For many of you, the reason to study Spanish is the possibility to communicate in this language while traveling.
Considering how widely spoken Spanish is, it will come in handy whether you visit Spain, spend your holidays in the Caribbean, go on a hiking trip in the Chilean “Altiplano,” enjoy a glass of pisco sour in Lima, or a tango show in Buenos Aires.
Native Spanish speakers tend to be quite reluctant when it comes to testing their English skills, so you will have a much easier and better time if you learn the local language. And don’t worry, despite certain differences, South Americans can understand the European version of Spanish without major problems.
What I have prepared for you today is a step-by-step guide through some of the most useful Spanish phrases you will need at the airport, on a plane, or at a hotel while visiting Spain or Latin America.
Ready to take notes?
Let’s start with the very basics:
Essential Spanish Vocabulary For Travel
- 🇪🇸 un aeropuerto – 🇬🇧 an airport
- 🇪🇸 un vuelo – 🇬🇧 a flight
- 🇪🇸 un boleto / pasaje / billete / tiquete de avión – 🇬🇧 an airplane ticket
- 🇪🇸 una tarjeta de embarque – 🇬🇧 a boarding pass
- 🇪🇸 control de pasaportes – 🇬🇧 passport control
- 🇪🇸 una escala – 🇬🇧 a stopover
- 🇪🇸 un terminal – 🇬🇧 a terminal
- 🇪🇸 una maleta – 🇬🇧 a suitcase
- 🇪🇸 un auxiliar de vuelo – 🇬🇧 a flight attendant
- 🇪🇸 despegar – 🇬🇧 to take off
- 🇪🇸 aterrizar – 🇬🇧 to land
- 🇪🇸 aduana – 🇬🇧 customs
- 🇪🇸 una puerta de embarque – 🇬🇧 a gate
- 🇪🇸 un atraso – 🇬🇧 a delay
- 🇪🇸 el equipaje – 🇬🇧 the baggage / luggage
- 🇪🇸 un guía turístico – 🇬🇧 a tourist guide
- 🇪🇸 una reserva – 🇬🇧 a reservation
- 🇪🇸 una habitación – 🇬🇧 a (hotel) room
If your Spanish is still relatively basic, you can use the vocabulary from the list to make simple yet practical sentences, like the ones below:
🇪🇸 Necesito ir al aeropuerto.
🇬🇧 I need to go to the airport.
🇪🇸 ¿De qué puerta sale este vuelo?
🇬🇧 What gate does this flight depart from?
🇪🇸 Tengo una reserva.
🇬🇧 I have a reservation.
🇪🇸 Perdí mi tarjeta de embarque.
🇬🇧 I’ve lost my boarding pass.
🇪🇸 Tengo dos maletas.
🇬🇧 I have two suitcases.
🇪🇸 ¿A qué hora aterrizamos?
🇬🇧 What time are we landing?
🇪🇸 ¿Porqué mi vuelo tiene un atraso?
🇬🇧 Why is my flight delayed?
🇪🇸 ¿Cómo llego al terminal 3?
🇬🇧 How do I get to terminal 3?
See? Only a few basic verbs, and you can already say a lot. And solve some pretty important problems too.
Now, it is time to practice more specific Spanish traveling phrases. Let’s start with booking a taxi or getting a shuttle to the airport:
🇪🇸 Quiero reservar un taxi al aeropuerto para mañana a las 5 AM.
🇬🇧 I’d like to book a taxi to the airport tomorrow at 5 AM.
🇪🇸 ¿De donde sale el bus al aeropuerto?
🇬🇧 Where does the shuttle to the airport leave from?
🇪🇸 Necesito un taxi con un maletero grande. Llevo tres maletas.
🇬🇧 I need a taxi with a large trunk. I have three suitcases.
For those of you who would like to practice more car-related vocabulary, check out this post.
Spanish Phrases for Travel – Departure
Are you at the airport yet? Good job! Time for the check-in.
Check-in
🇪🇸 ¿Dónde hago el check-in para el vuelo de Iberia a Madrid?
🇬🇧 Where do I check-in for the Iberia flight to Madrid?
🇪🇸 ¿Prefiere pasillo o ventana?
🇬🇧 Do you prefer an aisle or a window seat?
🇪🇸 ¿Cuánto equipaje tiene?
🇬🇧 How much luggage do you have?
🇪🇸 Test Your Spanish Knowledge 🇪🇸
🇪🇸 Su maleta tiene sobrepeso. Debe pagar 50 dólares.
🇬🇧 Your suitcase is overweight. You need to pay 50 dollars.
🇪🇸 Quisiera solicitar un upgrade.
🇬🇧 I’d like to request an upgrade.
🇪🇸 ¿Tiene visa a Estados Unidos?
🇬🇧 Do you have a US visa?
🇪🇸 ¿Lleva líquidos en su equipaje de mano?
🇬🇧 Do you have any liquids in your carry-on luggage?
🇪🇸 Quítese los zapatos y deje todos los accesorios electrónicos en la bandeja.
🇬🇧 Take off your shoes and place all your electronic devices on the tray.
Getting through all the necessary immigration and safety procedures is a lengthy process and requires a lot of patience. Make sure to arrive at the airport early enough and bring all the required documents.
Finally, at your gate? Great. Now you can relax for a bit and get ready for boarding.
If you are flying with Iberia, LATAM, Aerolíneas Argentinas, Avianca, or any other Latin American, your flight attendants will surely speak both Spanish and English.
However, I recommend that you accept the challenge and start practicing your Spanish while onboard.
Spanish Phrases for Travel – Onboard
🇪🇸 ¡Bienvenido a bordo!
🇬🇧 Welcome on board.
🇪🇸 Mi asiento es el 18F.
🇬🇧 My seat is 18F.
🇪🇸 Disculpe, parece que está sentado en mi asiento.
🇬🇧 Excuse me; it seems like you are sitting in my seat.
🇪🇸 Señora, abróchese el cinturón de seguridad, por favor.
🇬🇧 Madam, please buckle up / fasten your seat belt.
🇪🇸 ¿Pollo, pasta o carne?
🇬🇧 Chicken, pasta, or beef?
🇪🇸 Agua sin gas, por favor.
🇬🇧 Still / flat water, please.
🇪🇸 Jugo de naranja / manzana, por favor.
🇬🇧 Orange / apple juice, please.
🇪🇸 Coca-cola light con hielo.
🇬🇧 Diet coke with ice.
🇪🇸 Una copa de vino tinto / blanco.
🇬🇧 A glass of red / white wine.
🇪🇸 ¿Le puedo pedir una almohada / una manta extra?
🇬🇧 Could I have another pillow / blanket?
🇪🇸 Agua sin gas, por favor.
🇬🇧 Still / flat water, please.
🇪🇸 ¿Cuál es la hora prevista de la llegada?
🇬🇧 What’s the expected arrival time?
Are you good with telling and understanding the time in Spanish, or do you need to refresh this topic?
Spanish Phrases for Travel – Arrival
Your plane has landed at the destination city. What a relief! I don’t know you, but I personally consider the landing a little bit more stressful than the takeoff.
Madrid, Bogotá, Santiago, Buenos Aires, here we come!
Hold your horses! We’re not quite there yet. First, you need to go through passport control and customs. Here are some typical questions or statements you can hear:
Control de Pasaportes – Passport Control
🇪🇸 ¿Cuál es el propósito de su viaje?
🇬🇧 What’s the purpose of your trip?
🇪🇸 ¿Viaja por negocios o de vacaciones?
🇬🇧 Business or pleasure?
🇪🇸 ¿Ha venido a Colombia antes o es su primera vez?
🇬🇧 Have you been to Colombia before, or is it your first time?
🇪🇸 ¿Cuánto tiempo se va a quedar en Argentina?
🇬🇧 How long are you going to stay in Argentina?
🇪🇸 ¿Dónde se va a quedar?
🇬🇧 Where will you be staying?
🇪🇸 Necesito verificar sus huellas digitales.
🇬🇧 I need to check your fingerprints.
Aduana – Customs
🇪🇸 Por favor llene este formulario.
🇬🇧 Please fill out this form.
🇪🇸 ¿Algo que declarar?
🇬🇧 Anything to declare?
🇪🇸 ¿Lleva algún producto animal o vegetal?
🇬🇧 Are you bringing any animal or vegetable products?
🇪🇸 Necesito revisar su maleta.
🇬🇧 I need to check your luggage.
🇪🇸 No puede ingresar estos productos a nuestro país.
🇬🇧 You can’t bring these products to our country.
Yep, better inform yourself in advance about what is permitted and what isn’t. For instance, Chile is very strict in this regard and very protective of its local agriculture and livestock farming (two critical sectors of its economy).
They will not allow any plants, seeds, fruit, vegetables, or meat products unless they are vacuum-packed by the manufacturer.
Finally, you’re done with all the controls and ready to pick up your luggage and head to the hotel:
La Salida – the Exit
🇪🇸 Puede recoger su equipaje en la cinta transportadora número 4.
🇬🇧 You can claim your luggage at the conveyor belt 4.
🇪🇸 Diríjase al servicio de cliente en el segundo piso, por favor.
🇬🇧 Please approach the customer service on the second floor.
🇪🇸 ¿Dónde está el paradero de buses?
🇬🇧 Where is the bus stop?
🇪🇸 ¿Dónde encuentro un taxi?
🇬🇧 Where do I find a taxi?
🇪🇸 Al hotel Pacific, por favor. Esta es la dirección.
🇬🇧 To the Pacific Hotel, please. Here is the address.
A piece of advice: when in South America, make sure to ask in advance what the fare is going to be. There are crooks among taxi drivers who see innocent “gringo” tourists as an easy way to make extra money.
Taking a taxi in Spanish may also require you to review some specific vocabulary.
Hotel – Useful Spanish Travel Expressions
Finally! After God knows how many hours, you’ve got to your hotel or whatever accommodation you booked. Time to rest and try to recover from the jetlag.
Not so fast!
There are some formalities you need to take care of first.
🇪🇸 Hola, tengo una reserva a nombre de Juan Pérez.
🇬🇧 Hi, I have a reservation under the name of Juan Pérez.
🇪🇸 Necesito ayuda con mi equipaje. ¿Puede llamar a un botones, por favor?
🇬🇧 I need help with my luggage. Can you call a bellboy, please?
🇪🇸 Necesito servicio de habitación.
🇬🇧 I need room service, please.
🇪🇸 ¿En qué horario sirven el desayuno?
🇬🇧 What’s the breakfast schedule?
🇪🇸 ¿Dónde queda el gimnasio?
🇬🇧 Where’s the gym?
🇪🇸 ¿Hasta qué hora está abierto el spa?
🇬🇧 Until what time is the spa open?
🇪🇸 ¿Puede enviar una mucama a mi habitación?
🇬🇧 Can you please send housekeeping to my room?
🇪🇸 Quiero solicitar un servicio de despertador.
🇬🇧 I’d like to request a wake-up call.
🇪🇸 ¿Me puede conseguir un taxi al aeropuerto?
🇬🇧 Can you get me a taxi to the airport?
🇪🇸 Cárguelo a la cuenta de mi habitación, por favor.
🇬🇧 Charge it on my room bill, please.
Must-Know Phrases in Spanish to Go Sightseeing
After a restoring night of sleep, a nice shower, and a delicious buffet breakfast, you must be as fresh as a daisy, aren’t you?
Time for some sightseeing!
The Spanish traveling phrases below will surely come in handy:
🇪🇸 ¿Dónde está la oficina de turismo más cercana?
🇬🇧 Where is the nearest tourist office?
🇪🇸 ¿Tiene un mapa turístico de la ciudad?
🇬🇧 Do you have a tourist map of the city?
🇪🇸 ¿Qué lugares nos recomienda visitar?
🇬🇧 What sights do you suggest we see?
🇪🇸 ¿Cuánto cuesta la entrada al Museo de Historia Natural?
🇬🇧 How much is a ticket to the Natural History Museum?
🇪🇸 Tenemos reservada una visita guiada.
🇬🇧 We have booked a guided tour.
🇪🇸 ¿Qué tan lejos queda el castillo real? ¿Se puede llegar caminando?
🇬🇧 How far is the royal castle? Is it walkable?
🇪🇸 ¿Dónde puedo comprar recuerdos?
🇬🇧 Where can I buy souvenirs?
🇪🇸 ¿Puedo pagar en euros / dólares?
🇬🇧 Can I pay in euros / dollars?
🇪🇸 Busco un cajero automático.
🇬🇧 I’m looking for an ATM.
Practical Spanish Travel Phrases to Talk about Problems
Visiting other countries is a lot of fun. But let’s be realistic – you can stumble upon many potential problems, too. Expired passports, canceled or delayed flights, hostile immigration officers, slow hotel receptionists, pick-pocketers, you name it.
In case you find yourself facing some unpleasant and uncalled-for situation while traveling to a Spanish speaking country, keep in mind the phrases below:
🇪🇸 Su vuelo está sobrevendido.
🇬🇧 Your flight is oversold.
🇪🇸 Todos los vuelos están cancelados por mal tiempo.
🇬🇧 All flights are canceled due to bad weather conditions.
🇪🇸 Perdí mi vuelo.
🇬🇧 I’ve missed my flight.
🇪🇸 El vuelo de LAN 574 a Lima está atrasado.
🇬🇧 The LAN 574 flight to Lima is delayed.
🇪🇸 El respaldo de mi asiento no se reclina.
🇬🇧 The back of my seat doesn’t recline.
🇪🇸 Tengo un problema con la pantalla.
🇬🇧 I have a problem with the screen.
🇪🇸 Ya no queda espacio para guardar mi maleta de mano.
🇬🇧 There is no space left to store my hand-luggage.
🇪🇸 Su visa está vencida.
🇬🇧 Your visa is expired.
🇪🇸 México requiere por lo menos 6 meses de vigencia de pasaporte.
🇬🇧 Mexico requires at least 6-month passport validity.
🇪🇸 Mi equipaje llegó dañado.
🇬🇧 My luggage has been damaged.
🇪🇸 No encuentro mi maleta.
🇬🇧 I can’t find my suitcase.
🇪🇸 Reservé una habitación doble, no simple.
🇬🇧 I’ve booked a double room, not a single one.
🇪🇸 Solicité dos camas individuales y no una cama matrimonial.
🇬🇧 I’ve requested two queen beds, not one king-sized bed.
🇪🇸 Necesito ayuda con el control remoto / la caja fuerte.
🇬🇧 I need help with the remote control / the safe box.
🇪🇸 Olvidé traer un cepillo de dientes. ¿Dónde puedo comprar uno?
🇬🇧 I forgot to bring my toothbrush. Where can I buy one?
🇪🇸 El aire acondicionado de mi habitación no funciona.
🇬🇧 The air-conditioning in my room is not working.
🇪🇸 Perdí mi pasaporte.
🇬🇧 I’ve lost my passport.
🇪🇸 Me han robado la billetera / el celular / la cámara fotográfica.
🇬🇧 They’ve stolen my wallet / my cell phone, / my photo camera.
🇪🇸 Estamos perdidos. ¿En qué dirección está la Catedral?
🇬🇧 We’ve got lost. Which way is the cathedral?
Asking for directions in Spanish is definitely something that you should review before you set on a foreign trip!
Wishing you only pleasant traveling. Until next time!
