Travel is one of the best ways to live the language, but what if you could also learn Spanish through your travel stories?
In this Study With Me Online lesson, we explore how to describe trips, holidays, and travel experiences in Spanish, using real-life contexts and vocabulary you can apply right away.
This topic fits perfectly within the IB Spanish B theme “Experiencias” (Experiences), where students learn to talk about personal memories, adventures, and the world around them.
Whether you’re learning Spanish online, preparing for an IB oral exam, or just want to speak confidently while travelling.
Essential Travel Vocabulary in Spanish B or Ab Initio Spanish.
Here’s a list of useful words and phrases to describe your trips and experiences in Spanish:
| Español | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| el viaje | the trip | Mi viaje a México fue inolvidable. |
| hacer la maleta | to pack | Hice la maleta con ropa de verano. |
| el alojamiento | accommodation | El alojamiento estaba cerca del centro. |
| el billete / boleto | ticket | Compré los billetes por internet. |
| el vuelo | flight | El vuelo salió con retraso. |
| el destino | destination | Nuestro destino final fue Sevilla. |
| visitar monumentos | to visit monuments | Visitamos muchos monumentos históricos. |
| probar comida local | to try local food | Probé los tacos por primera vez. |
| sacar fotos | to take photos | Saqué muchas fotos de la playa. |
| perderse | to get lost | Nos perdimos en las calles del casco antiguo. |
Tip: use pretérito (past simple) for actions (viajé, visité, probé) and imperfecto for descriptions (el hotel era bonito, hacía sol).
Useful Structures to Talk About Past Experiences in Ab Initio Spanish
When telling a story about your trip, mix past tenses and connectors:
- Para comenzar: El verano pasado viajé a…
- Durante el viaje: Visitamos varios lugares interesantes.
- Para describir: El clima era perfecto y la gente muy amable.
- Para expresar opinión: Me encantó la comida, pero el vuelo fue agotador.
- Para concluir: Fue una experiencia que nunca olvidaré.
Try using connectors like además, luego, por eso, sin embargo, al final. They help you sound more fluent and organized, a key IB skill.
Mini Practice: Describe Your Last Trip
Activity 1 – Write
Write a short paragraph (8–10 lines) describing your last trip:
- Where did you go?
- What did you do?
- What was your favorite part?
- How did you feel?
Example:
El año pasado viajé a Granada con mis amigos. Visitamos la Alhambra y comimos tapas en el centro. El clima era perfecto y la ciudad me pareció preciosa. Me gustaría volver algún día.
Activity 2 – Speak
Practice saying your paragraph aloud — imagine you’re in your IB oral or explaining it to your Spanish teacher.
Challenge: record yourself and note where you hesitate or repeat. That’s where you can improve next time!
Pretérito vs. Imperfecto
To describe experiences well, you need both tenses:
| Pretérito (acciones concretas) | Imperfecto (descripciones / contexto) |
|---|---|
| Viajé a Madrid el año pasado. | El hotel estaba cerca del centro. |
| Comimos en un restaurante local. | La comida era deliciosa. |
| Visitamos tres museos. | Hacía mucho calor. |
IB tip: In your written tasks or orals, mixing these tenses naturally shows range and fluency.
Cultural Extension: Famous Travel Destinations in Spain
Learning Spanish is also learning about where Spanish is lived and spoken. Here are three iconic travel experiences you can explore (or describe in class):
- Sevilla y la Feria de Abril – colorful dresses, flamenco, and joy.
- Barcelona y la Sagrada Familia – art, architecture, and Mediterranean life.
- Granada y la Alhambra – history, Moorish culture, and magic views.
You can connect these destinations to IB topics like identities, experiences, and human ingenuity.
Use these for your next oral or writing practice:
- ¿Qué tipo de viaje prefieres: de aventura o de relax?
- ¿Qué destino hispano te gustaría visitar?
- ¿Qué aprendiste en tu último viaje?
- ¿Qué importancia tienen los viajes en tu vida?
Turn Your Travel Stories into Spanish Practice
Every trip you take is a story waiting to be told in Spanish.
Learning how to describe experiences helps you communicate emotions, memories, and opinions naturally, essential skills for IB Spanish B, ab initio, and for real-life communication.
At Cucu Spanish, we help students go beyond the textbook, connecting language with real-world contexts and personal stories.
Ready to try our next Study With Me Online?
Visit the Cucu Blog to keep learning Spanish through experiences and culture.
