Checking into a hotel in a Spanish-speaking country is an exciting first step on any trip. This vocabulary list is designed to give you the essential words you'll need right away, from the moment you get your key to asking for an extra towel. Knowing these terms will help you feel more confident, communicate your needs clearly to hotel staff, and handle any small issues that might come up in your room. We've focused on high-frequency, practical words that you will actually hear and use. You'll notice many cognates—words that look and sound similar to their English counterparts, like 'hotel', 'reservación', and 'teléfono'—which makes them easy to remember. This list prioritizes common Latin American Spanish, which is understood across the continent. With this vocabulary, you can easily ask for what you need ('Necesito una toalla'), point out a problem ('El aire acondicionado no funciona'), and understand basic information about your room, making your stay smoother and more enjoyable.
the hotel
El hotel tiene una piscina muy bonita. — The hotel has a very nice pool.
the hotel room
Mi habitación es la número 205. — My room is number 205.
the reservation
Tengo una reservación a nombre de Smith. — I have a reservation under the name Smith.
the key
Aquí tiene la llave de su habitación. — Here is your room key.
the reception desk
Puede pedir un taxi en la recepción. — You can ask for a taxi at the reception desk.
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the bed
La cama es muy grande y cómoda. — The bed is very big and comfortable.
the pillow
¿Puedo tener otra almohada, por favor? — Can I have another pillow, please?
the bathroom
El baño está a la derecha. — The bathroom is on the right.
the shower
La ducha no tiene agua caliente. — The shower doesn't have hot water.
the towel
Necesito una toalla limpia. — I need a clean towel.
the soap
No hay jabón en el baño. — There is no soap in the bathroom.
the shampoo
La habitación incluye champú y jabón. — The room includes shampoo and soap.
the toilet paper
Necesitamos más papel higiénico, por favor. — We need more toilet paper, please.
the television set
El control remoto del televisor no funciona. — The TV remote doesn't work.
the air conditioning
Hace mucho calor. ¿Puede prender el aire acondicionado? — It's very hot. Can you turn on the air conditioning?
the window
La ventana tiene una vista del mar. — The window has a view of the sea.
the light
La luz del baño no prende. — The bathroom light doesn't turn on.
the Wi-Fi / the internet
¿Cuál es la contraseña del wifi? — What is the Wi-Fi password?
the telephone
Uso el teléfono para llamar a recepción. — I use the telephone to call reception.
the cleaning (housekeeping)
Necesito el servicio de limpieza para mi habitación. — I need housekeeping service for my room.
clean
El cuarto está muy limpio. — The room is very clean.
dirty
Estas toallas están sucias. — These towels are dirty.
I need...
Necesito ayuda, por favor. — I need help, please.
Do you have...?
¿Tiene una habitación disponible? — Do you have a room available?
it doesn't work
Disculpe, el televisor no funciona. — Excuse me, the television doesn't work.
the floor (level of a building)
Mi habitación está en el tercer piso. — My room is on the third floor.
the single room
Quiero reservar una habitación individual para una noche. — I want to book a single room for one night.
the double room
Una habitación doble tiene una cama grande o dos camas pequeñas. — A double room has one big bed or two small beds.