Survival Spanish - Hotels - Spanish accommodation

Introduction

Due to your feedback, we have realised that many people are interested in learning Spanish in order to travel to Spanish speaking countries, so this month's word is designed to help you at the hotel. Sarah and I have taught several courses in Spain for hotel staff and some of the vocabulary below is based on a questionnaire that we asked them to fill in. Strangely, the most requested piece of English was, "The hairdrier doesn't work" (el secador no funciona). If your level of Spanish is very low, we have included a "10 expression" survival kit which should come in useful.

My mother-in-law has a problem with the lymph glands in her leg and twice a day she has to pump her leg to restore the flow with an electric pump. In a hotel in Cordoba she went down to the reception and said, "He dejado una bomba en mi habitación." The receptionist went pale, quivered and let out a frightened groan. My mother-in-law didn't realise that the word "bomba" means both "pump" and "bomb" in Spanish.

Spanish	English
PALABRAS ÚTILES - USEFUL WORDS
alojamiento	accommodation
una habitación individual	a single room
una habitación doble	a double room
una cama individual	a single bed
una cama de matrimonio	a double bed
una habitación con cama de matrimonio	a double-bedded room
camas gemelas	twin beds
una habitación con camas gemelas	a twin-bedded room
una habitación con baño	a room with en suite bathroom
una reserva	a reservation / booking
el equipaje	luggage
el ascensor	elevator / lift
primera (segunda/tercera/cuarta) planta	first (second/third/fourth) floor
la llave	key
la tarjeta llavero	key card
la factura	receipt
la cuenta	bill
la recepción	reception
el / la recepcionista	receptionist
el restaurante	restaurant
el bar	bar
el comedor	dining room
el salón	lounge
el camarero / la camarera	waiter / waitress
la camarera de pisos	chambermaid
el botones	bellboy
el / la guardacoches	car park attendant / parking lot attendant
el director	manager
el servicio a las habitaciones	room service
el servicio de lavandería	laundry service
planchar	to iron
lavar	to wash
las escaleras	stairs
dar or dejar una señal	to pay a deposit or down payment
una reembolsa	refund
una propina	a tip
una reclamación	a complaint
las sábanas	(bed) sheets
las mantas	blankets
el colchón	mattress
la almohada	pillow
calefacción	heating
aire acondicionado	air conditioning
agua caliente	hot water
el secador de pelo	hair dryer
una toalla	towel
el papel higiénico	toilet paper
el jabón	soap
la jabonera	soap dispenser
la pasta dentrífica / pasta de dientes	toothpaste
el cepillo de dientes	toothbrush
el champú	shampoo
la máquina de afeitar	razor
un albornoz	bathrobe
la bañera	bath
la ducha	shower
el lavabo	washbasin
el váter	toilet
una gorra de ducha	shower cap
un peine	comb
el grifo	tap / faucet
las zapatillas	slippers
la ventana	window
FRASES COMUNES - COMMON PHRASES
¿Quedan habitaciones libres (para el cinco de junio)?	Do you have any rooms available (for the 5th June)?
Quiero una habitación doble para tres noches.	I'd like a double room for three nights.
¿Cuál es el precio por día?	How much does it cost per day?
¿Cuánto cuesta la pensión completa? ¿Cuánto cuesta la media pensión?	How much is full board? How much is half board?
Lo siento, no entiendo. ¿me puede hablar más despacio por favor?	I'm sorry I don't understand. Could you speak more slowly please.
¿Puede darme la llave del 206?	Can you give me the key to room 206?
Quiero dejar un recargo para el señor Smith.	I'd like to leave a message for Mr. Smith.
Hay correo / algún recargo para mí?	Is there any mail / messages for me?
An apartamento ático	A penthouse suite
El hotel tiene magníficas vistas	´The hotel has wonderful views
El Hotel se sitúa al lado de la catedral	The hotel is located next to the Cathedral
Deseo que me limpien los zapatos.	I would like my shoes cleaned
Deseo que recojan una camisa para lavar y planchar.	I would like you to pick up a shirt to be washed and ironed.
¿Dónde puedo aparcar el coche?	Where can I park my car?
Tengo el equipaje en el maletero.	My luggage is in the boot / trunk.
Tengo reservada una habitación para esta noche.	I have a reservation for tonight.
¿Está incluido el desayuno?	Is breakfast included?
la cuenta ¿Me puede preparar la cuenta por favor?	bill Could you get my bill ready please?
marcharse Nos marcharemos mañana por la mañana. Me marcharé mañana por la tarde / noche.	to leave I'll be leaving tomorrow morning. I'll be leaving tomorrow afternoon / night.
¿Puede decirme a qué se refiere este concepto?	Could you tell me what this charge is for?
¿Aceptan tarjetas de crédito?	Do you take credit cards?
una llamada despertador ¿Me puede despertar a las ocho horas?	an alarm call Can you wake me at eight o'clock?
¿Hablo con el bar?	Am I speaking to the bar?
La calefacción no funciona. El/La ............. no funciona.	The heating doesn't work. The ........... doesn't work.
La televisión está averiada. Note: The equivalent of the English: "Out of Order" is Averiada	The television is not working
¿Me puede traer un cepillo de dientes?	Could you bring me a toothbrush?
¿A qué hora abre / cierra el restaurante?	What time does the restaurant open / close?
¿A que hora comienza el servicio de desayunos / comidas / cenas?	What time do you serve breakfast / lunch / dinner?
La habitación no está arreglada.	The room hasn't been made up.
¿Me pueden subir una botella de champán a la habitación?	Could you bring me a bottle of chapagne to my room?
Necesito papel / sobres / sellos.	I need some paper / envelopes / stamps.
¿Quedan habitaciones libres (para el cinco de junio)?	Do you have any rooms available (for the 5th June)?
No molestar	Do not disturb.
escalera de incendios	fire escape
salida de incendios	fire exit
10 EXPRESSION SPANISH SURVIVAL KIT
The above vocabuary will help you a lot if you have a reasonable level of Spanish. If you level is very low the following notes will help you in almost any situation. I have put some pronunciation help in brackets. The dots ...... refer to verbs or nouns that you can insert.
¿Tiene .... ? (tee-enn-ay)	Do you have ................ ?
¿hay ......? ( I )	Is/are there a/any ............?
¿me puede ....(verbo).......? (may pwayday)	Could you ....(verb).....me?
traer (try-air)	bring
dar	give
quiero .......... (key - air - oh)	I want ........... ( I would like........)
quiere .......... (key - air - ay)	Would you like..........? (to offer something)
tome (al entregar algo) (tomay)	Here you are (when you hand something to someone)
gracias (grathiass)	thank you
de nada	you're welcome