Spanish - Travel Experiences

Lesson 64 of 159

Learner speaking Spanish about travel experiences, with luggage and travel photos — English learners practice travel phrases.

Goal: Talk about trips, surprises, and recommendations

Free Spanish lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.

Welcome! Ready to share a great travel story? This short lesson focuses on useful Spanish phrases for talking about trips: where you went, what surprised you, and whether you'd go back. Have fun — a little travel yak-yacking goes a long way.

Level B1: In this lesson you'll practice phrases to describe travel experiences: say where you went, ask if someone has been someplace, mention problems and how they ended, and give recommendations. These CEFR-aligned chunks help you tell a clear, natural travel story and ask follow-up questions.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Describe where and when you traveled and what you did.
  • Ask and answer whether someone has visited a place (B1 practical skill).
  • Talk about highlights, surprises, problems, and whether you'd return.
Two friends talking about a recent trip — Spanish travel phrases for describing places and surprises.

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

Fui a ___ el año pasado.

I went to ___ last year.

Meaning: I went to ___ last year.

When to use: Say where you traveled last year when beginning a travel story.

Tip: Don't say 'fui en' — use 'fui a' for destinations. Also avoid mixing present perfect when you mean a finished trip last year.

Fui a México el año pasado.
I went to Mexico last year.
Fui a París el año pasado.
I went to Paris last year.

¿Has ido alguna vez a ___?

Have you ever been to ___?

Meaning: Have you ever been to ___?

When to use: Ask about someone's travel experience with a place name.

Tip: Beginner learners sometimes use the simple past '¿Fuiste alguna vez...?' which is okay but different in nuance; stick to '¿Has ido alguna vez...?' to ask about any time up to now.

¿Has ido alguna vez a Perú?
Have you ever been to Peru?
¿Has ido alguna vez a Nueva York?
Have you ever been to New York?

Fue uno de los mejores viajes que he hecho.

It was one of the best trips I've ever taken.

Meaning: It was one of the best trips I've ever taken.

When to use: Give a general opinion when you want to praise a trip.

Fue uno de los mejores viajes que he hecho.
It was one of the best trips I've taken.
Después de volver, dije que fue uno de los mejores viajes que he hecho.
After coming back, I said it was one of the best trips I've taken.

Lo mejor fue ___.

The best part was ___ .

Meaning: The best part was ___.

When to use: Point out the highlight of a trip (food, views, people, activities).

Lo mejor fue la comida.
The best part was the food.
Lo mejor fue el paisaje al amanecer.
The best part was the sunrise scenery.

Me sorprendió ___.

I was surprised by ___ .

Meaning: I was surprised by ___.

When to use: Describe something unexpected you encountered on the trip.

Me sorprendió la amabilidad de la gente.
I was surprised by how friendly the people were.
Me sorprendió el clima tan cambiante.
I was surprised by the very changeable weather.

Tuvimos un problema con ___.

We had a problem with ___ .

Meaning: We had a problem with ___.

When to use: Explain a specific travel problem (flight, hotel, luggage).

Tuvimos un problema con el vuelo.
We had a problem with the flight.
Tuvimos un problema con la reserva del hotel.
We had a problem with the hotel booking.

Al final, todo salió bien.

In the end, everything was okay.

Meaning: In the end, everything was okay.

When to use: Conclude a story after explaining a problem or worry.

Al final, todo salió bien y pudimos disfrutar.
In the end, everything was okay and we could enjoy ourselves.
El tren llegó tarde, pero al final, todo salió bien.
The train arrived late, but in the end, everything was fine.

Definitivamente volvería.

I would definitely go back.

Meaning: I would definitely go back.

When to use: Say whether you'd repeat the trip or visit the place again.

Definitivamente volvería a esa isla.
I would definitely go back to that island.
Después de probar la comida, definitivamente volvería.
After trying the food, I would definitely go back.

¿Qué fue lo mejor de tu viaje?

What was the best part of your trip?

Meaning: What was the best part of your trip?

When to use: Ask someone to describe the most memorable part of their trip.

¿Qué fue lo mejor de tu viaje a Roma?
What was the best part of your trip to Rome?
Cuando vuelvas, pregúntame qué fue lo mejor de mi viaje.
When you come back, ask me what was the best part of my trip.

Deberías probar ___ si vas.

You should try ___ if you go there.

Meaning: You should try ___ if you go there.

When to use: Give a recommendation for food or an activity at a destination.

Tip: Avoid saying 'deberías de probar' — the extra 'de' is common in speech but not standard in this structure.

Deberías probar el ceviche si vas.
You should try the ceviche if you go.
Deberías probar el tour en bicicleta si vas a la ciudad.
You should try the bike tour if you go to the city.

Pasé la mayor parte del tiempo ___.

I spent most of my time ___ .

Meaning: I spent most of my time ___.

When to use: Describe how you spent the majority of your time (activities or places).

Pasé la mayor parte del tiempo caminando por la ciudad.
I spent most of my time walking around the city.
Pasé la mayor parte del tiempo en la playa.
I spent most of my time on the beach.

Nos quedamos en ___ por ___ días.

We stayed in ___ for ___ days.

Meaning: We stayed in ___ for ___ days.

When to use: Say where you stayed and for how long during the trip.

Nos quedamos en un hostal por tres días.
We stayed in a hostel for three days.
Nos quedamos en Madrid por cinco días.
We stayed in Madrid for five days.

Disfruté mucho ___.

I really enjoyed ___ .

Meaning: I really enjoyed ___.

When to use: Express what you enjoyed about a place or activity.

Disfruté mucho la comida local.
I really enjoyed the local food.
Disfruté mucho las excursiones de un día.
I really enjoyed the day trips.

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Two friends compare recent trips and highlights.

Anna and David exchange short travel stories — useful Spanish travel chunks appear in their conversation.

What did Anna ask David at the start?

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

¿Has ido alguna vez a Perú?

Have you ever been to Peru?

Portrait of David in a Spanish lesson dialogue

David

Sí, fui a Perú el año pasado. Fue uno de los mejores viajes que he hecho.

Yes, I went to Peru last year. It was one of the best trips I've taken.

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

¿Qué fue lo mejor de tu viaje?

What was the best part of your trip?

Portrait of David in a Spanish lesson dialogue

David

Lo mejor fue la comida y la gente. Me sorprendió la variedad de sabores.

The best part was the food and the people. I was surprised by the variety of flavors.

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

¿Tuvieron problemas durante el viaje?

Did you have problems during the trip?

Portrait of David in a Spanish lesson dialogue

David

Tuvimos un problema con el equipaje al llegar, pero al final, todo salió bien. Definitivamente volvería.

We had a problem with the luggage when arriving, but in the end everything was okay. I would definitely go back.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which Spanish sentence means 'I went to Japan last year.'?

Which sentence asks 'Have you ever been to Spain?' using the target chunk?

Which phrase best matches 'The best part was the beaches.' using the lesson structure?

Which sentence means 'In the end, everything was okay.'?

A: What was the best part of your trip? B: The best part was the food.

A: ¿Qué fue lo mejor de tu viaje? B: ___.

During the trip, we had a problem with the taxis in the city, but in the end everything was okay.

Durante el viaje, ___ con los taxis en la ciudad, pero al final todo salió bien.

If you visit that place, you should try the local food.

Si visitas ese lugar, ___.

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

Fui a ___ el año pasado.

I went to ___ last year.

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Has ido alguna vez a ___?

Have you ever been to ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

Fue uno de los mejores viajes que he hecho.

It was one of the best trips I've ever taken.

Say this phrase out loud:

Lo mejor fue ___.

The best part was ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

Me sorprendió ___.

I was surprised by ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

Tuvimos un problema con ___.

We had a problem with ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

Al final, todo salió bien.

In the end, everything was okay.

Say this phrase out loud:

Definitivamente volvería.

I would definitely go back.

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Qué fue lo mejor de tu viaje?

What was the best part of your trip?

Say this phrase out loud:

Deberías probar ___ si vas.

You should try ___ if you go there.

Say this phrase out loud:

Pasé la mayor parte del tiempo ___.

I spent most of my time ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

Nos quedamos en ___ por ___ días.

We stayed in ___ for ___ days.

Say this phrase out loud:

Disfruté mucho ___.

I really enjoyed ___.