Traveling to a Spanish-speaking country can be both exciting and daunting; having knowledge of some key travel vocabulary before departure will make the experience smoother.
No matter where your travels take you – be it to an idyllic beach on a Mediterranean shoreline or skiing in northern Spain’s snow-dusted mountains – these words and phrases will help guide your trip.
1. Getting Around
With its warm climate, idyllic coastlines and bustling cities, Spain is a top travel destination. By planning ahead and selecting an itinerary suitable to you, Spain can become an easy journey through.
As with any trip, financial preparation is key to enjoying a memorable journey. Being aware of how much things cost in Spain will enable you to better plan for and cover any unexpected costs during your travels.
Moving around Spain is relatively simple, with high-speed trains linking major cities and comfortable buses covering shorter distances. If flying or sailing is more your style, options exist as well.
Spanish culture puts great value in eating and drinking well, so be sure to sample some local drinks such as tinto de verano – an enjoyable summer wine made up of equal parts red wine and lemon soda – which should refresh you after exploring its culture!
Discovering some essential question words will come in handy when conversing with taxi drivers, store owners and waiters. Useful phrases include A que hora? (What time is it?) and?Donde esta? (Where is the museum?) to break the ice with locals.
2. Weather Talk
Weather chatter is one of the easiest and safest topics of chitchat, making introductions simpler for new acquaintances. Being equipped with some basic weather vocabulary and phrases in English will assist with keeping conversations going in an effective manner.
Weather words include sunny, cloudy, partly-cloudy, overcast, rainy and windy; you may also add adjectives such as sizzling or pouring to describe its intensity. For added fun you could even say things like it’s raining cats and dogs (it’s raining heavily).
Talking about the weather provides an excellent opportunity to offer suggestions based on current conditions. If it’s hot and sunny outside, for instance, suggesting going to the beach or an ice cream parlour might be appropriate recommendations based on current conditions. Doing this shows both interest in building rapport as well as thoughtful listening skills which reflect on another person’s experience.
3. Getting Around in Public Transport
Navigating Spain’s cities and regional towns is made simple thanks to its convenient multimodal public transport network, including buses, trains and metro systems.
BlaBla Car is an economical service designed for budget travelers that allows users to book car-share rides across the country. However, many locals also prefer bus travel due to its economical ticket prices and ability to reach smaller towns not accessible via train.
For optimal learning when traveling around on public transport, ask some basic questions using your newly learned question words such as – these include
Learn to navigate Spanish as effectively and enjoy it to its fullest extent when travelling through a Spanish-speaking country. Take an online Spanish course from Babbel with a tutor for lessons tailored specifically to you, to acquire vocabulary and phrases you need during your travels and become fluent quickly so you can speak confidently when speaking Spanish!
4. Getting Around in Private Vehicles
Traveling Spain by car is one of the easiest, most comfortable ways to navigate its cities and regional towns. Many locals opt for car-sharing services like BlaBla Car to save on fuel costs while meeting new people along their journeys.
If you prefer an extravagant mode of transport, consider booking a cruise. Crossing either the Mediterranean or Atlantic offers a relaxing and scenic way to travel in Spain, boasting some of the most efficient ferry and boat infrastructure as well as accessible transportation options available for those with limited mobility.
Learning basic question words in Spanish can make your journey much more pleasant, making any foreign destination much less daunting.?When does the train from ___ arrive? is an example.
5. Talking to Locals
Spending the time to learn some basic Spanish travel phrases will make your trip far more enjoyable, while locals will appreciate that you made an effort to speak their language!
Start any conversation off right by asking “Como Estas?” (ko-mo-suhs), an informal way of saying, “How are you?” that is often used among friends. Another approach would be: Que Pasa? (que-PAH-sa), more commonly found in southern Spain.
Food is an integral part of most cultures, making this an engaging conversation starter! Talk about their favorite local restaurant or ask their opinion about which dish stands out in town.
Work is an integral part of everyday life, so why not discuss that too? Ask about their hobbies or interests to see if there is anything in common between yourselves! Mundo Lingo and Conversation Exchange provide services to match in-person or online Spanish conversation exchange partners; alternatively check language departments at local universities to see if any Spanish speaking groups meet regularly.