These essential Spanish phrases for travel to a Spanish speaking country will help you prepare for that moment when your plane lands and you set foot in a foreign country, and where no one speaks your language. 

When traveling to any country, I always like to learn a bit about their customs and language before arriving. By taking the time it shows the locals that you have a genuine interest in their country and culture, and therefore they usually tend to be more patient and willing to help you out. 

Spanish is the 4th most spoken language in the world, and is spoken in 21 countries. It is a ‘romance language’ meaning it is derived from Latin.

For most of the countries in South and Central America, Spanish is the national language, and depending where you are, very few people speak English.

Although the Spanish spoken in Spain is slightly different from Central and South America, these essential Spanish phrases for travel are basic enough that they will be understood. 

It takes a lot of time and practice to learn a language but if you know these essential Spanish phrases for travel to Spain, Central or South America, it will make navigating a brand new country with a foreign language a whole lot easier.

From meeting people, ordering food and drinks, to getting around, here are the most essential Spanish phrases for travel to a Spanish speaking country.

Keep reading to learn... 

Essential Spanish Phrases for Travel

Basics

Greetings and Meeting People

Directions and Getting Around

Restaurant and Bar

Wine and food pairing in Mendoza, Argentina

Shopping

Shopping in Palermo Soho, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Numbers

Days of the Week

Helpful Apps

Prior to embarking on your trip, I recommend investing some time and learning more. Duolingo (free) and  Rosetta Stone (cost associated) are 2 great tools to help. Also, before you depart for your trip, make sure you have Google Translate or Spanishdict loaded on your phone before you arrive. Trust me! They will come in handy!

Conclusion

These 22 essential Spanish phrases for travel to a Spanish speaking country will give you a good start however they really are just the basics; you will in no means be fluent with them. However, by learning them and making an effort to communicate and speak with the locals in their language, you will be surprised how warm and welcoming they are to you.

I hope you have a great time on your travels and have fun with the Spanish language.

Let me know what other tools you have used to learn Spanish. I’m always looking for help with that!

Ciao for now!

Pin for Later!