Spanish phrases and words for travel
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We have put together this handy list of essential travel vocabulary in both English and Spanish. And we are going to focus at a few different categories of Spanish/English travel vocabulary, including transportation, lodging, food, and general phrases in Spanish for travel that will help us to get indications to continue our trip as we had planned.
Your trip won’t be a hard task if you know how to ask. But it is also a good thing if you learn in Spanish some basic words and phrases for travelling.
Traveling can be a fascinating but somewhat overwhelming experience, especially if you do it in a foreign country where you do not speak the language. Even if you speak English, despite it is a language that is more or less spoken in many parts of the world, if you visit a country like Spain you may find that many people do not get along well with that language and they will not be able to understand you well or give you explanations, or that they are simply a bit embarrassed to use it because they don’t master it enough and don’t have the confidence to speak it. Luckily this is changing little by little, but if you come to visit Spain and demonstrate your knowledge of the Spanish language, you will always be greeted with a better smile.
This wide collection of vocabulary, words and phrases for traveling in Spanish, so that you have everything under control when you visit Spain or other Spanish-speaking countries. This travel vocabulary will help you communicate better with the locals, make your trip easier, and generally help you have a better trip and have better experiences!
So, are you ready to learn some travel vocabulary in Spanish? Let’s begin!
Phrases in Spanish for urgencies or emergencies during the trip
No one wants to have to use any of these phrases in Spanish or in any other language, and sometimes we forget to study how to say them in Spanish, but we must learn them so you’re always prepared for any situation during our trip
↪ “Estoy enfermo“: I’m sick.
↪ “¡Socorro!“: Help!
↪ “Hay un incendio“: There is a fire.
↪ “¿Puede llamar a un médico?“: Can you call a doctor?
↪ “¿Puede llamar a la policía?“: Can you call the police?
↪ “¿Puede llamar a una ambulancia?“: Can you call an ambulance?
Phrases in Spanish necessary for your trips
Whether you plan to arrive by plane and then move around the country by bus, train, or taxi, you’ll find some of the necessary travel vocabulary you need here.
Means of transport
↪ “Avión“: Airplane.
↪ “Tren“: Train.
↪ “AVE“: High-speed Spanish train (AVE is the acronym for “Alta Velocidad Española“).
↪ “Autobús“: Bus.
↪ “Ferry/Barco“: Ferry/Boat.
↪ “Taxi“: Taxi
↪ “Metro“: Subway.
Types of luggage in Spanish
↪ “Equipaje“: Baggage /Luggage.
↪ “Maleta“: Suitcase.
↪ “Maleta de mano“: Hand luggage.
↪ “Mochila“: Backpack.
↪ “Riñonera“: Belt pouch.
Places of Departure of the trip and travel documents
↪ “Aeropuerto“: Airport. It is where you go when you have to take a plane.
↪ “Estación“: Station. It can be the train station (train station), the bus station (bus station), the ferry station (ferry station).
↪ “Puerta de embarque“: Boarding gate. The boarding gate is the one that allows access to the transport in which you are going to travel. The boarding gate is usually accompanied by a number.
↪ “Andén“: Platform. It is the area of the train, metro or bus stations, where the access of travelers to the interior of the corresponding means of transport is facilitated.
↪ “Billete“: Ticket. It can be a “billete de avión” (air ticket), “billete de tren” (train ticket), “billete de autobús” (bus ticket), o el “ticket de entrada” (entrance ticket) or just “entrada” to enter some “atracción turística” (tourist attraction).
↪ “Pasaporte“: Passport. It is the identity document that we use to travel between countries that require it.
↪ “DNI” or “Documento Nacional de Identidad“: National identity document. In Spain, in addition to the passport, we have a document the size of a credit card that we call a DNI that allows us to enter several countries and is also valid to identify ourselves in the European Union.
↪ “Tarjeta de embarque“: Boarding pass. It is the document that passenger transport companies request in order to board a ship or plane.
↪ “Mostrador de facturación“: Check-in counter. It is where the passenger must go to obtain their boarding pass and check in their luggage.
↪ “Facturar el equipaje“: To check in your luggage. If you bring large suitcases before boarding the plane you must check the luggage.
↪ “Embarcar“: To board. It is when we must get on the means of transport to start the trip.
↪ “Pistas de aterrizaje“: Airport runways. It is the place where the planes take off (“despegan“) and land (“aterrizan“).
↪ “La zona de recogida del equipaje“: Baggage claim. When you land (“después de aterrizar“), if you have checked your luggage to pick it up you will have to go to the baggage claim area.
↪ “Coger el AVE“: Catch the AVE train. We say this when we want to travel on the Spanish high-speed train called AVE.
↪ “El vuelo va con retraso/ El vuelo se ha cancelado“: The flight is delayed/cancelled. It can also be for the trip in any other type of transport such as train (tren), bus (bus), or ferry (ferry) that has been delayed or canceled: “El tren/autobús/ferry va con retraso”.
Useful phrases to move within the city you visit
↪ “¿Dónde está la parada de autobús?“: Where is the bus stop?
↪ “¿Qué autobús tomo para llegar al aeropuerto?“: Which bus do I take to get to the airport?
↪ “¿Dónde puedo conseguir un taxi?“: Where can I get a taxi?
↪ “¿Dónde está la estación de tren/metro más cercana?“: Where is the nearest railway/subway station?
↪ “¿Dónde puedo alquilar un automóvil?“: Where can I rent a car?
↪ “¿Cómo se llega a …?“: How do I get to …?
Travel vocabulary to use in accommodation when you travel
In this section you will find vocabulary and phrases to use when hiring an accommodation or once you are there. When we travel it is important to know some basic phrases in Spanish so that there are no misunderstandings in the places where we stay.
Types of accommodation for travelers
↪ “Hotel“: Hotel.
↪ “Apartamento“: Apartment.
↪ “Hostal/Albergue“: Hostel.
↪ “Pensión“: Bed & Breakfast.
↪ “Cabaña“: Cabin/Cottage.
↪ “Camping“: Campsite.
↪ “Casa de huéspedes“: Guesthouse.
↪ “House“: Casa.
Vocabulary and useful phrases for booking accommodation
↪ “¿Hay habitaciones disponibles?“: Are there any rooms available?
↪ “¿Cuánto cuesta una habitación individual/doble por noche?“: How much is a single/double room per night?
↪ “Me gustaría reservar una habitación“: I would like to book a room.
↪ “Me gustaría confirmar/cancelar una reserva“: I would like to confirm/cancel a reservation.
↪ “Número de reserva“: Booking reference. A series of numbers and/or letters that help identify a reservation.
↪ “¿Está incluido el desayuno?“: Is breakfast included?
↪ “Preferiría una habitación con dos camas/cama matrimonial“: I would prefer a twin/double bed room.
Everyday phrases in Spanish you may need in your accommodation
↪ “Buenos días, tengo una reserva a nombre de …“: Good morning , I have a reservation under the name of …
↪ “Aquí está su llave. Su habitación es la …“: Here is your room key. Your room number is …
↪ “¿A qué hora sirven el desayuno/ la cena?“: What time is breakfast/ dinner served?
↪ “¿Cuál es la contraseña para el Wi-Fi?“: What is the Wi-Fi password?
↪ “¿A qué hora cierran la puerta de entrada del hotel?“: What time does the hotel close?
↪ “¿A qué hora es el check in/check out?“: What time is the check in/check out?
↪ “¿Puede llamarme un taxi por favor?“: Can you please call me a taxi?
↪ “¿Dónde puedo cambiar dinero?“: Where is there a currency exchange desk?
↪ “¿Dónde puedo conseguir las entradas para …?“: Where can I get the tickets for …
Phrases in Spanish to go out to eat during a travel
Food is definitely one of the great attractions that we can enjoy on trips. Whether you go to a traditional restaurant, a modern cafe, or eat something in a gastronomic market, these phrases in Spanish can help you.
↪ “Me gustaría ver el menú, por favor“: I would like to see the menu, please.
↪ “¿Qué me recomienda para comer?“: What do you recommend to eat?
↪ “Quisiera algo para beber“: I would like something to drink.
↪ “Yo soy vegetariano/a“: I’m a vegetarian.
↪ “Tengo alergia a (las nueces)“: I have an allergy to (nuts).
↪ “Me gustaría ordenar mi comida ahora, por favor“: I would like to order my food now, please.
↪ “La cuenta, por favor“: The bill, please.
↪ “¿Dónde está el baño?“: Where is the bathroom?
Phrases in Spanish to go shopping during your trip in Spain
Are you going to take any souvenirs from your trip? Will you buy gifts for those who stayed at home? Do you feel like going shopping? Learn phrases in Spanish to go shopping!
↪ “¿Me puede decir dónde puedo comprar X, por favor?“: Can you tell me where I can buy X, please?
↪ “¿Dónde está la tienda X?“: Where is the store X?
↪ “¿Cuánto cuesta?“: How much is it?
↪ “¿Puedo probármelo?“: Can I try it on?
↪ “¿Tiene estos zapatos en talla 7?“: Do you have these shoes in size 7?
↪ “¿Tiene lo mismo en un talle más grande/chico?“: Do you have the same in a larger/smaller size?
↪ “¿Tiene esta camisa en otro color?“: Do you have this shirt in another color?
↪ “¿Dónde está la sección de niños?“: Where is the kids section?
↪ “¿A qué hora cierran/ abren?“: At what time do you close/open?
↪ “Rebajas“: Sales. Section where the discounted products are.
Learning some basic Spanish vocabulary and phrases for traveling in Spanish-speaking countries is incredibly useful, both when you are planning a trip and during the trip itself. These sentences and words can help you plan your trip better, face different situations and enjoy your trip more. And even if you can only say a few words, the locals will appreciate your effort to communicate in their language.
In short, you will have a much better idea of how to communicate in Spanish while traveling in Spanish-speaking countries. So, keep this travel vocabulary handy. You can memorize it, print it or save it on your phone to always carry it with you!
I hope this guide on travel vocabulary in Spanish will be very helpful, and if this article has inspired you both to travel and to learn Spanish, then be sure to read all the articles we have for you in this website!
