… — My name is…
Mucho gusto — Nice to meet you
¿Cómo estás? — How are you? (informal)
¿Cómo está? — How are you? (formal)
Bien, gracias — Good, thank you
Por favor — Please
Gracias — Thank you
Perdón — S orry
¿Habla inglés? — Do you speak English?
No hablo español — I don’t speak Spanish

You can go far with some very easy-to-remember travel phrases and words.

You’ll likely use “I want,” “I like” and “Do you have…?” quite often. If you don’t know the noun, you can simply point at the object or show a photo.

You can also say a lot of things with very simple verbs we’re about to introduce. It may not be the sophisticated way you speak in English, but you will be understood.

Quiero / No quiero — I want / I don’t want
Me gustaría ; Quisiera — I would like (more polite)
¿Dónde está…? — Where is…? Since dónde ends in e and está starts with one, these two words flow into each other, almost like they were a single word.
¿Cuánto cuesta? — How much does it cost?
¿Qué hora es? — What time is it?
¿Tiene…? — Do you have…?
Tengo / No tengo — I have / I don’t have
Entiendo / No entiendo — I understand / I don’t understand
¿Entiende? — Do you understand?
Quiero un boleto — I want a ticket

…un hotel — …a hotel

…un taxi — …a taxi

No funciona — It doesn’t work

That last one is an all-purpose word . You can use this for a million circumstances! Just point at the shower or whatever and say “ ¡No funciona!”

What we’ve seen so far is basic survival Spanish, so even if you can only remember these words and phrases, they’ll still help a great deal.

If you get a bit lost or unsure of how to get somewhere, “¿dónde está?” is the simplest way of asking for directions. Here are a few more phrases, locations and other directions in Spanish that will be helpful on your trip:

¿Dónde está la estación de ferrocarril? — Where is the railway station?
¿Dónde hay un restaurante? — Where is a restaurant?
Un tren — A train
La calle… — The street…
Un banco — A bank
El baño — The bathroom
Busco un hotel — I’m looking for a hotel
Necesito un hotel — I need a hotel

…un cuarto — …a room

…un cuarto con baño — …a room with a bathroom

¿Dónde hay una casa de cambio? — Where is the currency exchange?
¿Dónde está el banco? — Where is the bank?
Dinero — Money

Once you have asked a question, someone will answer you in Spanish. Listen for these key words:

A la derecha — To the right
A la izquierda — To the left
Derecho — Straight ahead
En la esquina — At the corner
A una cuadra — In one block

…dos cuadras — …two blocks

…tres cuadras — …three blocks

…cuatro cuadras — …four blocks

You’ve finally found your hotel and you’re ready to check in!

Staff at international chains will probably be able to communicate in English with you, but these phrases and questions will come in handy for local hotels, hostels, bed and breakfasts, etc.

These will also be helpful when you need to make adjustments to your reservation or are curious about other hotel amenities.

Tengo una reserva a nombre de… — I have a reservation under the name of…
Estadía de tres noches — Three-night stay
Una habitación para dos personas — A room for two people
Una habitación con una cama de matrimonio — A room with a double bed As you can see, habitación is a synonym of cuarto . You can use either term when booking a room.
¿Dónde está la piscina? — Where is the pool?
¿A qué hora es el desayuno? — What time is breakfast?
¿Puedo solicitar una salida tardía? — Can I request a late check-out?
¿Tiene servicio de habitaciones? — Do you have room service?
¿ Cuál es la contraseña de WiFi ? — What is the WiFi password?
Una cama supletoria — An extra bed
Vista al mar — Ocean view
Vista a la ciudad — City view
Un balcón — A balcony
La terraza — The rooftop / terrace
El gimnasio — The gym
La playa — The beach
El vestíbulo — The lobby

Probably the most useful travel phrases you will need are the ones you would use in a restaurant. Let’s go over some basic restaurant vocabulary in Spanish :

Ask for anything by using quiero or quisiera — “I want” or “I would like.” And remember to say por favor and gracias!

Una mesa — A table
Una mesa para dos — A table for two

…tres — …three

…cuatro — …four

Un menú / Una carta — A menu
Sopa — Soup
Ensalada — Salad
Hamburguesa — Hamburger
Con salsa de tomate — With ketchup

…mostaza — …mustard

…tomate — …tomato

…lechuga — …lettuce

Una entrada — An appetizer
Un postre — Dessert
Una bebida — A drink
Agua — Water
Vino tinto / Vino blanco — Red wine / White wine
Cerveza — Beer
Un café — Coffee
¡Señor! / ¡Señorita! — Mister / Miss (when calling a waiter or waitress)
La cuenta — The check
Una tarjeta de crédito — A credit card
Una tarjeta de débito — A debit card
Pagar en efectivo — Pay in cash

Note that many places in smaller towns still don’t take credit cards , so make sure you have enough cash with you.

You can ask if a place takes credit cards by using the noun with a question. For example, you can pull out your credit card and say: ¿Tarjeta de crédito? They will understand.

It’s time to soak in some culture ! Whether you want to go see a show, check out an art exhibit, watch a local movie or visit the next town (or country) over, you’ll need to buy some sort of ticket.

We’ll start with some airport-specific vocabulary —bearing in mind that many of these phrases are versatile and can be used in various situations—followed by more general vocabulary.

Su pasaporte, por favor — Your passport, please
Quisiera cambiar mi reserva — I would like to change my reservation
¿Podría elegir mi asiento? — Could I choose my seat?
Quisiera cambiar mi asiento — I would like to change my seat
Este es mi equipaje de mano — This is my carry-on luggage
¿Se ha cancelado el vuelo? — Has the flight been canceled?
¿Dónde está la terminal internacional? — Where is the international terminal?
¿Dónde está la puerta de embarque? — Where is the boarding gate?
¿A qué hora es el embarque? — What time is boarding?

Earlier we defined entrada as an “appetizer.” Entrada has multiple meanings related to “start” or “entry,” so you can also use it to say “ticket.”

¿Cuánto cuesta una entrada? — How much does a ticket cost?
Dos boletos de ida y vuelta — Two roundtrip tickets
¿ Tiene un pase de un día ? — Do you have a one-day pass?
¿A qué hora sale el próximo tren ? — What time does the next train leave?
¿De qué plataforma sale? — Which platform does it leave from?
¿Qué puerta? — Which gate?

For more specific situations, here are some words and phrases you might need when purchasing tickets:

El espectáculo — The show / performance
El teatro — The theater
La exposición — The exhibit
El cine — The cinema
Una película — A movie
Un vuelo — A flight
Viaje de ida — One-way trip
Viaje de ida y vuelta — Return trip / round trip
El asiento de pasillo — The aisle seat
El asiento de ventanilla — The window seat
La primera fila — The first row

La segunda fila — The second row

La tercera fila — The third row

La cuarta fila — The fourth row

Also, as you’ve likely noticed, for anything dealing with money or quantities, you’ll want to be familiar with numbers in Spanish .

A smart traveler always comes prepared with some emergency over-the-counter meds. After all, you never know what could happen when you’re overseas.

But when those aren’t enough, these are the phrases that will help with your health-related concerns when in a Spanish-speaking country:

¿Dónde está la farmacia? — Where is the pharmacy?
¿Dónde está el hospital más cercano? — Where is the nearest hospital?
Seguro de salud internacional — International health insurance
No me siento bien — I feel sick / I don’t feel well
¿El doctor habla inglés? — Does the doctor speak English?
¿Necesito una receta? — Do I need a prescription?
¿Qué medicina necesito? — What medicine do I need?
La cita médica — Doctor’s appointment
La cita de seguimiento — Follow-up appointment

If you need help explaining your symptoms, these terms will help you out. With the exception of the last phrase, start off by saying tengo , followed by any of the below:

Un resfriado — A cold
Dolor de garganta — Sore throat
Tos — Cough
Fiebre — Fever
Dolor de cabeza — Headache
Dolor de estómago — Stomachache
Dolor de espalda — Backache
Resaca — Hangover
Me gotea la nariz — I have a runny nose

Of course, a trip to a Spanish-speaking country wouldn’t be complete without a little ¡fiesta! (carnival; party). If you’re keen to hit the town, here are a few phrases to help you get your groove on.

¡Salud! — Cheers!
¿Hay algún bar por aquí? — Is there a bar around here?
¿Dónde están las discotecas? — Where are the clubs?
¿A qué hora abren las discotecas? — What time do the clubs open?
¿Me recomienda un lugar para bailar? — Can you recommend me a place to dance?
¿Quieres bailar conmigo? — Do you want to dance with me?
¡Bailemos! — Let’s dance!

Of course, to use all these phrases successfully, you’ll need to practice ! You can save and print this post as a PDF or even create your own flashcards. You can also use a program that creates flashcards for you, like the video-based FluentU .

Do you feel more prepared for your trip now? Pack these Spanish travel phrases with the rest of your essentials and you’ll be sure to get the most from your vacation!

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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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The Ultimate Guide to Spanish Travel Phrases: 95 Expressions You Need to Learn

If you’re looking to learn some basic Spanish for a trip to a Spanish-speaking country, going the whole “grammar and word list” route is a bit complex and time-consuming.

Good news: learning Spanish travel phrases instead won’t only help you learn Spanish you can use right away in conversations…

Contrary to what many people think, such phrases aren’t even just a quick “hack” but a valid long-term strategy to learn Spanish and other languages (as I outline in my article about Spanish for beginners ).

Anyway, more on that in a bit. First, let’s teach you some Spanish travel phrases!

1. Spanish Travel Phrases to Use Upon Arrival

First things first. If you’re planning to go to a Spanish-speaking country, learning how to greet people and be polite is a must. Otherwise, starting a Spanish conversation can be difficult.

No matter what kind of transportation you use to get to a Spanish-speaking place, you probably will have to deal with different kinds of workers.

Travel Spanish: Visit a beautiful country!

The best thing you can do if you want to ask for information, or just catch some worker’s attention, is to be polite and show respect.

Keep in mind that if you want to be formal, you’ll say and conjugate verbs using “ usted ”. If you’re just talking with friends or someone you know, it’s enough to use “ tú ”.

Now, let’s see some chunks that will help you be ready on Arrival at your destination.

Spanish phrases to use upon arrival

Since you’re trying to improve your Spanish, we would recommend not to use “¿Habla ingles?” as the first alternative. If you do it, natives will try to find someone that could speak with you in English.

Yet, if you find that communicating becomes complicated, it may save your day.

On the other hand, using “ ¿Me puede ayudar? ” is among the best alternatives if you need help when arriving at the airport or any place. People will know immediately that you require assistance to do or get something.

If you use transportation like Taxis or Buses, dealing with luggage isn’t a challenge. But, if you take an airplane, and finding your luggage isn’t that easy, you can take advantage of the last phrase above.

No matter what your needs are, you should always use the following chunks if someone helps you or you ask for help.

Ask for help with these chunks

Saying “ Por favo r” and “ Gracias ” will not only help you to show respect. Also, they will indeed help you to “open” doors as people will always be willing to help you one more time.

For more airport Spanish, watch this video by Paulisima from Spring Spanish (a YouTube channel I co-founded):

2. Spanish Travel Phrases When You Need or Want Something

When traveling, Necesitar and Querer are two Spanish verbs that will help you in several situations.

There are plenty of Spanish chunks you can learn and use with Necesitar and Querer . However, we will stick to the most important.

Travel vocabulary in Spanish: Necesitar and Querer

With these Spanish travel phrases, you’ll get any problem solved. From your basic needs to things on your bucket list like going partying in a Spanish-speaking country.

3. Spanish Travel Phrases for Partying

Latin American people are among the most cheerful people all over the world, and hanging out with them is an unforgettable activity.

You could learn the following Spanish phrases when you’re out having the best time of your life! 😉

Spanish Phrases for When You’re Partying

There are plenty of other Spanish phrases for travel you could learn… and in general, learning as many fixed phrases as possible (or chunks, as we call them) will help you speak Spanish more effortlessly in all kinds of situations.

You can learn them through actual conversation, but also through Spanish podcasts, Spanish YouTube channels , or check out the best Spanish shows on Netflix.

If you’d like to learn more about learning Spanish through chunks, go ahead and request your free Spanish Chunking Starter Pack.

4. Spanish Travel Phrases When Asking for Directions

Although most Spanish speakers are quite friendly because of their culture and way of living, getting along with them on the streets may not be as simple as that. It’s because some people feel that talking to strangers isn’t appropriate or just “not safe”.

When approaching someone you don’t know on the streets, you must keep your distance and use some of the following Spanish phrases.

Approach someone with these chunks

The approach is the most important step. After, it’s time to ask or request what you need. If you’re lost and you need an address or need help, the following chunks will help you get the job done.

Travel tips: Get help with these Spanish chunks

After you get all you need and it’s time to move forward, saying “ Gracias ” to the ones who helped you is essential.

It’s always important to say thanks. It will help you end the conversation and leave an “ open door ” to ask for help again if necessary.

Time to see some of these phrases/chunks in action! Here’s Maria Fernanda, one of the Spring Spanish teachers:

5. Spanish Travel Phrases for the Hotel

If you’re a traveler there’s no doubt that you’ll face some challenges when looking for accommodation. Let’s imagine you need to get a room and you have to talk to the staff of a hotel. Depending on your needs, there are several things you’ll have to ask.

For example, room type, if the price includes breakfast, or other things like if you have access to the pool.

Solve challenges at a hotel with these Spanish phrases

Please note that if you have made a reservation, you’ll need either your name or a reservation number. If you get a reservation number, you would say “ Hice una reserva con número…. ” instead of “ Tengo una reserva a nombre de… ”. Learn all the Spanish numbers .

Getting a room with breakfast included is generally a great option. In that scenario, you could say “ Quiero el servicio de desayuno incluido ” (I want breakfast included). No matter what you ask or need, remember to use formal language and make use of “ usted ”.

Here’s a good video about checking into a hotel, brought to you by Paulisima from Spring Spanish :

6. Spanish Travel Phrases for the Restaurant

After you managed to pack out everything in your hotel, you might want to grab something at the restaurant. Learning the basic travel phrases to order food will definitely help you when you’re hungry!

Spanish travel phrases paella in a pan in a restaurant

Useful travel phrases in a restaurant

7. Spanish Travel Phrases for the Hospital

Smart travelers always keep some medical supplies in their bags to face any kind of emergency. However, sometimes taking some pills won’t solve the problem, and learning Spanish travel phrases to deal with these situations is essential.

Spanish travel phrases ambulance in madrid

The following Spanish travel phrases will help you with your health-related concerns.

Spanish travel phrases: Health-related concerns

Although the Spanish chunks above will help you deal with most medical situations, sometimes, it’s necessary to explain any symptoms you might have. You can use “ Yo tengo ” before any of the Spanish words for travel shown below.

They’ll help you explain your symptoms and any Spanish-speaking doctor will have no problem at the moment of giving you the right prescription.

Explain symptoms with Spanish chunks

Tip: To make yourself understood to native speakers, especially in more complex situations like this, this article on Spanish connectors will come in handy. It’s an often-overlooked part of language learning but it can help you a lot.

Another tip: Want to see (and hear) all those phrases in action? Watch this video by Spring Spanish teacher Maura:

8. Spanish Travel Phrases for Everyday Situations

Although we provided you with the most important phrases for every possible situation, there are still some useful phrases left. Check out the following table to learn some of the most used Spanish travel phrases for everyday situations.

Spanish travel phrases, a traditional Andalusian street with flowers

Use these phrases in everyday situations

9. Spanish Travel Phrases: Your Key to Effortless Conversations in Any Spanish-Speaking Country

No matter what Spanish-speaking country you visit, keeping these Spanish phrases for travel will indeed help you deal with any scenario.

Let’s check out a Spanish conversation with some basic Spanish travel phrases:

Ana : Hola, disculpe… (Hello, excuse me…) Berta : ¡Hola! ¿En qué puedo ayudarte? (Hello! How can I help you?) Ana : ¿Sabe cómo llegar a esta dirección? (Do you know how to get to this address?) Berta : Sí, claro. ¿A qué dirección necesitas ir? (Yes, of course. What address do you need to go to?) Ana : Un hotel en la Calle Principal. (A hotel on Main Street.) Berta : Está cerca. Camina dos cuadras hacia el oeste. (It’s nearby. Walk two blocks west.) Ana : Hice una reserva con número 16. (I made a reservation with the number 16.) Berta : Perfecto. Disfruta tu estadía. (Perfect. Enjoy your stay.) Ana : ¡Gracias! (Thank you!) Berta : De nada. ¡Que tengas un buen día! (You’re welcome. Have a nice day!)

LISTEN TO THE WHOLE CONVERSATION :

Of course, if communicating becomes too complex, don’t hesitate to use the old life-saving phrase “ ¿Habla ingles? ”.

Requesting your free Spanish Chunking Starter Pack from Effortless Conversation is the best you can do if you’re planning to visit a Spanish-speaking destination. You’ll build your confidence and will feel much more comfortable when speaking Spanish.

Lukas is the founder of Effortless Conversations and the creator of the Conversation Based Chunking™ method for learning languages. He's a linguist and wrote a popular book about learning languages through "chunks". He also co-founded the language education company Spring Languages, which creates online language courses and YouTube content.

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A Useful Guide to Spanish Travel Phrases

Written by Diana Luciana

August 25, 2022.

Are you planning a long-awaited trip to a Spanish-speaking country? 🌎

Your trip can be so much more fun and meaningful if you know how to say travel in Spanish, and communicate with the locals—how many times have you missed out on a secret spot because you didn’t speak the language?—and find your way around with this guide to Spanish travel phrases and words. From getting to the airport to ordering food in Spanish at the restaurant, we got you covered.

How do you say travel in Spanish?

We put together a list of essential Spanish travel phrases, need-to-know vocabulary, and tips for traveling in Spanish. Keep in mind that you don’t need to speak Spanish fluently to get the most out of your trip and have meaningful interactions. A basic travel Spanish vocabulary will get you a long way, and the locals would definitely appreciate the effort. And when you don’t understand or aren’t sure of what’s being said, simply ask ¿Habla inglés? (Do you speak English?)

Key phrases in Spanish for travelers

Here are some key Spanish phrases and greetings you should know. You can use them in any situation (asking for directions in Spanish, asking questions in Spanish, meeting new people in Spanish, and so on.) It’s a mini Spanish 101 lesson:

Spanish greetings

Buenos días — Good morning
Buenas tardes — Good afternoon
Buenas noches — Good evening
¿Cómo te llamas? — What’s your name?
Me llamo… — My name is…
Mucho gusto. Encantado — It’s a pleasure to meet you.
¿Cómo te va? / ¿Qué tal? / ¿Qué hay? — How’s it going?
¿Cómo estás? — How are you?
Bien, gracias / Muy bien, gracia s — Good, thank you / Very well, thank you
Por favor — Please
Perdón / Lo siento — Sorry
¿Habla inglés? — Do you speak English?
No hablo español. — I don’t speak Spanish.
No entiendo bien el español. — I don’t understand Spanish well.
¿Tiene…? — Do you have…?
¿Entiende? — Do you understand?
Yo entiendo / yo no entiendo — I understand / I don’t understand
Hágame el favor de hablar más despacio. — Speak more slowly, please.
Escríbalo, por favor. — Write it down, please.

Essential Spanish

¿Dónde está…? ¿Dónde están…? — Where is…? Where are…?
¿Por dónde se va a…? / ¿Cómo puedo llegar a…? — How do you go to…?
¿Dónde estamos aquí en el mapa? — Where are we on the map?
¿Está lejos? ¿Está por aquí? — Is it far away? Is it near here?
Busco… — I’m looking for…
¿Me podría ayudar? — Can you help me?
Estoy perdido (for men) / perdida (for women) . — I’m lost.
¿Hay alguien que hable inglés? — Is there anyone who speaks English?
Disculpe / Con permiso / Perdóname — Excuse me
¿Quién? — Who?
¿Qué? — What?
¿Cuándo? — When?
¿Cómo? — How?
¿Cuánto? — How much?
¿Cuántos? — How many?
¿Por qué? — Why?
¿A qué hora? — What time?
¿Por cuánto tiempo? — How long?
¿Cada cuánto? — How often?
Yo quiero / yo no quiero — I want / I don’t want
Yo tengo / yo no tengo — I have / I don’t have

How to say airport in Spanish

Imagine yourself getting off the plane ( el avión )—new place, new language, new everything—ready to start your vacation. Even though English is widely spoken, knowing the basic Spanish travel vocabulary for airports and planes will make your trip easier. And you will start your vacation on the right foot, confident that you can find your way in any situation.

Essential travel vocabulary in Spanish for when you are at the airport ( el aeropuerto ):

Spanish travel vocabulary

Airport-specific vocabulary in Spanish

la aduana — customs
la aerolínea / la linea aerea — airline
el asiento — seat
el auxiliar de vuelo, la azafata — flight attendant
el baño — bathroom
el boleto — ticket
confirmar una reservación — to confirm a reservation
el destino — destination
el equipaje — luggage
el horario, el itinerario — schedule
la maleta — suitcase
el pasajero, la pasajera — passenger
el pasaporte — passport
el regreso — return
la salida — departure, exit
la tarifa — price
la tienda libre de impuestos — duty-free shop
el viaje — journey, trip
el vuelo — flight, wing

Spanish travel phrases

Useful phrases at the airport in Spanish

¿Cuándo sale el avión? — When does the plane leave?
Mi vuelo es a las … en punto. — My flight is at … o’clock.
¿A qué hora es el embarque? — What time is boarding?
¿Cuándo llega el avión? — When does the plane arrive?
Quisiera cambiar mi reserva / asiento. — I would like to change my reservation / seat.
Querría anular mi reserva. — I would like to cancel my reservation.
Necesitamos ayuda para subir al avión. — We need help to get on the plane.
¿Podría elegir mi asiento? — Could I choose my seat?
Este es mi equipaje de mano . — This is my carry-on luggage.
¿Se ha cancelado el vuelo? — Has the flight been canceled?
¿Dónde está la terminal internacional / a puerta de embarque ? — Where is the international terminal / boarding gate?
¿Dónde puedo cambiar dinero? — Where is there a currency exchange desk?
¿Dónde está el baño? — Where is the bathroom?

How to ask for directions in Spanish

You are finally in the city, ready to explore! Next on the list is learning how to ask for directions in Spanish. In this section, we’ll also cover the topic of transportation and finding a hotel in Spanish, and show you the most common travel phrases. Let’s delve into it:

¿Dónde está la estación de ferrocarril? — Where is the railway station?
¿A qué hora sale el tren? — What time does the train leave?
¿A qué hora sale el próximo tren? — What time does the next train leave?
¿De qué plataforma sale? — Which platform does it leave from?
¿Dónde puedo tomar un taxi / un autobús? (Latin America) / ¿Dónde puedo coger un taxi / un autobús? (Spain) — Where can I catch a taxi / a bus?
¿Tiene un pase de un día? — Do you have a one-day pass?
¿Cuánto cuesta un billete al aeropuerto? — How much is a ticket to the airport?
¿Cómo llego a…? — How do I get to … ?
Gira a la izquierda/derecha. — Turn left/right.
¿Dónde hay un supermercado? — ¿Where is there a supermarket?
¿Dónde hay una casa de cambio? — Where is the currency exchange?
¿Dónde está el banco? — Where is the bank?
¡Disculpe! Soy turista y estoy perdido/a. — Excuse me! I am a tourist and I am lost.
¿Dónde hay un restaurante? — Where is a restaurant?
Me podrías recomendar un restaurante? — Do you have any restaurant recommendations?

12 Spanish travel phrases for the hotel

Busco un hotel . — I’m looking for a hotel.
Yo necesito un hotel / un cuarto / un cuarto con baño. — I need a hotel / a room / a room with a bathroom.
Una habitación para dos personas . — A room for two people.
Yo tengo una reserva a nombre de… — I have a reservation under the name of…
He reservado una habitación. — I have booked a room.
¿Puedes darme la llave de mi habitación? — Can you give me the key to my room?
¿Cuándo es la hora límite de salida? — When is check-out time?
¿Puedo solicitar una salida tardía? — Can I request for late check-out?
¿Cuál es la contraseña de Wifi? — What is the Wifi password?
¿Tiene servicio de habitaciones? — Do you have room service?
¿A qué hora es el desayuno? — What time is breakfast?
Esta habitación es demasiado ruidosa. — This room is too noisy.

How to order food in Spanish

After a long day of walking and exploring, it’s time to take a break and have a bite. Maybe try out the local Spanish cuisine. Whether you are ordering food or drinks, these phrases will come in handy. And if you want to learn more about how to say food in Spanish, check out this post . (You also have an entire section about ordering food in Spanish.) Start with these phrases:

Una mesa para… dos, tres, cuatro . — A table for… two, three, four.
¿Cuál es el menú de hoy? — What is today’s menu?
Me gustaría probar la especialidad del cocinero. — I would like to try the chef’s specialty.
¿Qué me recomienda? — What do you recommend?
Me gustaría algo de postre. — I would like some dessert.
La cuenta, por favor. – The check, please.
¿Acepta tarjeta de crédito? — Do you accept credit card?
Tengo alergia a … — I am allergic to…
Soy alérgico. — I’m allergic.
Soy vegetariano/a. — I’m a vegetarian.

Now you’re all set for your Spanish travels! I hope this guide will enhance your travel experience, and that you will enjoy speaking Spanish—from asking for directions to ordering breakfast at the local cafe. If you want more free Spanish lessons , check out my YouTube channel and blog .

What’s your favorite travel destination? ✈️🧳 Drop your answer in the comments.

P.S. Do you know how to say safe travels in Spanish? Learn 3 ways you can say safe travels in Spanish: Te deseo que tengas un buen viaje (I wish you safe travels), Ojalá que tengas un buen viaje (I hope you have a good trip) and the formal option of Le deseo que tenga un buen viaje (I hope you have a good trip.) Now you know how to say safe travels in Spanish.

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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.

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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!

Traveling soon? Don’t forget to check out this list of 75 Best Travel Accessories to see if you already have them! Many of them are Anti-Theft Products to help protect you and your belongings!

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!

Interested in Learning Conversational Spanish?

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

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Click here to see “75 Super Useful Travel Essentials Every Traveler Needs!”

Nice job! You got the basic Spanish phrases for greetings down. Now a little bit longer phrases, but don’t worry, they are not too complicated. Trust me, it’s worth learning these Spanish phrases.

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Travel Spanish: 70+ Essential Phrases for Your Trip

Updated on January 28, 2024 by Lou Mac

So you’re planning to visit a Spanish-speaking country (woohoo!). But how much language prep have you done for your trip?

Knowing basic travel Spanish is essential for any trip: for communicating with locals to find the best restaurants, asking for directions, and perhaps most importantly, in any emergency situation.

So, we’ve compiled this list of Spanish words and phrases that will be useful for when you immerse yourself in Hispanic culture.

If you’re unsure about the pronunciation of these phrases, this guide to Spanish pronunciation will help you understand all the basics!

Essential Travel Spanish Basics

The city of Santiago de Chile South America

The following words and phrases are worth going over and over until you can say them pretty much automatically, as they will be some of the basic building blocks to your Spanish knowledge.

Hablo español / No hablo español . — I speak Spanish / I don’t speak Spanish.
¿Tiene…? — Do you have…?
Tengo… no tengo… — I have… I don’t have…
Entiendo, no entiendo — I understand, I don’t understand
¿Entiende? — Do you understand?
Quiero, no quiero — I want…, I don’t want… E.g. quiero un boleto, un taxi, un hotel — I want a ticket, a taxi, a hotel…
Me gustaría, no me gustaría… — I would like…, I wouldn’t like… (This one is more polite)
¿Dónde está…? — Where is… ?
¿Cuánto cuesta? — How much does it cost?
¿Qué hora es? — What time is it?

How to Ask for Directions in Spanish

Learning how to ask for directions is perhaps not as essential as it was twenty years ago, before the development of the internet and Google Maps.

However, if you find yourself in a situation where you can’t use your cellphone (which can easily happen!), you should know the basic Spanish phrases and vocabulary for finding your way around.

¿Dónde está…? — Where is the…?
¿ Cómo llego al centro? — How do I get to the centre/downtown?
¿Hay un restaurante bueno por aquí? — Is there a good restaurant around here?
Busco un hotel/hostal — I’m looking for a hotel/hostal

With the phrases above you can ask for directions to other places, such as the bank, a bathroom etc. Here is some useful vocabulary to substitute into these phrases:

El baño — the bathroom
Un tren — a train
La calle — the street
Un cajero automático — an ATM

And lastly some practical vocab to help you understand the helpful directions people give you:

A la derecha — to the right
A la izquierda — to the left
Derecho — straight ahead
Una cuadra — a block
Sigue… — keep going…

How to Ask for Help in Spanish

While there are many things you must learn if you want to speak Spanish, knowing how to ask for help is key to surviving in a Spanish-speaking country.

A few phrases or words will make things much easier if an emergency occurs or you are in trouble, including the following:

Note: These examples use the “formal” way of speaking to people.

¿Puede ayudarme? — Can you help me?
¡Ayuda! — Help!
Necesito ayuda — I need help
¡Llame a la policía! — Call the police!
¡Llame a la ambulancia! — Call the ambulance!
Ayúdeme, por favor . — Help me, please
¿Podría ayudarme, por favor? — Could you help me, please?
¿Podría explicarlo, por favor? — Can you explain it to me, please?
¿Cómo se escribe…? — How do you write…?
¿Cómo se dice…? — How do you say…?

Spanish for Medical Emergencies

hospital waiting room in spanish-speaking country

It’s also important to know words in Spanish that can help us deal with a medical emergency.

No me siento bien — I don’t feel well
¿Dónde está el hospital más cercano? — Where is the nearest hospital?
¿Puede llamar a la ambulancia? — Can you call the ambulance?
¿Dónde está la farmacia? — Where is the drugstore/pharmacy?
¿El doctor habla inglés? — Does the doctor speak English?
¿Necesito medicinas? — Do I need medication?
¿Qué medicina necesito? — What medicine do I need?
Tengo un seguro de salud internacional — I have international health insurance

Navigating Your Accommodation in Spanish

Once you’ve found the perfect place to stay, here’s how to get yourself checked in and comfortable:

Tengo una reserva a nombre de Harry Potter — I have a reservation under the name Harry Potter
Necesito un hotel / un cuarto / un cuarto con baño — I need a hotel / a room / a room with a bathroom
Me gustaría quedarme por dos noches — I would like to stay for two nights
¿Tiene una habitación doble? — Do you have a double room?
¿Dónde está la piscina / gimnasio? — Where is the pool/gym?
¿A qué hora es el desayuno? — What time is breakfast?
¿Cuál es la contraseña de WiFi? — What is the WiFi password?

Essential Spanish for Eating Out

The most important travel Spanish phrases to add to your mental toolbox are those surrounding eating out—either because we are hungry (obviously) or we want to experience the wonderful local gastronomy.

This list of expressions and words could save your life (well, your stomach) on your next adventure in a Spanish-speaking country.

In addition to the vocabulary below, a useful resource are these scenario podcast episodes we did about ordering vegetarian food in Spanish , and ordering coffee in Spanish .

To make things easier, we have divided these restaurant-related words and phrases into several categories. Check them out below:

When Arriving or Booking a Table

Quisiera reservar una mesa — I would like to book a table
Quisiera reservar una mesa para dos — I would like to book a table for two
¿Tiene alguna mesa disponible? — Is there any available table?
Tengo una mesa reservada a nombre de Hermione Granger — I have booked a table under the name of Hermione Granger

When Ordering

¡Camarero / garzón! — Waiter !
¿Podría traerme el menú, por favor? — Could you bring me the menu, please?
¿Qué me recomienda? — What do you recommend?
¿Podría recomendarme un plato local, por favor? — Can you recommend me a local dish, please?
Para beber, me gustaría… — To drink, I would like…
Como entrada, me gustaría.. . — As a starter, I would like …
Como plato principal, me gustaría… — For the main course, I would like…
De postre, me gustaría… — For dessert, I would like…

During the Meal

Perdone, ¿podría traerme…? — Excuse me, could you bring me…?
Perdone, ¿podría traerme más servilletas? — Excuse me, could you bring me some more napkins?
Perdone, ¿podría traerme otra copa de vino ? Excuse me, could you bring me another glass of wine? (learn this one by heart 🍷)
La comida está muy rica . — The food is delicious
La carne está demasiado hecha — The meat is overcooked
La carne está poco hecha — The meat is undercooked

When Paying and Leaving

La cuenta, por favor — The bill, please
Estaba todo muy rico, gracias — Everything was very tasty, thanks
Quisiera pagar con tarjeta — I’d like to pay by card
Quisiera pagar en efectivo — I’d like to pay in cash
Creo que hay un error — I think there’s a mistake

Lastly, if you’re a foodie like me, you might want to know some food recommendations. Click here to learn about the different foods you must try if you’re visiting Chile!

Resources to Learn More Travel Spanish

If you’ve decided you want to know a bit more than just the survival Spanish, here are a few resources to kick-start your Spanish journey.

Seeing in Spanish Podcast. Our own language learning and travel podcast aims at helping you self-learn Spanish to make your travels unforgettable. To start, check out this episode on how to learn Spanish on your own .
Duolingo. I think it’s safe to assume you know what Duolingo is! While it often gets a bad rap, it’s all about how you use Duolingo which makes the difference!
YouTube Videos. Videos such as this video on top 20 travel Spanish phrases you should know are a great way to hear how phrases we learnt in this article are actually pronounced.

It’s also worth remembering that Spanish changes depending on what country you’re in, so you might also want to consider learning a specific Spanish dialect.

With these survival Spanish words and phrases, your next trip will be much easier and more memorable.

Now you can move on to getting excited for your adventure!

Get a 40% off forever discount with the ready, set, speak sale! Ends soon!

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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Intermediate Spanish Phrases for Everyday Conversations

How to celebrate april fools’ day in spanish.

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Spanish for Travel – Learn Essential Spanish Vocabulary and Short Phrases for Your Next Trip

This post includes:

Spanish travel phrases cheat sheet as PDF download
Audio to correct your pronunciation
Exercises to practice, 3 infographics, 2 podcast episodes, and an explanation video
A recommendation for the best travel apps to make the most of your trip to Spain

Introduction.

1.1 Essential Spanish conversational phrases

Means of transportation 2.1 At the airport 2.2 Baggage related phrases 2.3 Buying tickets 2.4 At the train or the bus station
At the car rental 3.1 Types of cars 3.2 Prices 3.3 Car information 3.4 Returning the car and emergency situations 3.5 Useful verbs

At the restaurant

At the hotel.

Basic Spanish directions 6.1 Asking for directions 6.2 Receiving directions
Essential phrases in Spanish for emergencies
The most commonly used verbs
Best apps for traveling in Spain

Looking to spice up your Spanish skills? From must-know verbs for your travels to nifty phrases that’ll make locals swoon, we’ve got you covered.

With our helpful Spanish phrases and words , you’ll be like a linguistic chameleon, seamlessly blending in wherever you go. Whether you’re exploring the vibrant streets of Mexico, basking in the Spanish sun, or even just soaking up the lively atmosphere of Miami, these phrases will be your secret weapon.

Here’s the secret sauce: ¡practice makes perfecto! Use these words and phrases until they flow effortlessly from your tongue until ordering tapas feels as natural as breathing.

Let’s dive into our blog and unlock the language of adventure! ¡Vamos!

Essential Spanish Conversational Phrases

A big part of traveling abroad is meeting new people. It doesn’t matter where you meet them, it only matters what you say to them. To have a broader picture check out our blog post about Greetings, Common Phrases and Most Common Questions in Spanish . The blog post was prepared for you by our experienced Spanish teachers.

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/audio-blogpost-travel-1.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] Hola, ¿qué tal? – Hello, how are you?

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/audio-blogpost-travel-2.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] Estoy bien, gracias. – I’m fine, thank you.

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/audio-travel-blog-3.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] No estoy muy bien. / No estoy bien. – I’m not too well. / I’m not well.

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Spanish-travel-2.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] Buenos días. Buenas tardes. Buenas noches. – Good morning. Good afternoon. Good evening./Good night.

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/audio-travel-4.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] Adiós. Buenas noches. – Goodbye. Good night.

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/audio-travel-6.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿Hablas inglés? – Do you speak English?

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/audio-travel-7.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿Puedes ayudarme? – Can you help me?

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/audio-travel-8.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿Puedes hablar más despacio? No entiendo. – Can you speak slower? I don’t understand.

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/audio-travel-9.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] Hasta mañana. / Hasta luego. / Hasta pronto. – See you tomorrow. / See you later. / See you soon.

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Disculpa-perdona.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] Disculpa/Perdona. Por favor. Gracias. De nada. – Excuse me. Please. Thank you. You’re welcome.

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/audio-travel-11.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] Sí, por favor. No, gracias. – Yes, please. No, thanks.

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/¿Como-te-llamas_-Me-llamo.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿Cómo te llamas? Me llamo _____ – What’s your name? My name is _____

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/¿Donde-vives_-Vivo-en-____.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿Dónde vives? Vivo en ____. – Where do you live? I live in ______.

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/audio-ttravel-14.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] Encantado de conocerte. ¿De dónde eres? – Nice to meet you. Where are you from?

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/audio-travel-15.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] Soy de _______. – I’m from _________.

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/¿Cual-es-tu-profesion_-Soy-.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿Cuál es tu profesión? Soy ______. – What’s your job? I’m a(n) _______.

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/audio-travel-17.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿Cuál es tu número de teléfono? Mi número de teléfono es _____ Llámame. Este es mi número de teléfono. – What’s your phone number? My phone number is… Call me. This is my phone number.

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/correo-electronico.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿Cuál es tu dirección de correo electrónico? Mi dirección de correo electrónico es_____. Envíame un correo electrónico. Esta es mi dirección de correo electrónico. – What’s your email address? My email address is… Email me. Here’s my email address.

The first step of traveling is planning. It can be fun but also quite stressful. It’s up to you to decide. In our podcast we talk about planning vacations in Spanish. You can listen to it on different platforms!

Planning Vacations in Spanish: Listen to Our Podcast!

Means of transportation.

First, we need to get started with the transport vocabulary . Have a look at the infographic you’ll find bellow.

At the Airport

If you are taking your first flight to Spain , you should be prepared for all the different dialects and accents you will hear and see on your trip. To smooth your experience, we provide you with a list of common words and phrases used at the airport in Spanish .

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/travel-airport-1.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿Dónde está el mostrador de facturación? – Where is the check-in counter?

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/travel-airport-2.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿Dónde está el control de seguridad? – Where is the security checkpoint?

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/travel-airport-3.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿Dónde está el autobús de enlace que lleva al hotel? – Where is the hotel shuttle bus?

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/travel-airport-4.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿Dónde está la aduana? – Where are the customs?

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/travel-airport-5.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿Dónde está la parada de autobús? – Where is the bus stop?

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/travel-airport-6.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿Dónde está la terminal? – Where is the terminal?

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Travel-for-spanish-blog.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿Dónde está el baño/servicio/aseo ? – Where is the toilet?

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/¿A-que-hora-sale-el-avion_.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿A qué hora sale el avión? – What time does the plane leave?

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/travel-airport-9.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿A qué hora llega el vuelo? – What time does the flight arrive?

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/travel-airport-10.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿Cuál es el número de vuelo? – What is the flight number?

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/travel-airport-11.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿Cuál es el teléfono de la compañía aérea? – What is the airline’s phone number?

Baggage Related Phrases

Buying tickets.

Here you have some essential phrases and vocabulary to buy tickets in Spanish. We know how stressful is to purchase tickets for buses, trains, airplanes or any event that you want to attend. But don’t panic! We are here to make your life easier.

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/¿Hablas-ingles_.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿Hablas inglés? – Do you speak English?

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/travel-tickets-2.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ( Quería) un billete a Barcelona. – I want a ticket to Barcelona.

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/travel-tickets-3.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] Un billete de ida a Santiago, por favor. – One way ticket to Santiago, please.

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/travel-tickets-4.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿Cuánto cuesta el billete? – How much does the ticket cost?

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/travel-tickets-5.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿Cuándo sale el avión/autobús/tren? – When does the plane/bus/train leave?

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/travel-tickets-6.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿Cuándo llega el avión/autobús/tren? – When does the plane/bus/train arrive?

At the Train or the Bus Station

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/travel-at-train-1.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿Cuánto cuesta el billete? – How much does the ticket cost?

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/travel-at-train-2.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] Un billete de ida a Valencia, por favor. – One way ticket to Valencia, please.

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/travel-at-train-3.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿A qué hora sale el tren para ___? – What time does the train to … leave?

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/travel-at-train-4.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿Dónde está la parada del autobús número 11? – Where is the stop for bus number 11?

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/travel-at-train-5.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿Cuándo llega el tren de ____? – When does the train from … arrive?

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/travel-at-train-6.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿Cuál es la próxima parada? – What is the next stop?

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/travel-at-train-7.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿Cuántas paradas más hay hasta ____? – How many more stops until…?

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/travel-at-train-8.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿Cuánto dura el viaje? – How long is the journey?

While traveling in Spanish-speaking countries it’s necessary to know the numbers and dates . Even if you know how to ask “ How much does it cost? ” – it doesn’t mean that you will understand the answer (yes, I’ve been there).

For this reason, we have created a complete post for Numbers in Spanish . If you have difficulties with long numbers or find yourself frustrated with 5, 15, 50, and 500, then you should definitely check it out.

At the Car Rental

Client : Buenos días. Quiero alquilar un coche. - Good afternoon. I would like to rent a car.
Renter : Hola. ¿Tiene una reserva? - Do you have a reservation?
Client : Sí/no tengo una reserva. - Yes, I have/No, I don’t have a reservation
Renter : ¿Para cuántos días / cuántas semanas? - For how many days/weeks?
Client : Para ____ días/semanas. - For ____ days/weeks.

Did you know that the word ‘car’ in Spanish can be said in many different ways depending on the country you’re in? Here you have a few examples.

Types of Cars:

Car information:.

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/travel-at-car-4.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y” ¿El coche es manual o automático? – Is the car manual or automatic?

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/¿El-coche-tiene-aire-acondicionado_.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿El coche tiene aire acondicionado? – Does the car have air conditioning?

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/travel-at-car-6.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿Dónde está la rueda de repuesto? – Where is the spare tire?

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/travel-at-car-7.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿Qué tipo de gasolina utiliza? – What kind of fuel does it take?

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/¿Cuantos-litros-por-kilometro-consume-este-coche_.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿Cuántos litros por kilómetro consume este coche? – How many miles/kilometers does this car get to the gallon/liter.

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/¿El-precio-incluye-el-seguro-y-el-kilometraje_.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿ El precio incluye el seguro y el kilometraje? – Does that price include insurance and mileage?

Returning the Car and Emergency Situations:

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/devolver-el-coche.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿Dónde y cuándo tengo que devolver el coche? – Where and when do I have to return the car.

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/devolver-el-coche-con-el-deposito-lleno.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿Tengo que devolver el coche con el depósito lleno? – Do I have to return the car with a full gas tank?

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/llamar-en-caso-de-accidente-o-averia.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿A qué número tengo que llamar en caso de accidente o avería? – Is there anyone I can call in case of accident or breakdown

Useful Verbs:

Do you know how to order in a restaurant in Spanish? What would you say if the waiter only spoke Spanish? Or if he did not understand your language or was rude? Usually the waiters (camareros) don’t speak English or they don’t speak the language very well. So, we advise you to take a closer look at the Basic Spanish Vocabulary for Restaurants . There you will find basic and important vocabulary.

If you want to book your accommodation the old fashioned way, with a phone conversation, you can use these phrases. Keep in mind that you can write down all your requests in the reservation form on the hotel’s website.

Here you will find useful phrases for booking a room in Spanish .

The phrases you might use while checking-in :

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Hotel-1.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] Hola, tengo una habitación reservada. – Hi, I have a reserved room.

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Hotel-2.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] Me gustaría hacer el check-in. – I’d like to do the check-in.

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Hotel-3.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿Está lista la habitación? – Is the room ready?

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Hotel-4.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿Dónde puedo dejar mis maletas? – Where can I leave my luggage?

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Hotel-5.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿Dónde puedo aparcar el coche? – Where can I park my car?

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Hotel-6-2.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿En qué planta/piso está la habitación? – On which floor is the room?

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Hotel-7.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿A qué hora es el desayuno? – What time is breakfast?

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Hotel-8.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿Cuál es el horario de la piscina? – What are the swimming pool hours?

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Quiero-pagar-la-habitacion.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] Quiero pagar la habitación. – I’d like to do the payment for the room.

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Hotel-10.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta? – Can I pay by card?

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/spanish-efectivo.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿Puedo pagar en efectivo? – Can I pay in cash?

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Hotel-12.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿Puede llamar un taxi, por favor? – Can you please call me a taxi?

For booking a hotel room, describing a place or an object in Spanish, we created a podcast episode that you can listen to and enhance your vocabulary and grammar skills.

On Vacation in Spain: Listen to Our Podcast!

Basic spanish directions.

This section will help you navigate through the streets of Mexico City, Barcelona or a little village of Peru.

Check out our detailed blog post about Useful Spanish Directions!

Asking for directions:

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Disculpa_Perdona-¿la-plaza-Mayor_.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] Disculpa/Perdona, ¿la plaza Mayor?

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Busco-la-estacion-de-metro-mas-cercana.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] Busco la estación de metro más cercana. – I’m looking for the closest metro station.

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Directions-3-2.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] Estoy buscando un cajero automático. – I’m looking for an ATM.

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Directions-4-2.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿Dónde está el Museo de Arte Moderno? – Where is the Museum of Modern Art?

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Directions-5-.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿Hay un hospital cerca de aquí/por aquí cerca? – Is there a hospital around here?

Receiving directions:

Remember! If you don’t understand something, ask the person to repeat: ¿Cómo? (How?) . Usually Spanish people speak fast so you might need to slow them down a bit – just say: ¡Despacio, por favor! Slowly, please!

Essential Phrases in Spanish for Emergencies

Hopefully, you won’t need this part of our blog post, but it’s important that you know some basic phrases in case you need help!

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Emergencies-1.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿Puedes ayudarme? – Can you help me?

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Emergencies-2.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] Necesito ayuda . – I need help.

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Emergencies-3.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] Estoy perdido . – I’m lost.

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/¡Llama-a-la-policia-.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¡Llama a la policía! – Call the police!

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/¡Llama-a-una-ambulancia.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¡Llama a una ambulancia! – Call an ambulance!

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Emergencies-6.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¡Ten cuidado! – Be careful!

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Emergencies-7.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] Ha habido un accidente. – There’s been an accident.

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/¡Por-favor-rapido.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¡Por favor, rápido! – Please hurry!

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Emergencies-9.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] ¿Estás bien? – Are you OK?

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Emergencies-10.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] Me han robado. – I’ve been robbed.

[mp3j track=”https://letsspeakspanish.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Emergencies-11-.mp3″ title=”” ind=”n” volslider=”n” flow=”y”] Me han atacado. – I’ve been attacked.

The Most Commonly Used Verbs

In this part you can refresh or learn new Spanish verbs for traveling .

Best Apps for Traveling in Spain

1. Maps.me – a perfect alternative to any online maps. Before going to your destination, download an offline map and you will never get lost. You can also search for restaurants, supermarkets, and cultural landmarks without being connected to the internet.

2. Cabify – it’s like Uber but a Spanish version.

3. Triposo – a different kind of a TripAdvisor. It’s more user friendly and it has a lot of information about any destination. Create bucket lists and add favorite places. You can also find mini-guides gathered by the community.

4. Spanish Dict – although Google Translate is an excellent tool, we suggest this app for traveling through Spanish-speaking countries.

5. El Tenedor (The Fork) – the app has information about over 30,000 restaurants in Spain. You can discover what is around your location, choose the preferred cuisine and book a table. You can see the full menu in an app, which is handy. The app also offers discounts and some great deals.

6. Idealista – website and app for finding accommodation for longer periods. It offers apartments and houses to rent or buy.

7. Wallapop – similar to eBay, but in Spain. You can sell or buy stuff through the website or the app.

We hope this blog post answered many of your questions. Now, you’re ready for your adventure in Spain or South America. If you’re interested in more educational blog posts, visit our Learner’s Blog or check the FREE options to learn Spanish.

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Study Guide

50 Essential Spanish Phrases for Travelers

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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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Useful Travel Phrases in Spanish: Listen and Practice!

Sí, por favor, or no, gracias are two of the most famous Spanish travel phrases in the world, because they are so simple.

When eating tacos in Mexico , hiking in Costa Rica , exploring Cuba , tasting coffee in Colombia , visiting the Maya ruins in Guatemala , admiring the Iguazu falls in Argentina , traveling through Spain , or stopping by Equatorial Guinea , it would be very wise to keep a few more Spanish travel phrases available in your head.

If you feel like learning a little bit more than some basic greetings and farewells in Spanish and adding an arsenal of phrases to your travel Spanish, lay back and get ready to start learning some travel Spanish by listening and reading some more Spanish phrases to become more fluent and sound more natural.

Why Is Listening Beneficial?

Before we start feeding your travel Spanish, it is important to understand why listening is beneficial when learning Spanish.

As someone who has taught English mainly to Spanish-speaking students for a couple of years, I’ve noticed that those who limit themselves to only reading and solving grammar exercises tend to have a harder time with the language.

On the other hand, those who take the listening exercises seriously and try to repeat as they listen tend to achieve fluency more quickly than their peers. While our level of mastery is directly linked to our specific set of abilities and how much we practice, listening to a native speaker in their language and trying to imitate them is one of the best pathways towards fluency.

Travel Spanish Conjugation

The first thing we need to know is our verb, the Spanish translation for “to travel” is viajar. In this section you’ll learn how to conjugate this verb in:

Simple present – Presente del indicativo
Simple past – Pretérito del indicativo
Simple future – Futuro del indicativo

Keep in mind that, ustedes and vosotros are both the second person of the plural form—however, Latin Americans use ustedes and Spaniards use vosotros .

Presente del indicativo

Pretérito de indicativo, futuro del indicativo.

To keep this part simple practice one sentence with each tense:

Tú viajas hoy. You travel today.

Mis padres viajarán el sábado. My parents are going to travel on Saturday.

Mi vecina viajó el año pasado a Colombia. My neighbor traveled to Colombia last year.

PRO TIP: In Spanish, we use el presente del indicativo to talk about habits, but also to talk about something that is happening today.

Simple Spanish Travel Phrases

We’ll start off with some basic travel vocabulary in Spanish.

In this section, I include 4 basic phrases to show where you’re from, what you will do on your travels when you’re going back, and how long you are staying in a country.

Check out these useful Spanish travel phrases.

Where You’re From

Vengo de Inglaterra. I come from England.

Soy jamaiquino(a). I am Jamaican .

Soy estadounidense; vengo de Pittsburgh. I am American, I come from Pittsburgh.

Talking About Your Plans

Haré un tour por Guatemala, El Salvador, Belice y Honduras durante dos semanas. I will make a tour through Guatemala, El Salvador, Belize, and Honduras for two weeks.

No iré a Nicaragua porque no es parte de mi plan. I won’t go to Nicaragua because it isn’t part of my plan.

Regresaré a Jamaica el 3 de Diciembre. I will go back to Jamaica on December 3rd.

Estaré tres días y dos noches en Guatemala. I’ll be in Guatemala for three days and two nights.

PRO TIP: Some South Americans use the verb devolverse instead of regresar when talking about going back to your country. In the sentence above, you can substitute the word regresaré for me devolveré too.

Travel Spanish To Use at the Airport:

For most of us, the airport is the first thing we see in a foreign country. Latin America has some awesome airports , where they probably speak English—but why take any chances, when you can learn some useful Spanish travel phrases.

Looking For a Place

¿Dónde está el baño? Where is the bathroom?

¿De qué terminal sale mi avión? From which terminal does my plane leave?

¿Cómo llego a la puerta 40F? How do I get to gate 40F?

Stating Your Business

Vengo a este país de visita. I’m visiting this country.

Venimos por motivos de negocios. We are coming for business.

Mi hermano viene a estudiar; yo solo vengo a dejarlo. My brother is coming here to study; I am just dropping him off.

Stating the Duration of Your Visit

Nos quedaremos aquí por dos semanas. We’ll be staying here for two weeks.

Regreso el 25 de Noviembre. I’m going back on November 25th.

Mi hermano se quedará hasta el próximo año; yo hasta la próxima semana. My brother will be staying until next year; I will (be staying) until next week.

Declaring Your Belongings

No traigo más de diez mil dólares en efectivo. I do not bring more than ten thousand dollars in cash.

Llevo cinco cajas de medicinas en mi maleta. I carry five boxes of medicine in my suitcase.

No tengo nada que declarar. I have nothing to declare.

Travel Spanish To Ask for Directions

One of the most important things when traveling is asking for directions, knowing where to go and where not to go and. If you’re in Latin America.

Remember to use the usted when talking to people you don’t know and are (or seem to be) older than you, and tú or vos when talking to someone your age or younger.

Formal Ways To Ask for Directions:

Disculpe, caballero, ¿dónde se encuentra La Mano? Excuse me, Sir, where is La Mano ?

Perdone, señorita, ¿cómo podría llegar al Museo del Oro? Excuse me, Miss, how can I get to the Gold Museum ?

Señora, ¿me puede indicar cómo llego al Palacio de Bellas Artes? Madam, could you tell me how to get to Palacio de Bellas Artes ?

Informal Ways To Ask for Directions:

¿Dónde está el volcán El Arenal? Where is El Arenal volcano?

¿Me decís cómo llegar a la Fortaleza del Cerro? Can you tell me how to get to Hill Fortress ?

Dime por dónde sigo para llegar al hotel. Tell me where to go to get to the hotel.

Following Directions in Spanish

After asking, most locals will try to help you and they will most likely combine the following verbs:

With some of these directions:

Practice Sentences

Siga derecho y al llegar a la esquina cruce a la derecha. Keep going straight and turn right when you get to the corner.

Regrese por donde vino y al terminar la cuadra camine 50 metros al oeste. Go back, all the way down the block, and walk 50 meters to the west.

Gire en la próxima avenida y llegue hasta el mercado; allí estará enfrente. Turn in the next avenue, reach the market; it’ll be there right in front.

Spanish Travel Phrases To Use at the Hotel

After finally arriving at your hotel and being about to reach some peace of mind, you’ll need to talk to the staff . Since they are people you do not know, I would recommend using formal Spanish in order to be more respectful.

Phrases To Use When Arriving

Reservé una habitación sencilla a nombre de… I booked a simple room under the name…

Es posible que me quede dos noches más en el hotel. It is possible that I will stay two more nights at the hotel.

¿En qué piso (o planta) se encuentra mi habitación? Which floor is my room?

Asking About Additional Services in the Hotel

¿El wi-fi está incluído en la tarifa? Is Wi-Fi included in the fee?

¿Hasta qué hora sirven el desayuno buffet? What time is the breakfast buffet served until?

¿Tengo acceso al spa y al jacuzzi con la habitación que renté? Do I have access to the spa and jacuzzi with the room I booked?

Asking About the City

¿Qué es lo mejor para ver en esta ciudad si solo tengo un día para visitarla? What’s the best thing to see in this city if I only have a day to visit it?

¿Se puede llamar a un taxi que me lleve, me espere y me traiga de vuelta al hotel? Is it possible to get a cab that takes me where I’m going, waits for me, and brings me back to the hotel?

¿Qué tan seguro es visitar ese barrio por la noche? How safe is it to visit that neighborhood at night?

FUN FACT: Many Spanish speakers don’t mind when a foreigner uses tú (the informal way) to talk to us, since some of us adopt a “forgiving” attitude towards this.

Talking About Currency

While the U.S. Dollar is widely accepted in many big cities, the deeper you adventure yourself into a country, the more difficult it gets to trade with a foreigner currency.

Solo tengo un billete de cien dólares, ¿me puede dar cambio? I only have a one-hundred-dollar bill, can you give me change?

¿Puedo pagar con dólares? Todavía no tengo la moneda local . Can I pay in dollars? I don’t have the local currency.

¿Cuánto es/son…en dólares? How much is… in dollars?

Getting Cash

¿Dónde hay un cajero automático por aquí cerca? Where can I find an ATM close by?

¿Cuánto me va a cobrar de comisión por hacer un retiro? What is the additional commission it will charge me to make a withdrawal?

Necesito que me dé el vuelto en billetes de a cincuenta quetzales, por favor. I need my change in fifty-quetzales bills, please.

Moving Around on Your Own

If you visit places out of walking range you are going to need to get a cab, a bus, a tram, or a metro, and it is useful to ask around for metro lines, times, and being safe on your trip.

¿Qué línea de metro debo tomar para llegar a Insurgentes? Which metro line do I have to take to get to Insurgentes?

¿Cuántas paradas faltan para llegar a…? How many stops to get to…?

¿A qué horas pasa el siguiente bus y a dónde va? What time does the next bus pass and where does it go?

¿Hay un tranvía en esta ciudad? Is there a tram in this city?

Quotes About Travelling in Spanish

For this last little section, I compiled four great quotes about travelling in Spanish to motivate you to travel, get to know magical places outside your country and see how beautiful Spanish can be.

“El mundo es un libro y quienes no viajan leen sólo una página”. “The world is a book and those who don’t travel read only one page.” —St. Agustine.

“Viajar es fatal para los prejuicios, la intolerancia, y la estrechez de miras”. “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” —Mark Twain.

“Viajar es la única cosa que compras que te hace más rico”. “Travelling is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.” —Anonymous.

“Nadie se da cuenta de lo hermoso que es viajar hasta que llega a casa y descansa su cabeza sobre su vieja y conocida almohada”. “No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow”. —Lin Yutang.

Unlock a Continent by Speaking Spanish

These Spanish travel phrases are great, and you should practice them before visiting Latin America, Spain, or Equatorial Guinea, but remember that they can only take you so far. If you want to up your Spanish game, master true fluency, and make any Spanish-speaking country feel like a second home try a free Spanish class today!

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“It’s a great way to learn Spanish, from native Spanish speakers in a 1-on-1 environment. It’s been fairly easy to schedule classes around my daughter’s other classes. The best value for us has been ordering multiple classes at a time. All the instructors have been great!”

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Master Essential Spanish Travel Phrases for Your Next Adventure Before Going to Latin America

Basic SPANISH for TRAVEL: All you need to know when traveling to Latin-America 🏜️

If you are planning on travelling to a Spanish-speaking country any time soon and want to learn words and Spanish travel phrases that will help you survive during your stay, this is a must-read article !! I’ll give you a language survival kit that will certainly make your life easier, así que ¡vamos a darle!

1. Starting a conversation with these Spanish phrases

So, let’s imagine you are on the plane to Buenos Aires, Bogotá, Lima, Oaxaca, Montevideo, you name it… and let’s say you want to chat with the person sitting next to you because the flight will last five hours and it might be somewhat boring and even awkward to spend it in complete silence, right?

As an icebreaker you may say:

¡Hola! Soy Mariana . ¿Cómo te llamas? (Hi! I’m Mariana. What’s your name?)

You could also say:

¡Hola! Mi nombre es Mariana. ¿Cómo te llamas? (Hi! My name is Mariana. What’s your name)

The other person might respond: “ Mucho gusto . Me llamo Elena ”. (Nice to meet you. My name is Elena or whatever their name is).

So, Spanish allows you to introduce yourself in three different ways. Let’s go over them once again:

Soy Mariana. (I’m Mariana.)
Mi nombre es Mariana . (My name is Mariana.)
Me llamo Mariana . (My name is Mariana.)

In addition to hola , which means “hi”, you could also say “ buenos días ”, “ buenas tardes ”, or “ buenas noches ” depending on the time of day. We cannot delve into the details right now, but if you want to know more about these other ways of greeting people, you should not miss out on our video about greetings in Spanish.

2. Keep the conversation going with basic Spanish phrases

Okay, once you know the other person’s name, you might want to know how old they are. You have two options here:

¿Cuántos años tienes?
¿Qué edad tienes?

They both mean “how old are you?”.

The other person will say: “ Tengo 28 años ”. (I’m 28 years old). Once they’ve told you their age, the person will certainly ask you: “ ¿Y tú? ” (And you?) or “ Y tú, ¿qué edad tienes? ” (Literally, this would translate into “what age do you have?”. Since that obviously makes no sense in English, this chunk is the equivalent of “how old are you?”) You may respond: “ Tengo 30 años .” (I’m thirty).

Another thing that people usually ask to try to get to know someone, even if it’s just briefly, is what they do for a living, right? Once again, Spanish gives you two options:

¿A qué te dedicas? (Literally, what do you dedicate yourself to?)
¿En qué trabajas? (Literally, what do you work in?)

Since the word-for-word translation into English of these two chunks in Spanish makes no sense, you should learn the way it’s said in Spanish by heart as the equivalent of “what do you do for a living?”.

✔️ Cheat Sheet with 54 essential Spanish Chunks you’ll hear and use yourself in ANY Spanish conversation (and example sentences). Taken from our YouTube Teacher’s most popular videos!

✔️ 2 Bonus Cheat Sheets with Travel Chunks and Dating/Relationship Chunks

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3. Switching a conversation into English

Now, let’s say this person turns out to be very chatty and they start conversing non-stop about their family, their job, what have you. If you have trouble understanding them, you may say: “ Disculpa, no hablo mucho español ” (Sorry, I don’t speak Spanish very well).

If you want to switch into English, you may ask them: “ ¿Hablas inglés? ” (Do you speak English?). If they do, you may suggest: “ ¿Podemos continuar en inglés? ” (Could we speak in English now?)

Or let’s say you want to challenge yourself in trying to understand most of what the other person is saying but you need them to slow down. Then, you should say: “ ¿Pudieras hablar más despacio, por favor ? ” (Could you speak more slowly, please?)

Additionally, if you didn’t understand a specific bit and you want them to repeat it, you should say: “ Disculpa, no entendí . ¿Puedes repetirlo? ” (Sorry, I didn’t get that. Could you repeat it?)

You may obviously use all the phrases we’ve learned so far in any conversation, not just to chat with the person next to you on a plane.

4. Asking for information with Spanish travel phrases

Now, let’s imagine the plane has landed. You get off it, but you’re not quite sure where to collect your luggage. Then, you could ask a flight attendant or airport staff: “ Disculpe, ¿dónde recojo mi equipaje? ” (Sorry, where should I collect my luggage?)

Once they’ve provided you with the information you should always say “ Gracias ” (Thanks!). If you truly appreciate the help or the information, you may say “ Muchas gracias ” (Thank you very much!) and if you want to acknowledge how helpful the other person was, you may say “ Muy amable ” (Very kind of you!).

So, you’ve got your luggage with you. Now you need a taxi to go to your hotel, but you also need cash to pay for the taxi. What now? Well, you may ask:

Disculpe, ¿dónde hay un cajero automático? (Sorry, where can I find an ATM?)
Disculpe, ¿dónde hay un banco? (Sorry, where can I find a bank?)
Disculpe, ¿dónde hay un centro cambiario? (Sorry, where can I find a money exchange center?)

Notice that I’ve used the word “ disculpe ” several times before asking a question. This word may be translated as “sorry” or “excuse me” and we use it to get someone’s attention in a polite manner.

Now, if you say “ disculpe ” you will be addressing the other person with deference, but if you say “ disculpa ” you will be addressing them informally.

Okay, you’ve got cash on you. Now you need a taxi, right? So, the question goes: “ Disculpe, ¿dónde puedo tomar un taxi? ” (Sorry, where can I get a taxi?)

You’ve been told where to get a taxi. You’ve said “ gracias ” to thank the other person for the information and you are now walking towards the taxi rank. Someone gets on your way because they’re carelessly looking at the arrivals board (I absolutely hate it when people do that!). Anyway, what’s the equivalent of “excuse me” in Spanish? “ Con permiso ” or, simply, “ Permiso ”.

5. Useful Spanish phrases when asking for recommendations

Okay, now you’re on the taxi. Since taxi drivers usually know their way around cities very well, you might want to ask them something like, “ ¿Qué me recomienda visitar? ” (What would you recommend that I visit?)

In my experience, taxi drivers are very good at telling you where to eat amazing local food. To get this sort of information from them, you may ask: “ ¿Qué restaurante me recomienda? ” (Which restaurant would you recommend?)

Now, you’re at your hotel. You’ve checked in, you’ve left your luggage in your room, and you are starving. Maybe it’s time to look for the restaurant that the taxi driver recommended, right? You may ask hotel staff, “ Disculpe, ¿dónde queda este restaurante ” (Sorry, where is this restaurant?) They will surely give you directions; some hotels might even offer you to get you a cab that can take you there.

6. Spanish words to use in a restaurant

Let’s say the restaurant is right around the corner. You get there and you want to tell the waiter or waitress that you are vegetarian.

So, to order food, you may say: “ Soy vegetariana ” (if you are a woman) or “ Soy vegetariano ” (if you’re a man) (I’m vegetarian).

If there’s something you don’t want in your food, you should say “ sin ”, which is the equivalent of “without”, plus whatever it is you don’t want to eat. For example: “ Quisiera una ensalada sin queso, por favor .” (I’d like to have a salad without cheese, please).

7. Basic Spanish words when talking about allergies

If you are allergic to something, you should definitely learn how to say it.

If you are a guy, you should say “ Soy alérgico ” and, if you are a woman, “ Soy alérgica ” and then you add whatever it is you are allergic to. For instance, “ Soy alérgica a las nueces ” (I’m allergic to nuts). I once travelled with a friend who has a massive allergy to nuts and it was nuts!!

Now, to order your drink, you may say: “ De tomar, quisiera una limonada ” (To drink, I’ll have a lemonade, please). And we all know that the saddest thing about travelling abroad is spending money. So, how do you ask the waiter or waitress for the bill? “ Disculpa, ¿me traes la cuenta, por favor? ”

There’s also a shorter way of saying it: “ La cuenta, por favor ” (The bill, please).

8. A basic Spanish for travelers: buying souvenirs

Okay, your holiday is over, you’ve had an amazing time in Mexico City eating tacos or drinking mate in Buenos Aires. It’s time to go back to your country, but you want to get a souvenir for your mom, your dad, your significant other, or even yourself.

You go into a souvenir shop, you like something, and you want to know how much it costs. What should you say? Once again, you have two options:

¿Cuánto cuesta esto?
¿Esto qué precio tiene?

9. Learn Spanish with FREE Spanish Training

Muy bien , you’ve got your language survival kit! You are ready to travel to any Spanish-speaking country and you will certainly rock it! If you need ayuda (help) and want to learn more, feel free to check out our Spring Spanish Travel videos on our channel!

Now, if you’re ready to take it a step beyond this survival Spanish lesson and get serious about learning the language, we have a free Spanish training on our website where you’ll discover the method we use in our Spring Spanish Academy to teach students to speak fluent Spanish. You also get some free sample Spanish lessons there that come straight from our Academy! If you’re interested, just click on the link in the description box below to sign up!

Mariana has always been passionate about languages, so much so that she speaks English, Italian, and French; additionally, she is currently learning German and is eager to learn one or more Mexican indigenous languages. Given her love for languages, she holds a Bachelor's degree in Modern Languages and a Master’s degree in Communication and Language Studies. In addition to being a teacher at Spring Spanish, Mariana works as a legal translator (in fact, she’s a sworn translator in Mexico). She’s also a singer who loves travelling with friends and family and whenever she has a bit of free time, she enjoys reading a book or watching a movie.

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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

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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.

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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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Latin American Spanish Cafe

Learn Latin American Spanish Online. Country accents, dialects, and vocabulary blogs and worksheets

Key Spanish Phrases for Travel: Latin America Style

Last Updated on September 30, 2023 by Keith Filed Under: Greetings , Language Learning , Travel

What do the awe-inspiring Iguazú Falls, the ancient citadel of Machu Picchu, the lush beaches of Cancún, and the picturesque streets of downtown Cartagena all have in common? They’re all located in Spanish-speaking countries of Latin America, of course! So if you’re planning to visit the amazing sights Latin America has to offer, you’ll need to speak Spanish once you’re there.

These useful Spanish travel phrases are going to help you get by when traveling in Spanish-speaking countries. In fact, they could be considered essential to learn, because you may need to use each and every one of them from the minute you land.

We’ve included basic Spanish phrases such as greetings, ordering food in a restaurant , checking into a hotel, transport, asking for and understanding directions , and some phrases you might need in case of an emergency. Fasten your seatbelts, muchachos , ¡porque nos vamos de viaje!

And do check our full guide to vocabulary and phrases for air travel to help make the travel experience easier but also more educational.

Table of Contents

Basic phrases

This first section of handy Spanish words is where you’ll learn the basic greetings , question words and common questions, and other common Spanish phrases you’ll need on a daily basis.

Making conversation and getting information is all about asking and answering questions, so memorizing the question words should be your first port of call! Here are the main question words presented in examples of common questions:

Please note: There’s a small, yet important difference between saying ¿ Cuánto está/cuesta? and ¿ Cuánto es? . You usually use ¿ Cuánto está / cuesta? if you’re asking about the price for a single item or service. You’d be more likely to use ¿ Cuánto es? when you’re asking about the total bill, for example at a supermarket, restaurant, or hotel.

Ordering food at a restaurant

Trying all the delicious local food is one of the best things about traveling. Latin America is home to many rich culinary traditions, so be sure to use the following phrases to order. (We decided not to include a long list of the actual names of foods because they can change from one Latin country to another–avocado is aguacate in some countries and palta in others, for example–and are often listed on the menu anyway.)

Here’s a food ordering conversation to help you practice:

Getting around

Exploring the city or town you’re visiting is the most exciting part of traveling, however, it can be a little daunting because you might have to ask someone for directions at some point. This would not be a good time to be stuck for words, so don’t forget to practice the phrases below several times to ensure they just roll off your tongue with no problem.

Let’s practice! Look at the map and read the conversation below where a tourist is asking a police officer for directions. You’re standing outside the museum.

Checking into a hotel

During your travels, you’ll inevitably stay at a hostel or a hotel, so you definitely need to master these common Spanish expressions and basic questions about your accommodation.

Problems and emergencies

We certainly hope you won’t need any of the phrases below during your travels, but they’re still part of the essential Spanish expressions that should be part of your vocabulary.

Review test

Time for a little test now to put your newfound vocabulary in practice! Choose the correct word to complete the sentence. (The answers can be found at the bottom of the article)

Congratulations! You’ve just gone from not even knowing how to say trip in Spanish (which is viaje, in case you’d missed it), to knowing several super important Spanish phrases to know when traveling. We hope you put these phrases to good use during your next adventure somewhere in Latin America. ¡Hasta la próxima, muchachos!

(Answers to the review test: 1-a / 2-a / 3-b / 4-a / 5-b / 6-b / 7-a / 8-b)

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9 Best Spanish Travel Phrases to Know Before You Go

Using Spanish travel phrases at Isglsia De Sant Pere in Figueres, Spain

Embarking on a journey to a Spanish-speaking destination? Knowing some Spanish travel phrases will make your travels much easier and enjoyable. We asked traveller Kayla Gollacher which are the most commonly used Spanish phrases for travel.

If you’re heading to Spain or a Spanish-speaking country, it’s important to make sure you know a few key Spanish travel phrases to help you get around. While there will be other English-speaking people, it never hurts to know a bit of the local language.

Speaking in a different language can be stressful which is why we recommend learning a few phrases. Don’t worry too much about your accent or grammar, but just focus on learning these key phrases.

9 Best Spanish travel phrases

Hi! How are you?
I’m fine, thanks
I don’t speak Spanish
Asking for directions
Help, I need…
Ordering food
How much does this cost?
Can you recommend…

Using Spanish travel phrases to get information at Park Guell by Gaudi in Barcelona Spain

1. Hi! How are you?

Step one of useful Spanish travel phrases is knowing how to greet people. Most people know that “Hola” is Spanish for hello, which is a good start.

If you want to ask how someone is, you need to know the difference between formal and informal. If you are speaking to a stranger and want to say “Hello! How are you?” you would say “¡Hola! ¿Cómo está usted?”, the formal phrase.

But if you were speaking to someone you know, you could instead say “¡Hola! ¿Cómo estás?”. Always do your best to be polite, but people will be more understanding if you are a tourist.

2. I’m fine, thanks

When you ask someone how they are, you need to be prepared for them to ask you back. To say you are fine, you would say “Bien, gracias”. It’s important to remember to be polite and say “por favour” (please) and “gracias” (thank you).

On the other hand, if you are not doing well, you can let the other person know by saying “No tan bien”, meaning “Not so well”.

3. I don’t speak Spanish

When travelling, you need to be able to flag that you don’t speak the language, which is why “No hablo español” (I don’t speak Spanish) is one of the best Spanish travel phrases.

Another useful phrase is “¿Habla inglés?” for when you need to ask if someone speaks English to help you be understood.

A useful word to know is “entiendo”, which means “understand”. You can say “Yo entiendo”, meaning “I understand” or “No entiendo” meaning “I don’t understand”.

These few key phrases can get you very far when it comes to communicating on your trip. However, to truly level up your Spanish, check out this comprehensive list of useful Spanish travel phrases to get you through any situation.

Discussing price by using Spanish phrases for travel at the fish market attached to the fish auction in Palamos, Spain

4. My name is

You also want to be able to introduce yourself by saying, “Hello, my name is…”. The correct phrase is “¡Hola! Me llamo…”.

And to ask someone what their name is, you can say “Cómo te llamas?”. Being able to greet and start a conversation in Spanish is a very smart idea. Locals will appreciate that you are trying to speak the language.

During our home exchange in Spain , we discovered that having a grasp of basic phrases was extremely beneficial. However, learning Spanish in real time presented a significant challenge.

5. Asking for directions

Knowing how to ask for basic directions is essential for any tourist because getting a little bit lost while travelling is unavoidable.

You want to be able to politely ask for directions, so start with “Disculpe, ¿puede ayudarme a encontrar…?” which means “Excuse me, can you help me find…?.

Then you can learn a few nouns, like “esta dirección” (this address), “a la estación de tren” (the train station), and “un baño” (a bathroom).

If you want to soak up the gorgeous Spanish culture, you could ask about the “ el Museo” for museum, or “la Catedral” to see some breathtaking architecture.

6. Help, I need…

No one wants to have to deal with an emergency while travelling, but it’s always best to be prepared. You want to be able to ask for help and things like a doctor or the police.

To say “Help! I need a doctor.” you would say “¡Ayuda! Necesito un médico.”. And if you needed the police, you could replace “un medico” with “a la policia”.

7. Ordering food

When you go to a restaurant, you can ask, “Can I see the menu?” by saying “¿Puedo ver el menú?”.

When ordering, you can say “Me gustaría…” meaning “I would like”. If you don’t eat meat, an essential phrase is “¿Tienen opciones vegetarianas?”, meaning “Do you have any vegetarian options?”.

8. How much does this cost?

Shopping in a foreign country can be stressful, especially if you are at a market instead of a mall. To make your market experiences far smoother, learn the phrase “¿Cuánto cuesta esto?”.

This means “How much does this cost?” and asking in Spanish will set you apart from some other tourists and might even seal you a better deal at the market. In some areas, like Valencia, you might find that there are few English speakers, so knowing some Spanish phrases is essential.

9. Can you recommend…

Asking for recommendations from locals is a great way to experience real Spanish culture and see sights that tourists normally miss.

But you need to be able to ask in Spanish, so learn the phrase “¿Puede recomendarme alguna atracción turística?” meaning “Can you recommend any tourist attractions?”. By asking around, you can find some incredible free activities to do in Spain.

You can modify this to ask for specific things like “un buen restaurante” – a good restaurant. To really get off the beaten path, try asking “¿Dónde van los locales para divertirse?”, which translates to “Where do the locals go to have fun?”.

Jeff getting a Super Pancho hotdog in the park in Argentina

Save on your trip with these resources

These are our go-to companies when we travel. We believe this list to be the best in each category. You can’t go wrong using them on your trip too.

Flights: we use Expedia for the best and cheapest flight options.
Accommodations: we use Booking.com (hotels), VRBO (self-contained), or Hostelworld (budget).
Cars (gas or electric): we use RentalCars to search for deals and dealer ratings.
Motorcycles : we have heard good things about BikesBooking .
Campervans or Motorhomes : we use Campstar where Albom Adventures readers get a 3% discount.
Private guides : we love the private guides at Tours by Locals .
Travel Insurance: while not required, we always opt for travel insurance and start at InsureMyTrip to compare coverage plans.

Check out our travel resources page for more companies that we use when you travel.

Which of the Spanish phrases for travel do you think you will use?

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About the author

Kayla is a Content Marketing and SEO Manager with a passion for helping clients achieve their marketing goals. She manages a team of marketers who are pros at both on-screen and off-screen SEO. As they’re a fully-remote team, they can work from anywhere in the world. Kayla recently visited Spain, where she used many of the Spanish travel phrases she shared on this page.

About Albom Adventures Editorial Team

Albom Adventures’ editorial team consists of travel bloggers and other travel writers who periodically provide content to this blog. If would like to join our editorial team, please send us an email via the information on our contact page .

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Alex+J.+Cavanaugh

December 6, 2023 at 12:17 pm

Getting directions and knowing the cost are really important!

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All about Travelling

Most Useful Spanish Travel Words and Phrases

Spanish Travel Words In this guide, we shall discuss some useful Spanish travel phrases. For an easy explanation, we’ve divided the article into sections. This will help you make the most of your trip to Spain. Let’s begin!

Spanish Travel Words Spain is a country with charming streets, historic cities, pristine beaches, and thrilling nightlife. Don’t you think a trip to this European country will be a lifetime experience? Indeed it’ll!

We heard that you have already planned a well-deserved vacation here. Well, Spain is a Spanish-speaking country. Communicating with the locals, booking accommodation, ordering food, and getting around will be much easier if you learn some Spanish travel words.

Table of Contents

Spanish Travel Words that Every Traveler Needs to Learn

Greetings and Basic Spanish Phrases

Spanish Travel Words Below, we have jotted down some Spanish travel words for general greeting. Spaniards are polite people, so you should use a few of these words to greet people and ask some questions to initiate communication in Spain.

Hello – Hola
Good morning – Buenos días
Hello. What’s up – Hola lo que pasa
Good afternoon – Buenas tardes
Good night – Noche de Dios
Please – Por favor
How are you? – Cómo está
Nice to meet you – Mucho gusto
I’m fine, thank you – Bien, gracias
Excuse me – Perdón/Disculpe
I’m Sorry – Lo siento
Do you speak English – Habla ingles
Getting Around

Moving or traveling in Spain’s towns, cities, and villages becomes easy when you learn essential Spanish travel words and phrases. We have jotted down Spanish words for getting around in this Spanish-speaking city.

How much is the ticket? – ¿Cuánto cuesta el boleto?
I want a taxi – Quiero un taxi
I need a ticket to Madrid – Necesito un billete a Madrid
Where’s the railway station? – ¿Dónde está la estación de ferrocarril?
Is this the right bus to…? – ¿Es este el autobús/tren correcto a…?
Bus station – Estación de autobuses
Where can I find a taxi? – ¿Dónde puedo encontrar un taxi?
Stop here, please. – Pare aquí, por favor.

Dining out in Spain is something that you’ll love to do. But how will you be able to explain to the waiter what you want to eat or drink?

Well, some of the restaurants/bars have servicing people who understand English, but others might be confused. So, here’s some of the Spanish travel words to memorize:

I would like to order… – Me gustaría pedir…
I want a beer – Yo quiero una cerveza
Menu, please – Menú por favor
The check, please – La cuenta, por favor
I’m a vegetarian – Soy vegetariano/a
Water – Agua
Breakfast – Desayuno
Wine – Vino
Soup – Sopa
Beer – Cerveza
Table – Mesa
Accommodation

Spanish Travel Words You are in Spain and must book a hotel/Airbnb/luxury resort. Some of the essential Spanish travel words and phrases that’ll help you while looking for accommodation for your trip include the following:

Check in – Registro de entrada
Check out – Registro de salida
Is breakfast included? – ¿Está incluido el desayuno?
I have a reservation – Tengo una reservación
Can I have a wake-up call? – ¿Puede despertarme a una hora determinada?
Where is the hotel in this area – ¿Dónde está el hotel en esta zona?
I need a room with attached bathroom – Necesito una habitación con baño adjunto
What’s your name? – ¿Cómo se llama?
Do you offer a room service? – ¿Ofrecen servicio de habitaciones?
Emergencies

Spanish Travel Words for emergencies When you are in Spain with family or on a solo trip, it is essential to know how to communicate during emergencies. So, please try memorizing some easy and basic Spanish travel words in emergencies.

Help! – ¡Ayuda!
Does the Doctor Speaks English – ¿El médico habla inglés?
I need a doctor – Necesito un medico
Where is the nearest hospital? – ¿Dónde está el hospital más cercano?
Doctor’s Emergency Appointment – Cita de emergencia con el médico
Police – Policía
Can you please call an ambulance? – ¿Puede llamar una ambulancia, por favor?
I’ve lost my passport – He perdido mi pasaporte

Being in Spain and not getting something for yourself – NAH! It’s not done. As a tourist, you will indeed find yourself in the shopping mall purchasing local items and souvenirs.

Here are some of the Spanish travel words and phrases that might help you have a better shopping experience:

I would like to buy… – Me gustaría comprar…
How much is the cost for?…. – ¿Cuánto es el costo de….
Cash – Efectivo
Credit card – Tarjeta de crédito
Cheap – Barato
Do you have a fitting room? – ¿Tiene probadores?
Expensive – Caro
Can I get a receipt? – ¿Puedo tener un recibo?
Sightseeing

Spain has so much to explore and sightsee. When heading to the tourist attraction, you might have to communicate with tour guides or locals. We have jotted down some easy words and phrases in Spanish to enhance your sightseeing experience.

Landmark – Monumento
The route of the Museum? – La ruta del museo Traducir
Beach – Playa
What is the entrance fee? – ¿Cuál es el costo de la entrada?
Can you take a picture of me? – ¿Puede tomar una foto de mí?

How is Learning Spanish Travel Words Beneficial?

Everyone deserves to create memorable memories while traveling. In Spain, English is used widely. But, at times, Spaniards in some areas of the country might not know another language except Spanish. Also, people fluent in English in Spain need to be thicker. In such circumstances, learning Spanish travel words will be helpful.

Getting by on your vacation to Spain becomes fun, easy, and memorable only when you know how to communicate in Spanish. Let’s look at how learning Spanish travel words benefits first-time or more frequent tourists.

Improved Communication

You can communicate with Spanish people more easily. Basic Spanish travel phrases will help you talk to locals in tourist areas. How easy it becomes when you ask locals for directions or about some beautiful monument in the tourist location.

Convenience

Sign boards in Spain, Menus in local restaurants, and Public Transportation information are usually written in Spanish. If you learn essential Spanish travel words, traveling to Spain becomes more convenient. And who doesn’t love to have a convenient journey? All of us, right?

Friendship & Interaction

In a foreign country, if you manage to speak the local language, it will attract new friends. A few Spanish travel words create meaningful interactions with locals. You will miss some unique, fun-making experiences with the locals if you don’t speak Spanish.

See, among so many aspects of traveling to a foreign country, something that’s of utter importance is safety. Knowing some Spanish words is beneficial for an emergency. Suppose you are stuck in any road accident (which you shouldn’t – hopefully); Spanish learning will help you convey your needs to the authorities or medical personnel.

So Spanish Travel Words , these were some Spanish Tour Words you should memorize before landing in Spain. You must use some of these words at one place or another when traveling to Spain. We hope you have a hassle-free trip!

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War History Online

11 Everyday Phrases That Most People Don't Know Came From The Navy

Posted: April 15, 2024 | Last updated: April 15, 2024

<p>Over the centuries, sailors have created a language all their own to describe objects, people, actions and places. Much of this slang has found itself being integrated into the English language, without the majority knowing it originated in the Navy. Interested in learning which phrases came about on the open seas? Keep on reading to find out.</p>

11 Everyday Phrases That Most People Don’t Know Came From The Navy

Throughout history, sailors have developed a distinct vocabulary to describe the unique facets of their world, covering everything from objects and individuals to actions and locations. Interestingly, a significant portion of this maritime jargon has made its way into the English language, often escaping the notice of the general public, who remain unaware of its nautical origins.

If you're intrigued by the maritime roots of these commonplace expressions, read on!

<p>When a vessel is returning to port for repairs, a sailor may say that the ship is returning to her husband. In this instance, the "husband" refers to the man in charge of the shipyard where the vessel will be returned to working order.</p>

Ships husband

When a ship is heading back to port for repairs, a sailor might colloquially mention that the vessel is returning to her "husband." In this context, "husband" denotes the person in charge of the shipyard who's responsible for restoring the ship to operational condition.

In through the hawsepipe

"In through the hawsepipe" is a naval colloquialism employed by sailors who achieve officer status through unconventional pathways, symbolizing their journey through the hierarchical ranks of a ship.

In this particular context, it signifies commencing at the lowest rung. The hawsepipe - or hawsehole - refers to the opening in the ship's bow through which the anchor cable is threaded.

<p>Letting the cat out of the bag is Navy slang to describe the punishment of whipping. The "cat" refers to the cat o' nine tails, a formidable multi-tailed whip stored within a cloth bag. Sailors knew it was about to be used when the superior doling out the punishment pulled it out of its bag.</p>

Let the cat out of the bag

"Letting the cat out of the bag" describes the punishment of whipping in the Navy.

The term "cat" points to the cat o' nine tails, a formidable whip with multiple tails that's typically kept within a cloth bag. Sailors were aware that this punishment was imminent when the superior administering the discipline extracted the whip from its bag.

<p>A knot is a unit used worldwide as a measurement of speed through water. The term originated from the way sailors measured a ship's speed. A vessel had a length of rope with colored knots every 47.33 feet. At the end was a buoyant piece of wood that remained stationary in the water, unreeling the rope as the ship moved through the water.</p> <p>The number of knots that passed through a sailor's fingers over a 28-second period provided a measurement of the vessel's speed.</p>

A knot serves as a universally recognized unit for measuring speed through water. Its origins lie in the method sailors employed to gauge a ship's velocity. A length of rope was marked with colored knots at intervals of 47.33 feet. Attached to one end was a piece of wood that floated in the water, allowing the rope to uncoil as the ship progressed.

By counting the number of knots slipping through a sailor's fingers within a 28-second span, the vessel's speed could be determined.

Scuttlebutt

Within naval circles, "scuttlebutt" is a stand-in for gossip or rumor. Its roots lie in "scuttle," the act of intentionally sinking a vessel by piercing holes in its hull, and "butt," the cask where sailors would gather to chat. Essentially, it symbolizes the way rumors can affect morale, much like water seeping into a ship.

<p>This term, commonly used in the English language, was originally used to describe a novice sailor. It would be printed on their discharge and meant they knew the names and purpose of a ship's main ropes... Basically, it informed their superiors that they knew the very basics of seamanship.</p>

He knows the ropes

Initially used to describe a novice sailor, this term has become part of the English language. It was marked on their discharge papers, indicating their proficiency with the ropes on a ship - a fundamental aspect of seamanship.

Essentially, it reassured their superiors that they understood the basics of sailing.

<p>Today, to spin a yarn means to tell a story, one that's perhaps slightly exaggerated. Its <a href="https://grammarist.com/idiom/spin-a-yarn/" rel="noopener">seagoing origins</a> date back to naval officers who believed that, if seamen spent too much time telling stories, then no work would be done.</p> <p>At least once a week, a ship's crew would have to unravel old lines of rope. During this, the men could converse and tell stories as much as they pleased, and the time became known "spinning yarns." Eventually, telling a tall tale turned into spinning a yarn.</p>

Spinning a yarn

In modern use, "to spin a yarn" denotes storytelling, often with a touch of exaggeration. Its maritime roots trace back to naval officers who feared excessive storytelling among sailors would hinder productivity.

Typically, a ship's crew would unwind old ropes, a task allowing ample time for conversation and storytelling, dubbed "spinning yarns." Over time, this evolved into the phrase for recounting an elaborate tale.

<p>This expression is used today to describe that something unwanted is looming. However, some claim the term <a href="https://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-dev1.htm" rel="noopener">originates</a> from the despised task of waterproofing a wooden ship's longest seam along the keel. This is sometimes disputed, but there are many who believe it.</p> <p>The seam was named the "devil" and would be "paid" or covered by tar. Paying the devil was an extremely unpleasant and difficult job, and the name was eventually used to describe any unwanted situation.</p>

Devil to pay

This expression is used today to describe that something unwanted is looming. However, some claim the term originates from the despised task of waterproofing a wooden ship's longest seam along the keel. This is sometimes disputed, but there are many who believe it.

The seam was named the "devil" and would be "paid" or covered by tar. Paying the devil was an extremely unpleasant and difficult job, and the name was eventually used to describe any unwanted situation.

On the fiddle

The fiddle was a raised lip around the edge of a sailor's plate. If food touched it, this meant he had too much and was described as being "on the fiddle." This could earn him a whipping.

<p>A sailor may say the word bokoo, meaning "many." This actually comes from the French word, <em>beaucoup</em>, which has the same meaning. The spelling was simplified over time and is an example of the many words from other languages that have been incorporated into Navy slang when traveling the world.</p>

A sailor may say the word bokoo, meaning "many." This actually comes from the French word, beaucoup , which has the same meaning. The spelling was simplified over time and is an example of the many words from other languages that have been incorporated into Navy slang when traveling the world.

<p><strong>More from us:</strong> <a href="https://www.warhistoryonline.com/ships/uss-thresher.html" rel="noopener">USS Thresher (SS-200): The Most Decorated American Submarine of WWII</a></p> <p>A peacoat is a thick jacket worn by sailors during bad weather. A potential origin for the name comes from the material from which its made, pilot cloth. Sailors would refer to the coarse, heavy fabric with the initial "P," instead of pilot, which eventually became the "pea" in peacoat.</p>

Are you a fan of all things ships and submarines? If so, subscribe to our Daily Warships newsletter!

A peacoat is a thick jacket worn by sailors during bad weather. A potential origin for the name comes from the material from which it's made, pilot cloth. Sailors would refer to the coarse, heavy fabric with the initial "P," instead of pilot, which eventually became the "pea" in peacoat.

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67 Essential Spanish Travel Phrases Every Traveller Needs To Know
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. #1 ¡Hola! - Hello. (O-la) #2 ¡Buenos días! - Good morning! ( BWAY-nos DEE-as) #3 ¡Buenas tardes! - Good afternoon/good evening!
The Ultimate Guide: 100+ Useful Spanish Phrases For Travel That You
Common Phrases For Everyday Use. Mastering common phrases in basic Spanish can make your travels through Spanish-speaking countries a breeze. Here are some useful expressions to add to your language toolkit: "Quiero" (I want) - Use this phrase when expressing a desire or need, like "Quiero agua" for "I want water."
131 Useful Spanish Travel Phrases Every Traveler Should Learn
Vista a la ciudad — City view. Un balcón — A balcony. La terraza — The rooftop / terrace. El gimnasio — The gym. La playa — The beach. El vestíbulo — The lobby. 5. Spanish Travel Phrases for the Restaurant. Probably the most useful travel phrases you will need are the ones you would use in a restaurant.
91 Top Spanish Travel Phrases & Words for Travelers
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.
95 Spanish Travel Phrases To Learn Before Your Trip
9. Spanish Travel Phrases: Your Key to Effortless Conversations in Any Spanish-Speaking Country. 1. Spanish Travel Phrases to Use Upon Arrival. First things first. If you're planning to go to a Spanish-speaking country, learning how to greet people and be polite is a must. Otherwise, starting a Spanish conversation can be difficult.
A Useful Guide to Spanish Travel Phrases
12 Spanish travel phrases for the hotel. Busco un hotel . — I'm looking for a hotel. Yo necesito un hotel / un cuarto / un cuarto con baño. — I need a hotel / a room / a room with a bathroom. Una habitación para dos personas. — A room for two people. Yo tengo una reserva a nombre de…. — I have a reservation under the name of….
93 Essential Spanish Travel Phrases For Your Next Vacation
sin productos animales - without animal products. sin azúcar - without sugar. 6. Spanish for travelers who want to have fun. The final - and probably most important - travel phrases in a Spanish-speaking country are those related to fun. The holiday is not over until you go to a fiesta and drink a few sangrias.
101 Common Spanish Phrases for Travel
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.
Travel Spanish: 70+ Essential Phrases for Your Trip
Here is some useful vocabulary to substitute into these phrases: El baño — the bathroom. Un tren — a train. La calle — the street. Un cajero automático — an ATM. And lastly some practical vocab to help you understand the helpful directions people give you: A la derecha — to the right. A la izquierda — to the left.
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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.
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4. Spanish Dict - although Google Translate is an excellent tool, we suggest this app for traveling through Spanish-speaking countries. 5. El Tenedor (The Fork) - the app has information about over 30,000 restaurants in Spain. You can discover what is around your location, choose the preferred cuisine and book a table.
50 Spanish Travel Phrases Every Traveler Should Know
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 ...
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Useful Travel Phrases in Spanish: Listen and Practice! Sí, por favor, or no, gracias are two of the most famous Spanish travel phrases in the world, because they are so simple. When eating tacos in Mexico, hiking in Costa Rica, exploring Cuba, tasting coffee in Colombia, visiting the Maya ruins in Guatemala, admiring the Iguazu falls in Argentina, traveling through Spain, or stopping by ...
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There's also a shorter way of saying it: " La cuenta, por favor " (The bill, please). 8. A basic Spanish for travelers: buying souvenirs. Okay, your holiday is over, you've had an amazing time in Mexico City eating tacos or drinking mate in Buenos Aires.
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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.
35+ Spanish Travel Phrases You Need to Know l Learn Spanish for
Learn Spanish travel phrases and more in one of our FREE online classes: http://bit.ly/2Y2Kg6cWatch next for help finding your way around during your travels...
Key Spanish Phrases for Travel: Latin America Style
Me ___________ mucho la cabeza. a. dueleb. tengo. 8. El agua en la ducha está ___________. a. lejosb. fría. Congratulations! You've just gone from not even knowing how to say trip in Spanish (which is viaje, in case you'd missed it), to knowing several super important Spanish phrases to know when traveling. We hope you put these phrases ...
9 Best Spanish Travel Phrases to Know Before You Go
To say you are fine, you would say "Bien, gracias". It's important to remember to be polite and say "por favour" (please) and "gracias" (thank you). On the other hand, if you are not doing well, you can let the other person know by saying "No tan bien", meaning "Not so well". 3. I don't speak Spanish.
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Spanish Travel Words In this guide, we shall discuss some useful Spanish travel phrases. For an easy explanation, we've divided the article into sections. This will help you make the most of your trip to Spain. Let's begin! Spanish Travel Words Spain is a country with charming streets, historic cities, pristine beaches, and thrilling nightlife.
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67 Essential Spanish Travel Phrases Every Traveller Needs To Know

Table of Contents

First Things First: Greetings To Use On Arrival

Get What You Want On Your Trip With The Verb Querer

Asking For & Understanding Directions On Your Trip

Getting Around Spanish-Speaking Countries

At A Restaurant On Your Travels

Key Spanish Question Words For Your Trip

Get Ready For Adventure With These Spanish Travel Phrases!

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131 Useful Spanish Travel Phrases Every Traveler Should Learn

1. Basic Spanish Greetings and Phrases

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91 Top Spanish Travel Phrases & Words for Travelers

Basic Spanish Travel Phrases, Questions & Words

Basic Spanish verbs for traveling

Travel Phrases & Spanish Vocabulary for the Airport

Spanish Phrases for Tourists in a Restaurant

Spanish for Visiting the City & Asking for Directions

Spanish Phrases for Hotels & Accommodations

Spanish Expressions for Souvenir Shopping

Final Points: Spanish for Travelers

Spanish Resources for Tourists & Travelers

Download the PDF with Spanish Phrases & Vocabulary for Traveling

Related Guides & Spanish Vocabulary

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The Ultimate Guide to Spanish Travel Phrases: 95 Expressions You Need to Learn

1. Spanish Travel Phrases to Use Upon Arrival

2. Spanish Travel Phrases When You Need or Want Something

3. Spanish Travel Phrases for Partying

4. Spanish Travel Phrases When Asking for Directions

5. Spanish Travel Phrases for the Hotel

6. Spanish Travel Phrases for the Restaurant

7. Spanish Travel Phrases for the Hospital

8. Spanish Travel Phrases for Everyday Situations

9. Spanish Travel Phrases: Your Key to Effortless Conversations in Any Spanish-Speaking Country

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A Useful Guide to Spanish Travel Phrases

Written by Diana Luciana

Key phrases in Spanish for travelers

Spanish greetings

Essential Spanish