Spanish Phrases for Hotels

Many large hotels in the tourist areas of Spain are geared to English speaking customers. Visitors don't need to go very far from the beaten track, however, to find themselves in parts of Spain where little or no English is spoken. Even in large cities a small hotel or pensión owner may speak limited English.

An increasing number of British visitors are seeking out hotels and accommodation away from the tourist areas, seeking hotels that are typically Spanish rather than being generic international hotels that are the same the world over. A few Spanish phrases are all that are required to have an enjoyable stay in 'real Spain'.

Important Spanish Phrases for Hotels

It is not necessary to speak fluent Spanish in order to book a hotel room or ask simple questions. A few words can be used to ask a wide range of questions and are suitable for use in many situations.

A few key words form the basis of many key phrases that are useful when booking or staying in a hotel:

• Hay – there is / is there?
• Tiene – you have / have you?
• Quiero – I would like
• Tengo – I have
• ¿Cuánto cuesta? - how much?

Therefore by using the basic words above and adding relevant nouns, Spanish phrases that are useful for use in a hotel can be formed. For instance:

• ¿Hay una piscina? - is there a swimming pool
• No hay papel higiénico en mi habitación - there is no toilet paper in my room
• ¿Tiene habitaciones? - do you have rooms?
• ¿Tiene el hotel acceso a Internet? - Does the hotel have Internet access?
• Quiero una habitación - I’d like a room
• Quiero una habitación con ducha – I would like a room with a shower
• Tengo una reserva - I have a reservation
• Tengo una problema – I have a problem

Useful Words

The following useful words can be used to create phrases that are suitable for many occasions:

• Por noche – per night
• Por persona - per person
• Piscina – swimming pool
• Cama – bed
• Barato/a – cheap
• Manta – blanket
• Aire Acondicionado – air conditioning
• Llave – key
• La caja de seguridad — safe
• El desayuno incluido - breakfast included
• La habitación – room
• Habitación individual – single room
• Habitaciòn doble – double room

Tips for Using Spanish in Hotels

Here are some tips to help visitors to communicate successfully in hotels where little English is spoken:

• Visitors who are not confident in their use of Spanish may find it useful to write down questions before going into a hotel. This can help to avoid any confusion.
• Just as there are strong dialects throughout the UK, so there are strong dialects in some regions of Spain. Even the most experienced speaker of Spanish can find it difficult understanding Spanish in some areas of Spain. Don't be disheartened! Ask for a written reply if necessary.
• Remember that in Spanish, the inflection is used to indicate when a question is asked, not the order of words as it is in English. Therefore a sentence using the word 'hay' meaning 'there is' needs to be said with an exaggerated inflection in order to express the fact that it is a question and not a statement.
  Related Articles in the 'Some Useful Spanish' Category...

  • Travelling in Spain: Vocabulary for Travel
  • How to Tell the Time in Spanish
  • Colours in Spanish and How They Are Used
  • Clothes: Spanish Vocabulary and Tips on Sizes
  • Learn About Tapas
  • Useful Spanish Greetings and How to Use Them
  • Fun Ways to Help Learners Improve Their Spanish
  • Free Resources to Help Learn Spanish
  • Useful Spanish for Hospital or Medical Situations
  • Spanish to Use on the Beach
  • Spanish Phrases When Going Shopping
  • Spanish Numbers Days and Months
  • Using Spanish in the Restaurant
  • Spanish for Finding Directions
  • Introductions in Spanish
  Share Your Story, Join the Discussion or Seek Advice..
  Hi, I work in a hotel in the US. I'm trying to learn phrases in Spanish to speak to my Spanish speaking guests. Phrases like.. "Hello, are you checking in/out?" "May I see your ID?" "How are you paying for the room?" "Would you like a bottle of water?" "You are on the 1st-5th floor" "Checkout is at 11am" THANKS!

  cometshaley - 4-Feb-23 @ 3:48 PM
  Share Your Story, Join the Discussion or Seek Advice...
  Title:

  Miss Ms Mrs Mr Dr Rev'd Prof. Other

  (never shown)

  ! Enter a Title

  Firstname:

  (never shown)

  ! Enter a Firstname

  Surname:

  (never shown)

  ! Enter a Surname

  Email:

  (never shown)

  ! Enter a Valid Email Address

  Nickname:

  (shown)

  ! Enter a Nickname

  Comment:

  ! Enter a Comment

  Validate:

  

  Enter word:
  

  ! Validation Incorrect