What Spanish Words to Know When Traveling

Learning some basic Spanish vocabulary can make your travels much smoother and more enjoyable. In this article, I’ll cover essential words and phrases,and I’ll also include a PDF to download so it’s easier to remember all the words!

Essential Travel Vocabulary

When traveling to a Spanish-speaking country, it’s important to know some essential vocabulary to help you get around. Here are some useful words and phrases that you should know.

Directions and Transportation

Knowing how to ask for directions and navigate transportation is crucial when traveling. Here are some phrases to help you get around:

• ¿Dónde está…? (Where is…?)
• A la izquierda (To the left)
• Derecho (Straight ahead)
• A la derecha (To the right)
• En la esquina (On the corner)
• A una cuadra (One block away)

• autobús / bus / colectivo (bus)
• barco (ship)
• bote (boat)
• coche / carro / auto (car)
• metro / subte (subway)
• taxi
• tren (train)

Accommodation

When staying in a hotel or other accommodations, it’s helpful to know some basic vocabulary. Here are some words and phrases that you may find useful:

• Una habitación con… (A room with…)
• Un menú (A menu)
• Un postre (A dessert)
• Un té (A tea)
• Una mesa para… (A table for…)

How to express problems at a hotel in Spanish?

Dining and Food

Trying new foods and dining out is an important part of any travel experience. Here are some phrases to help you navigate restaurants and menus:

• ¿Qué hay en el menú? (What’s on the menu?)
• ¿Cuál es el menú del día? (What is the menu of the day?)
• ¿Tienen agua con gas? (Do you have sparkling water?)
• ¿Tienen café descafeinado? (Do you have decaf coffee?)
• ¿Tienen opciones vegetarianas? (Do you have vegetarian options?)
• ¿Tienen cerveza artesanal? (Do you have craft beer?)

Spanish	English
restaurante Anoche disfruté de una deliciosa comida en el nuevo restaurante.	I enjoyed a delicious meal at the new restaurante last night.
cafetería Nos encontramos en la cafetería a las 5.	We meet at the café at 5.
pizzería En la esquina del hotel, hay una pizzería muy buena.	On the corner of the hotel, there is a very good pizzeria.
bar ¿Quieren ir al bar del hotel después de cenar?	Would you like to go to the hotel bar after dinner?
menú ¿Puedo ver el menú para niños?	Can I see the children’s menu?
vegano ¿Tienen un menú vegano?	Do you have a vegan menu?
plato del día ¿Cuál es el plato del día?	What is the dish of the day?
cuenta ¿Me puede traer la cuenta?	Can you bring me the bill?

Basic Travel Phrases in Spanish

When traveling to a Spanish-speaking country, it is essential to know some basic Spanish phrases to communicate effectively. In this section, we’ll cover some of the most important basic communication phrases that you’ll need to know.

Making Requests

When asking for something, it’s important to be polite. Here are some basic Spanish phrases that you can use to make requests:

• Por favor – Please
• Quiero – I want

For example, if you want to order food in a restaurant, you can say “Quiero una ensalada, por favor” (I want a salad, please).

Asking Questions

Asking questions is an important part of communication. Here are some basic Spanish phrases that you can use to ask questions:

• ¿Habla inglés? – Do you speak English?
• ¿Cómo se llama? – What’s your name?
• ¿Cuánto cuesta? – How much does it cost?
• ¿Puede ayudarme? – Can you help me?
• No entiendo – I don’t understand

For example, if you’re lost and need directions, you can say “¿Cómo llego al hotel, por favor?” (How do I get to the hotel, please?)

Handling Emergencies in Spanish

Emergencies can happen at any time, so it’s important to know some basic Spanish phrases to handle them:

• No me siento bien – I don’t feel well
• La cita médica – The medical appointment
• Me duele – It hurts
• No hablo español – I don’t speak Spanish
• ¿Puedes llamar a la ambulancia? – Can you call an ambulance?
• Él / Ella se cayó – He / Se fell

If you need medical attention, you can say “Necesito ver a un médico, por favor” (I need to see a doctor, please).

Phrases for Social Interactions in Spanish

When traveling to a Spanish-speaking country, it is important to know how to interact with the locals. This includes knowing how to greet people, ask questions, and engage in small talk. Here are some useful phrases to help you navigate social interactions during your travels.

Meeting Locals

When meeting locals, it is important to know basic greetings and phrases. Here are some common phrases to help you get started:

• Hola, ¿cómo estás? (Hello, how are you?)
• Mucho gusto (Nice to meet you)
• ¿Cómo te llamas? (What’s your name?)
• Me llamo ________ (My name is ________)
• ¿De dónde eres? (Where are you from?)
• Soy de ________ (I’m from ________)

Shopping and Services

When shopping or seeking services in a Spanish-speaking country, it is important to know how to ask for what you need. Here are some common phrases to help you navigate these situations:

• ¿Dónde está el banco? (Where is the bank?)
• ¿Dónde está la farmacia? (Where is the pharmacy?)
• ¿Dónde está el museo? (Where is the museum?)
• ¿Dónde está el hospital? (Where is the hospital?)
• Quiero comprar ________ (I want to buy ________)
• ¿Cuánto cuesta? (How much does it cost?)
• ¿Tiene esto en una talla más grande/más pequeña? (Do you have this in a larger/smaller size?)
• ¿Tiene esto en otro color? (Do you have this in another color?)

PDF lists with Places in Town in Spanish!

Spanish Phrases at the Travel Agency

When planning a trip to a Spanish-speaking country, visiting a travel agency can be a great way to get information about flights, accommodations, and activities. Here are some useful Spanish phrases and vocabulary words to help you communicate effectively with travel agents:

Basic Spanish Greetings and Phrases

When you first arrive at the travel agency, it’s important to greet the agent politely. Here are some basic Spanish greetings and phrases that you can use:

• Hola, ¿cómo estás? (Hello, how are you?)
• Buenos días/tardes/noches (Good morning/afternoon/evening)
• ¿En qué puedo ayudarte? (How can I help you?)
• Quiero reservar un vuelo/habitación/actividad (I want to book a flight/room/activity)

Spanish Phrases for the Airport and Ticket Offices

If you need to purchase tickets or make changes to your itinerary, you may need to visit the airport or ticket office. Here are some Spanish phrases that can help you navigate these situations:

Spanish	English
la boletería ¿Dónde está la boletería?	Where is the ticket office?
vuelo / horario Necesito cambiar mi vuelo/horario	I need to change my flight/time
ida y vuelta ¿Cuánto cuesta un boleto de ida y vuelta?	How much is a round-trip ticket?
descuento ¿Hay algún descuento disponible?	Is there any discount available?
aeropuerto Tengo que ir al aeropuerto para tomar un vuelo a San Francisco.	I have to go to the airport to catch a flight to San Francisco.
facturar Debemos llegar al aeropuerto dos horas antes para facturar.	We must arrive at the airport two hours earlier to check in.
volar Siempre vuelo con la misma aerolínea para conseguir puntos de millas.	I always fly with the same airline to earn mileage points.
aterrizar El avión aterrizará dentro de dos horas.	The plane will land in two hours.
aterrizaje Fue un aterrizaje turbulento.	It was a turbulent landing.
avión En el avión viajan 300 pasajeros.	There are 300 passengers on the plane.
despegar El avión tiene previsto despegar a las 15:30.	The plane is scheduled to take off at 15:30.

Useful Spanish Travel Phrases Every Traveler Should Learn

When traveling in a Spanish-speaking country, it’s important to have some basic phrases that can help you communicate with locals. Here are some useful Spanish travel phrases that every traveler should learn:

• ¿Dónde está el baño? (Where is the bathroom?)
• ¿Cuánto cuesta esto? (How much does this cost?)
• ¿Puedes recomendarme un buen restaurante? (Can you recommend a good restaurant?)
• ¿Hablas inglés? (Do you speak English?)

Download a PDF with all the Travel Vocabulary in Spanish / English

Basic Spanish Phrases for Everyday Use

In addition to travel-specific phrases, there are some basic Spanish phrases that can be useful in everyday situations. Here are a few examples:

• Por favor (Please)
• Gracias (Thank you)
• De nada (You’re welcome)
• Lo siento (I’m sorry)

I hope these phrases and words help you communicate with travel agents and locals during your trip to a Spanish-speaking country! ¡Buen viaje!

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