English is widely spoken in the Hotel Zone, but a handful of Spanish phrases make a real difference downtown, on excursions, and generally in how you're received.

Basics

  • Hola / Buenos días — Hello / Good morning
  • Por favor / Gracias — Please / Thank you
  • ¿Cuánto cuesta? — How much does it cost?
  • ¿Dónde está…? — Where is…?
  • No entiendo — I don't understand
  • ¿Habla inglés? — Do you speak English?

At restaurants

  • La cuenta, por favor — The check, please
  • ¿Qué me recomienda? — What do you recommend?
  • Sin picante / Sin chile — Without spice
  • Para llevar — To go

Getting around

  • ¿A cuánto la carrera? — How much for the ride? (taxis)
  • Derecha / Izquierda / Derecho — Right / Left / Straight ahead

None of this replaces a translation app for anything complicated — but showing up with these basics tends to open doors an app alone doesn't.