Where to stay (AQA GCSE Spanish): Revision Notes
Where to stay - Accommodation vocabulary and grammar
Key vocabulary table
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ¿Dónde vas a quedarte? | Where are you going to stay? |
| el alojamiento | accommodation |
| el baño | bathroom, bath |
| el camping | campsite, camping |
| la estrella | star |
| la habitación | room |
| las instalaciones | facilities |
| limpio/a | clean |
| la maleta | suitcase |
| vistas (a) | view (of) |
| decidir | to decide |
| escoger | to choose |
| esperar | to wait, to hope |
| llegar | to arrive |
| quedarse | to stay (accommodation) |
| alquilar | to hire, to rent |
| el ascensor | lift |
| el lujo | luxury |
This vocabulary table contains the essential words and phrases you'll need for discussing accommodation in Spanish. Focus on memorising the key question ¿Dónde vas a quedarte? as it's fundamental to accommodation conversations.
Understanding accommodation vocabulary
When discussing where to stay during holidays or trips, Spanish uses specific vocabulary to describe different types of accommodation and their features. The key question "¿Dónde vas a quedarte?" (Where are you going to stay?) opens up conversations about hotels, campsites, apartments, and other lodging options.
Accommodation types range from basic camping facilities to luxury hotels with multiple stars (estrellas). When describing your accommodation, you'll often need to mention the facilities (las instalaciones) available, such as lifts (el ascensor), bathrooms (el baño), and room features like views (vistas) of the sea or mountains.
The verb "quedarse" is specifically used for staying in accommodation, which is different from other uses of "to stay" in Spanish. This distinction is essential for clear communication about your travel plans.
Grammar and tenses for accommodation topics
Future tenses and intentions
When discussing future accommodation plans, Spanish offers several ways to express your intentions. Understanding these structures will help you communicate your travel plans effectively.
Future Expressions for Accommodation Plans:
Immediate future plans:
- "Espero + infinitive" (I hope to...) Example: "Espero quedarme en un hotel de cinco estrellas" (I hope to stay in a five-star hotel)
- "Tengo la intención de + infinitive" (I intend to...) Example: "Tengo la intención de alquilar un apartamento" (I intend to rent an apartment)
- "Me gustaría + infinitive" (I would like to...) Example: "Me gustaría decidir mañana" (I would like to decide tomorrow)
Past tenses for describing experiences
When recounting past accommodation experiences, you'll primarily use the preterite tense, though perfect and imperfect tenses may also appear in listening and reading tasks. The preterite is essential for describing completed actions like "llegamos" (we arrived) or "escogimos" (we chose).
The preterite tense is crucial for accommodation topics because most travel experiences are completed actions. Master forms like "decidimos" (we decided), "llegamos" (we arrived), and "nos quedamos" (we stayed) as these appear frequently in exam tasks.
Example sentences with translations
Planning accommodation (future tenses):
- "Vamos a escoger un hotel de tres estrellas." - We're going to choose a three-star hotel.
- "Espero quedarme cerca de la playa." - I hope to stay near the beach.
- "Tengo la intención de alquilar un apartamento con vistas al mar." - I intend to rent an apartment with sea views.
Describing past experiences:
- "El hotel estaba muy limpio y las habitaciones eran cómodas." - The hotel was very clean and the rooms were comfortable.
- "Decidimos quedarnos dos semanas más." - We decided to stay two more weeks.
Pronunciation tips
Key Pronunciation Points:
- "Quedarse" - The 'qu' sound is pronounced like 'k' in English
- "Alojamiento" - Remember the stress falls on the 'mien' syllable
- "Instalaciones" - The double 'l' is pronounced like 'y' in most Spanish dialects
These words are frequently tested in speaking assessments, so correct pronunciation is essential for achieving higher grades.
Translation practice exercise
Translation Practice:
Spanish to English:
- Las instalaciones en el hotel son geniales.
- Nuestra habitación tiene vistas a las montañas.
English to Spanish: 3. We decided to stay in an apartment. 4. There was a swimming pool and a sports centre.
Answers:
- The facilities in the hotel are brilliant/great.
- Our room has mountain views.
- Decidimos quedarnos en un piso/apartamento.
- Había una piscina y un centro de deportes.
Key Points to Remember:
- Use "¿Dónde vas a quedarte?" to ask where someone is staying
- Future expressions like "espero + infinitive" and "me gustaría + infinitive" are essential for discussing accommodation plans
- The verb "quedarse" specifically means "to stay" in terms of accommodation
- Past tenses (especially preterite) are crucial for describing accommodation experiences
- Learn accommodation vocabulary in categories: types (hotel, camping), features (limpio, lujoso), and facilities (piscina, ascensor)