Trips and visits (Edexcel GCSE Spanish): Revision Notes
Trips and visits
This topic covers essential vocabulary and grammar patterns you'll need when discussing trips, visits, and tourism in Spanish. You'll learn how to talk about where you're going, what you're doing, and express your preferences about different activities and destinations.
Essential vocabulary for trips and visits
Understanding key vocabulary is fundamental for discussing travel and tourism. These words form the foundation of travel conversations and will help you navigate real-world situations when visiting Spanish-speaking countries.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| reservar | to book, reserve |
| el billete | ticket (transport) |
| la entrada | ticket (entry) |
| llegar | to arrive |
| salir | to leave, go out |
| cruzar | to cross |
| el puente | bridge |
| el castillo | castle |
| la plaza | square |
| el puerto | port, harbour |
Notice the distinction between el billete (transport tickets) and la entrada (entry tickets). This difference is important when booking travel or visiting attractions.
More travel vocabulary
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| el estadio | stadium |
| el viaje | journey |
| la oficina de turismo | tourist office |
| la excursión | trip, excursion |
| tardar + time | to take + time |
Worked Example: Using Travel Vocabulary in Context
Let's see how these words work together in real sentences:
- Voy a reservar un billete para Madrid. (I'm going to book a ticket to Madrid.)
- La excursión tarda dos horas. (The trip takes two hours.)
- Necesitamos comprar las entradas para el castillo. (We need to buy the tickets for the castle.)
Notice how tardar is followed by a time expression to show duration.
Key prepositions for describing locations and movement
Prepositions are the building blocks of travel communication in Spanish. Mastering a, en, and de will dramatically improve your ability to describe movement, location, and relationships between places.
Using 'a' (at, to)
The preposition a is used to indicate direction or specific times. This is one of the most frequently used prepositions when discussing travel plans.
- Vamos a la plaza. (We are going to the square.)
- El concierto es a las ocho. (The concert is at eight.)
When talking about arriving somewhere, always use llegar a, never just llegar:
- El tren llega a Granada a la una. (The train arrives in Granada at one.)
- ❌ El tren llega Granada (Incorrect - missing the preposition)
Using 'en' (in, on)
The preposition en indicates location or means of transport. It's essential for describing where you are or how you're travelling.
- Estamos en la playa. (We are on the beach.)
- Comimos en la plaza. (We ate in the square.)
- Lo compré en el supermercado. (I bought it at the supermarket.)
Using 'de' (of, from)
The preposition de shows origin, possession, or describes something. It's particularly useful for describing journeys and views.
- Las vistas del puente son increíbles. (The views from/of the bridge are incredible.)
- El viaje de Londres a París. (The journey from London to Paris.)
The combination de + el always contracts to del, as seen in las vistas del puente. Similarly, a + el becomes al.
Expressing preferences and desires
These flexible phrases are essential for communicating what you want to do during trips and visits. They add nuance to your Spanish and help you sound more natural when discussing travel plans.
| Spanish phrase | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Me apetece + infinitive | I feel like... |
| Tengo ganas de + infinitive | I am keen to... |
| Me gustaría + infinitive | I would like to... |
Worked Example: Expressing Travel Preferences
Here's how to use these phrases in travel contexts:
- Me apetece visitar el museo. (I feel like visiting the museum.)
- Tengo ganas de ir a la playa. (I am keen to go to the beach.)
- Me gustaría conocer la ciudad. (I would like to get to know the city.)
Notice that Me apetece and Me gustaría are followed directly by the infinitive, while Tengo ganas requires de before the infinitive.
Pronunciation tip
Remember that 'g' in ganas is pronounced like the 'g' in 'go', and the stress falls on the first syllable: GA-nas.
Reading comprehension practice
Reading comprehension questions about travel topics follow predictable patterns. Understanding what examiners typically ask about will help you scan texts more efficiently and locate key information quickly.
When answering reading comprehension questions about trips and visits, look for key information such as:
- Times and frequencies (¿cuándo?, ¿con qué frecuencia?)
- Locations and destinations (¿dónde?, ¿adónde?)
- Activities available (¿qué se puede hacer?)
- Duration of activities (¿cuánto tiempo?)
Exam Strategy: Always read the questions first, then scan the text for specific information. Look for cognates (words similar to English) and time expressions to help you understand the context quickly.
Translation practice
Translation exercises help consolidate your understanding of vocabulary and grammar patterns. Practice both directions to strengthen your command of prepositions and travel vocabulary.
Worked Example: Translation Practice
Spanish to English:
- El viaje a la isla es muy interesante.
- El autobús llega en una hora.
English to Spanish:
- We have tickets to visit the palace.
- Yesterday the boat left at two o'clock.
Solutions:
- Spanish to English: "The journey to the island is very interesting." / "The bus arrives in one hour."
- English to Spanish: Tenemos entradas para visitar el palacio. / Ayer el barco salió a las dos.
Translation Tip: Pay attention to preposition usage - English and Spanish don't always use the same prepositions in equivalent phrases. For example, "at two o'clock" becomes a las dos, not en las dos.
Summary
Key Points to Remember:
- Learn prepositions in context - practise a, en, and de with specific examples rather than in isolation
- Build vocabulary in themed groups - group travel words by categories like transport, places, and activities
- Use flexible phrases regularly - Me apetece, Tengo ganas de, and Me gustaría are essential for expressing preferences
- Focus on common question patterns - exam questions often ask about times, locations, and activities available
- Practise translation both ways - work from Spanish to English and English to Spanish to strengthen your understanding
- Master the distinction between el billete (transport) and la entrada (entry tickets)
- Always use llegar a when talking about arriving at destinations