25 Essential Spanish Travel Phrases for Hotels & Restaurants

Published Aug 31, 2026·Updated Aug 31, 2026

Transcript

Read along, Spanish & English, side by side

Have you ever said "I like" and everyone looks at you strangely?

Today, you’re going to learn 25 essential phrases for traveling in Spanish-speaking countries, in a simple way.

They'll help you in hotels, bars, transport, and on the street, all at A2 level.

And hey, with these phrases, you’ll ask, pay, and ask for directions without getting nervous.

They’re real expressions we actually use, along with pronunciation tips to avoid mistakes.

Hi, I’m Carlos, and this is María with me.

By the way, if you want to practice later, the full lesson is on Vocabli.

Alright, let’s dive right in, starting with the basics of courtesy, which opens many doors, okay?

Absolutely. First, greetings: hello, good morning.

Then, two magic words: please and thank you.

And if you need to get someone’s attention or pass by, excuse me.

With these four, you already sound polite, honestly.

Be careful with "thank you."

Once, at a kiosk, I pronounced it poorly, something like "graciu," and the gentleman thought I said something strange.

It’s fine if you don’t sound perfect, but be clear with "thank you," okay?

They understand you and smile.

When the Spanish gets a bit overwhelming, say: I don’t speak much Spanish.

Then you can ask: do you speak English?

And if the person talks fast, this is golden: can you speak more slowly?

With that soft tone and a smile, it works great.

Let’s order things, because this happens all the time.

To sound natural in a bar or café, you can say: "I’ll have" followed by the item.

Can I have a coffee with milk, please?

You can also use "I want" or "I would like," which sound polite: I would like a soup, please.

Let’s do a quick café roleplay, fast and practical.

This way you see it in action and it becomes very clear.

Okay, I’ll be the customer: hello, good morning.

Can I have a coffee with milk, please?

To go, please.

And no sugar, please.

I’m the waitress: sure, right away.

Anything else?

That’ll be two euros fifty.

Perfect, thank you.

Do you accept card?

Oh, and one more thing: how much is the bottle of water?

We accept card, yes.

The bottle costs one euro fifty.

When you’re done and at the table, you can say: "the check, please."

Ready?

With that, you’ll have breakfast in peace, right?

Quick recap of bar phrases: I’ll have, to go, please, no sugar, please,

how much does it cost?

The check, please, and do you accept card?

Now, moving around the city.

If you're looking for a restroom, excuse me: where is the bathroom?

For places in general: where is it?

The station, the museum, the stop.

If you’re lost, say: I’m lost if you’re a guy, or I’m lost if you’re a girl.

And also: "can you help me," sounds very respectful.

Context here is key.

There was a traveler in Barcelona who asked where the dog is, meaning, I don’t know, something else, and of course, people were left puzzled.

It's best to practice "bathroom," "stop," "station."

And always start with "excuse me," which softens everything.

Another very useful one to know if something exists: there is, for example, a daily menu, or there are buses at night.

It’s short, super practical, and saves you a thousand times.

In restaurants, the entry line is: "a table for two, please."

Then you can say: "I’d like to try the specialty," or simply: "I want paella, please."

And for tastes, remember, we don’t say "I like," we say "I like."

I like fish or I don't like spicy.

If you have allergies or prefer something without an ingredient, use "without."

For example: "without gluten, please," or "without onion, please."

It’s direct and people understand it very well.

Alright, mini review with a game, so you get back into it.

María, you try, or better: friends listening, how do you ask them to speak slower?

Can you speak more slowly?

Exactly.

And another: if you need to pay in the restaurant, you say: "the bill, please."

One easier: if you’re looking for the service, where is the bathroom?

Ready, let’s continue.

Some say, in a debating tone, that English is enough and that's it.

But, I mean, with two or three sentences in Spanish, people open up.

It helps you more and the experience is so much nicer.

The effort shows, and they appreciate it.

Let's talk about transportation.

At the station, you can say: "a ticket to Valencia, please."

For schedules, ask: what time does the ticket office open?

And if you’re unsure if the place is functioning, is it open?

Second roleplay, short, at the station.

I’m the person at the window, and you, Carlos, the traveler, okay?

Perfect.

Excuse me, a ticket to Valencia, please.

I don’t speak much Spanish.

Is there a direct one?

Yes, there is a direct one.

It leaves in the afternoon around four.

Do you accept cards?

Yes, we accept.

Anything else?

Great, thank you.

And by the way, where is the bathroom?

I’m a bit lost.

Right and then straight.

If you need help with the platform, ask without fear: can you help me?

With that, they’ll guide you without a problem.

Another typical situation: shops and museums.

To know if it’s open: is it open?

And if you don’t know the hours: what time does it open?

With those two, you avoid walking to a closed door, which hurts the soul, right?

Small pronunciation note.

A person told us they said "thank you" with a strange sound, and the owner understood something bad.

You don’t need to sound perfect, but it’s better to say "thank you" clearly without rushing.

And if it doesn’t come out right, smile and repeat calmly.

And remember how to say "I like."

Don’t say "I like the coffee."

It sounds really weird.

Say "I like the coffee," or "I don’t like the coffee," and that's it.

It’s simple, but it changes everything.

Also, if you don’t understand something in a letter or an announcement, you can combine: "excuse me, is there a daily menu?", "can you speak more slowly?"

That mix of courtesy and clarity works really well.

One more brief story, so this doesn’t happen to you.

A friend said "where is my grandpa?" when he meant to say "where is the bathroom?"

People were genuinely concerned.

Practice "bathroom," with that strong ñ, and that’s it.

And when you order things, alternate: "I want" and "I’d like."

"I’d like" is a bit softer, more polite, you know?

For food, remember "without."

No ice, please, no milk, please.

And if they offer you something you're not keen on, you can say with a smile: "no, thanks" or "I don’t like it."

If the waiter asks you something and you don’t understand, don’t freeze up.

Breathe and say: "I don’t speak much Spanish," "can you speak more slowly?"

And if needed, ask: "is there another option?"

They’ll definitely understand you.

Quick directions that are really helpful: where is the bus stop?

If you move and get lost: "I’m lost," it’s okay, we’ve all been there.

And you can always wrap up with "thank you" and a smile.

I’m going to put several together in a mini restaurant scene to wrap up: you enter and say: "a table for two, please."

Then: "I’d like water, please."

If you don’t want sugar in your dessert: "no sugar, please."

And in the end: "the bill, please."

Easy and real.

I love it.

Before wrapping up, one thing from that debate about only using English.

My experience: when I start with "hello, good morning" and a "please," the attitude changes.

People appreciate the effort, even if later you ask for help in English.

Totally.

Because in the end, traveling is about connecting, right?

And these phrases are tools for that, to show respect and also get what you need without stress.

Question for you listening: what phrase in Spanish saved you on a trip, or which one did you miss that would’ve helped?

Tell us, so we all learn practical tricks.

Okay, last review of the essentials that came up today: hello, good morning, please, thank you, excuse me, I don’t speak much Spanish, do you speak English, can you speak more slowly, where is the bathroom, where is it, I’m lost, slash, I’m lost, can you help me, I’d like, I want, can you bring me, to go, please, without, please, how much is it, the bill, please, a table for two, please, do you accept cards?

Oh, is it open: at what time?

Opens: a ticket to, please, and I like, slash, I don’t like.

And as we said before, the complete interactive lesson with transcription, vocabulary cards, and exercises is free on Vocabli.

You have the link in the description.

Thanks for being here, have a great trip, and see you next time.