Useful Spanish travel words for your trip
Spanish is spoken in Mexico, most of Central America, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, so these twelve phrases cover a lot of ground for a family. In Belize the official language is English. Each phrase is a real question or request, from showing a passport to asking for a doctor. Read them aloud before you travel.
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Updated October 2026
Useful words at the airport and customs
These are the phrases you need in the first ten minutes after you land, when the person in front of you is in a hurry.
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| Good morning | Buenos días |
| One ticket, please | Un boleto, por favor |
| Here are our passports | Aquí están nuestros pasaportes |
| Where is the exit? | ¿Dónde está la salida? |
Useful words at the hotel
At the reception desk, one clear sentence saves a lot of pointing. Say how many nights you are staying, and ask about a crib if you travel with a baby.
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| We have a reservation | Tenemos una reservación |
| A room for two nights | Una habitación para dos noches |
| Does the room have a crib? | ¿La habitación tiene una cuna? |
| What time is breakfast? | ¿A qué hora es el desayuno? |
Useful words for everyday needs
The last two are the ones you hope you never need. Practise them anyway: in an emergency, being understood quickly matters most.
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| How much does it cost? | ¿Cuánto cuesta? |
| Where is the bathroom? | ¿Dónde está el baño? |
| I need a doctor | Necesito un médico |
| Please call an ambulance | Por favor, llame a una ambulancia |
Where Spanish is spoken
Spanish is spoken in Mexico, most of Central America, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. In Belize the official language is English, though Spanish is widely spoken there too. In Panama, Spanish is the official language, and English is often spoken in major cities and tourist destinations.
These phrases are a start, not a substitute for a phrasebook. When a sentence matters, write it down and show it: it is faster than a long conversation and it removes any doubt about what you need.
Sources
- Online English-Spanish dictionary, used to check the written form and the meaning of every Spanish phrase on this page. — wordreference.com (checked 21 October 2026)
- Official page of the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry: "Belize's official language is English", and Spanish and the indigenous languages of both the Maya and the Garifuna are spoken in Belize. — belize.org (checked 21 October 2026)
- Official page of the U.S. Department of Commerce on the language of Panama: "Panama's official language is Spanish", and "English is often spoken in major cities and tourist destinations". — legacy.export.gov (checked 21 October 2026)
Frequently asked questions
Where is Spanish spoken?
In Mexico, most of Central America, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. In Belize the official language is English, and in Panama English is often spoken in major cities and tourist destinations.
How do I say "here are our passports" in Spanish?
"Aquí están nuestros pasaportes". It is the phrase to use at the immigration desk.
How do I ask for a room for two nights in Spanish?
"Una habitación para dos noches". To ask whether the room has a crib, say "¿La habitación tiene una cuna?".
How do I ask for a doctor in Spanish?
"Necesito un médico", and "Por favor, llame a una ambulancia" means "please call an ambulance". Keep both on your phone, and in a paper note as a backup.
Is a phrasebook better than a translation app?
Both help. A phrasebook teaches you the words, and an app gets you a full sentence. Write the important ones down before you travel and show them: it works even with no signal.