Where to stay (Edexcel GCSE Spanish): Revision Notes
Where to stay
When discussing accommodation in Spanish, you need to master key vocabulary, understand different tenses, and be able to describe facilities and experiences. This topic is essential for GCSE Spanish and appears frequently in exam questions about holidays and tourism.
Accommodation vocabulary
Understanding different types of accommodation and how to describe them is fundamental to discussing where to stay in Spanish.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| alquilar | to hire, rent |
| el camping | campsite, camping |
| decidir | to decide |
| escoger | to choose |
| alojarse | to stay (accommodation) |
| el alojamiento | accommodation |
| la estrella | star |
| las instalaciones | facilities |
| la maleta | suitcase |
| un piso | apartment |
Notice how alojarse and el alojamiento are related words - the verb "to stay" and the noun "accommodation". Learning word families like this can help expand your vocabulary more effectively.
Example sentences:
- Vamos a alquilar un piso en la costa. (We're going to rent an apartment on the coast.)
- Prefiero alojarme en un hotel de cinco estrellas. (I prefer to stay in a five-star hotel.)
- El camping tiene buenas instalaciones. (The campsite has good facilities.)
Room types and facilities
When describing accommodation, you'll need specific vocabulary for rooms and facilities that will help you express your preferences and experiences.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| el baño | bathroom, bath, swim |
| la habitación | room |
| limpio/a | clean |
| la sala de juegos | games room |
| vistas (a) | view (of) |
| el ascensor | lift |
| la piscina | swimming pool |
| cómodo/a | comfortable |
| seguro/a | safe |
| relajante | relaxing |
Example sentences:
- La habitación estaba muy limpia. (The room was very clean.)
- El hotel tenía vistas al mar. (The hotel had sea views.)
- Había una sala de juegos para los niños. (There was a games room for the children.)
Adjectives like limpio/a, cómodo/a, and seguro/a change their endings to agree with the gender of the noun they describe. Remember: masculine singular (-o), feminine singular (-a), masculine plural (-os), feminine plural (-as).
Grammar for discussing accommodation
Different tenses are used depending on when you're talking about your stay and what type of exam task you're completing. Understanding when to use each tense is crucial for exam success.
Present tense uses
The present tense is used for:
- Follow-up questions in reading tasks
- Foundation role play exercises
- Picture description tasks
- Foundation Writing Question 1
Expressing future plans
When discussing future accommodation plans, you have several options that can add variety to your speaking and writing:
Future tense: Nos alojaremos en un hotel. (We will stay in a hotel.)
Immediate future: Vamos a decidir mañana. (We're going to decide tomorrow.)
Present tense with future meaning:
- Espero alquilar un piso. (I hope to rent an apartment.)
- Tengo la intención de quedarme aquí. (I intend to stay here.)
- Me gustaría escoger un hotel. (I would like to choose a hotel.)
Past tense usage
The preterite tense is most important for describing past accommodation experiences, but Higher tier students also need the perfect and imperfect tenses. Make sure you can conjugate key verbs like decidir, alojarse, and escoger in these tenses.
Translation practice
Worked Example: Spanish to English Translation
Spanish to English:
- Lo siento, pero el hotel está completo.
- Nuestra habitación tiene vistas a las montañas.
- Decidimos alquilar un piso.
English to Spanish: 4. There was a swimming pool and a games room. 5. I'm going up in the lift with the suitcases.
Answers:
- I'm sorry, but the hotel is full.
- Our room has mountain views.
- We decided to rent an apartment.
- Había una piscina y una sala de juegos.
- Voy a subir en el ascensor con las maletas.
Exam tip
In reading comprehension tasks, look for context clues when encountering unfamiliar vocabulary. For example, if you see words like limpio, cómodo, and instalaciones together, they're likely describing positive aspects of accommodation.
Key Points to Remember:
- Master accommodation vocabulary including types of lodging and facilities
- Use present tense for current plans and descriptions
- Express future accommodation plans using future tense, immediate future, or present tense with future expressions
- Preterite tense is essential for describing past holiday experiences
- Practice translation exercises to improve accuracy in both directions
- Look for context clues in reading tasks to understand unfamiliar words