April 26, 2026 · 6 min read

Essential Spanish Phrases for Travel

You don't need to be fluent to travel comfortably in a Spanish-speaking country. You need about 40 phrases. These are the Spanish travel phrases that handle 90% of what comes up — airports, hotels, restaurants, taxis, shopping, and the small emergencies that happen on every trip.

At the airport and on transport

These get you from arrivals to your hotel without panic.

  • ¿Dónde está la salida? — Where's the exit?
  • ¿Dónde puedo tomar un taxi? — Where can I get a taxi?
  • Lléveme a esta dirección, por favor — Take me to this address, please
  • ¿Cuánto cuesta? — How much does it cost?
  • ¿Acepta tarjeta? — Do you accept card?

At the hotel

These cover check-in, problems with the room, and check-out.

  • Tengo una reserva a nombre de… — I have a reservation under the name…
  • ¿A qué hora es el check-out? — What time is check-out?
  • El aire acondicionado no funciona — The air conditioning isn't working
  • Necesito toallas, por favor — I need towels, please
  • ¿Hay wifi? — Is there wifi?

Shopping and money

These keep you from overpaying or getting lost in conversion math.

  • ¿Tiene esto en otra talla? — Do you have this in another size?
  • Solo estoy mirando — I'm just looking
  • ¿Puedo probármelo? — Can I try it on?
  • Es muy caro — It's very expensive
  • ¿Me puede hacer un descuento? — Can you give me a discount?

Emergencies

Memorize these. You may not need them — but if you do, you'll really need them.

  • Ayuda — Help
  • Llame a la policía — Call the police
  • Necesito un médico — I need a doctor
  • Me robaron — I was robbed
  • Estoy perdido / perdida — I'm lost

Frequently asked questions

Is it rude to start in English when traveling?

Not rude — but starting with 'Hola, ¿habla inglés?' is far better received than launching in English.

What's the most useful Spanish phrase for travelers?

'¿Habla inglés?' — Do you speak English? It's polite, useful, and immediately tells the other person you're trying.

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