Travel and Tourism (Leaving Cert Spanish): Revision Notes
Holidays
Key vocabulary
Understanding holiday vocabulary is essential for discussing travel plans and experiences in Spanish. This vocabulary covers the three main aspects of any holiday: how you get there, where you stay, and what you do.
Mastering travel vocabulary will help you discuss holiday plans, book accommodations, and describe your experiences with confidence. Focus on learning these terms in groups by category to make them easier to remember.
Transport (El transporte)
When discussing how to travel, Spanish uses the preposition "en" (by/on/in) with most modes of transport.
Grammar Rule: Always use "en" + transport method when saying how you travel in Spanish. This is different from English, which uses various prepositions (by car, on foot, in a plane).
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| en coche | by car |
| en autobús | by bus |
| en autocar | by coach |
| en tren | by train |
| en avión | by plane |
| en ferry | by ferry |
| en barco | by boat |
| en crucero | by cruise ship |
| en bicicleta | by bicycle |
| el horario | the timetable |
| el billete de ida | single ticket |
| el billete de ida y vuelta | return ticket |
| el vuelo | the flight |
| volar | to fly |
| el viaje | the journey/trip |
Accommodation (El alojamiento)
These terms help you describe different places to stay during your holidays, from budget options to luxury accommodation.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| un hotel | a hotel |
| un hostal | a hostel |
| una pensión | a guest house |
| un albergue juvenil | a youth hostel |
| un campamento | a campsite |
| una tienda de campaña | a tent |
| una caravana | a caravan |
| una segunda vivienda | a second home |
| alquilar | to rent |
| reservar | to book/reserve |
Activities (Las actividades)
Holiday activities can be grouped by location - whether you're exploring towns, enjoying the beach, or heading to the mountains.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| descubrir el pueblo | to discover the town |
| ir de compras | to go shopping |
| ver los monumentos | to see the monuments |
| visitar los museos | to visit museums |
| dar un paseo por el parque | to take a walk in the park |
| jugar al voleibol en la playa | to play volleyball on the beach |
| tomar el sol en la piscina | to sunbathe by the pool |
| hacer deportes acuáticos | to do water sports |
| montar a caballo | to go horse riding |
| hacer senderismo en la montaña/sierra | to go hiking in the mountains |
Learning activities by location groups makes them easier to remember:
- town activities (museos, monumentos),
- beach activities (voleibol, deportes acuáticos),
- mountain activities (senderismo, montar a caballo).
Model sentences using the vocabulary
Here are practical sentences that demonstrate how to use this holiday vocabulary in context:
Practical Examples: Using Holiday Vocabulary
Transport:
- "Prefiero viajar en tren porque es más cómodo." (I prefer to travel by train because it's more comfortable.)
- "Necesito comprar un billete de ida y vuelta para Madrid." (I need to buy a return ticket to Madrid.)
Accommodation:
- "Vamos a reservar una habitación en un hotel de cinco estrellas." (We're going to book a room in a five-star hotel.)
- "Los jóvenes suelen alojarse en albergues juveniles para ahorrar dinero." (Young people often stay in youth hostels to save money.)
Activities:
- "Durante las vacaciones me gusta tomar el sol y hacer deportes acuáticos." (During holidays I like to sunbathe and do water sports.)
- "Cuando visito una ciudad nueva, siempre doy un paseo por el centro histórico." (When I visit a new city, I always take a walk through the historic centre.)
Useful expressions and idioms
These phrases will help you discuss holidays more naturally and express opinions about travel. Pay particular attention to the key expressions that will make your Spanish sound more sophisticated and natural.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| no hace falta | it's not necessary |
| viajar al extranjero | to travel abroad |
| disfrutar de las vacaciones | to enjoy the holidays |
| hacer buen/mal tiempo | to have good/bad weather |
| como no me gusta | since I don't like |
| para mí significan | for me they mean |
| tumbarse en la playa | to lie on the beach |
| un montón de actividades | loads of activities |
| sitios históricos | historic sites |
| paisajes bonitos | beautiful landscapes |
| pueblos encantadores | charming villages |
The expressions no hace falta, para mí significan, and un montón de are particularly useful for expressing opinions and adding sophistication to your Spanish writing and speaking.
Sample opinion piece on holidays
Here's an example response discussing whether you need to travel abroad for good holidays:
Worked Example: Opinion Essay Structure
Prompt: ¿Es necesario viajar al extranjero para disfrutar de unas buenas vacaciones?
"En mi opinión, no hace falta viajar al extranjero para disfrutar de unas buenas vacaciones. Aunque viajar a otros países puede ser emocionante, creo que se pueden pasar unas vacaciones fantásticas en tu propio país.
Por ejemplo, España ofrece un montón de actividades turísticas diferentes. Tiene sitios históricos increíbles, paisajes bonitos como las montañas de los Pirineos, y pueblos encantadores en la costa. Además, si te alojas en un hotel cerca de casa, puedes ahorrar mucho dinero en billetes de avión.
Sin embargo, entiendo que algunas personas prefieren viajar al extranjero porque quieren descubrir culturas diferentes y practicar idiomas. Para mí, las vacaciones significan relajarme con mi familia, tomar el sol en la playa y hacer senderismo en la sierra.
En conclusión, aunque viajar al extranjero tiene sus ventajas, no es necesario salir de tu país para pasar unas vacaciones memorables."
English translation:
Prompt: Do you need to go abroad for a good holiday?
In my opinion, it's not necessary to travel abroad to enjoy good holidays. Although travelling to other countries can be exciting, I believe you can have fantastic holidays in your own country.
For example, Spain offers loads of different tourist activities. It has incredible historic sites, beautiful landscapes like the Pyrenees mountains, and charming villages on the coast. Furthermore, if you stay in a hotel near home, you can save lots of money on plane tickets.
However, I understand that some people prefer to travel abroad because they want to discover different cultures and practise languages. For me, holidays mean relaxing with my family, sunbaathing on the beach and hiking in the mountains.
In conclusion, although travelling abroad has its advantages, it's not necessary to leave your country to have memorable holidays."
Grammar Notes:
- No hace falta + infinitive = "it's not necessary to..."
- Para mí = "for me" (expressing personal opinion)
- Significan = third person plural of "significar" (to mean)
Key Points to Remember:
- Use "en" + transport method when saying how you travel (en coche, en avión)
- Accommodation vocabulary ranges from budget (albergue juvenil) to luxury (hotel)
- Holiday activities can be grouped by location: town (museos, monumentos), beach (voleibol, deportes acuáticos), mountains (senderismo)
- No hace falta is a useful phrase meaning "it's not necessary"
- When giving opinions, use phrases like "en mi opinión" and "para mí" to make your writing more sophisticated