Judy

How easy or hard is it to travel in Spain without knowing any Spanish; i.e. with only English and some French?

Dick

We traveled all over Andalucia a couple years ago with virtually no Spanish other than being able to navigate around a Spanish menu. We never had any problems communicating and never felt that anyone took offense at our inability to speak their language.

Art

Hi Judy, I just got back from Spain last month. Very few people speak English other than day clerks at hotels and "some" resturantes. I listened to spanish CD's for about 8 weeks before I left so you can imagine how my Spanish is!!. I will say that they were very friendly and always tried to be helpful. We did a lot of pointing and I carried my phrase book with me at all times and we had a great time. Learn a few phrases like where is the hotel (Donde esta el Hotel) etc. It won't always be easy but then again thats part of the fun of travel, seeing how you handle chalanges.

frank

The answer entirely depends on where you are. <BR>At beach resorts English is spoken in most central bars & restuarants, not so much on the edge of town where the locals go. <BR>You will pay a lot more for this & miss out on a more Spanish atmosphere. <BR>Off the beaten track nobody speaks English, but you can get by with a phrasebook (make signs for them them to write the numbers if asking prices)and the fact that the Spanish are friendly & helpful - even more so if you attempt to use their language. <BR>Simply walking up to someone & expecting to be understood in English is seldom a good idea in any non-English speaking country. <BR>If you try & fail it's a cue for them to be helpful, which they like. <BR>Non - resort tourist cities are getting easier for English speakers - eg in Seville 15 years ago only hotel clerks spoke English (& not always) but now many waiters can.(not all!) <BR>Don't worry, you'll be OK, study the phrasebook on the flight!

Lily

We spent about a week and a half driving around Spain and Portugal last November and also found that very few people spoke English in either Spain or Portugal. I thought I knew a little Spanish, but quickly realized that what I did know was rarely applicable to any given situation we were in. We also found it to be absolutely true that only the hotel personnel in the larger cities knew any English. But we got by and had a fabulous time. I'm sure you will, too. It's a beautiful country.

Antonio Banderas

Well get use to being stared at, learn some Spanish because other people from other parts of the world HAVE to learn english to have better lives. It's not that tough so start learning! So if they can do it why can't we? <BR> <BR>Have FUN!!!!

maeve

the Spanish people are beautiful - one of there main industries is tourism so they are accustomed to speaking English regularly. We are just back from three weeks in Spain and Portugal. We had no Spainish whatsoever, and it was fine. We picked up and awful lot like hello, goodbye and some numbers. Be careful of taxi drivers and some shops which may have the tendency to overcharge. Everytime we asked someone do you speak English the reply was always 'a little', although they may be fluent! <BR> <BR>Don't worry, just enjoy a great country and its people! <BR>

Gary

I do speak Spanish, but noticed that often the Spaniards wanted to speak in English to use it. Unlike some of the others who've posted, I really don't think you'll have a problem. The Spanish people are very friendly and helpful, very different from the French, where we visited the year before, and had a difficult time with the small amount of French I know.

pat disharoon

we just got back from spain two weeks ago. there is a language barrier. however, just take a spanish-english dictionary and you will be fine. everyone is very friendly. they will do everything they can to make you feel comfortable with the language. you will have a great time. the only thing i can say is do not get frustrated as they will do everything they can to communicate with you.

Deena

I was in Spain last year and was surprised how few people spoke English. Luckily, I speak a little Spanish. As the other 'posters' said, it is polite to learn some basic phrases and questions.

Bean

I don't know where all these people went in Spain that they said alll the people were friendly. I found most of the Spanards the total opposite. I've been all of Europe and the only language I speak is english and I've had no problem what so ever getting by. Except my recent trip to Spain. I found most people very rude and not helpful if you didn't speak the language. I remember Frank telling us that very few people spoke english (outside the tourist industry) and it was so true. My sis and I got lost driving to Ronda (there was a detour with no signs telling us where to go ) we drove around for an extra hour trying to find how to get there but noone spoke english, so beware.Although the people that we asked attempted to help us unlike the big city Spanards who once they found out you didn't speak their language they walked away. Please be aware of the taxis. We knew what a cab was suppose to cost from the airport but the driver showed us this chart so of course we believed him. We later found out at the hotel we paid an extra $30. Happened again to us on our way to the train station.I knew the charge should be no more than $5-6 and no longer than a 10 min drive. When the meter got to be $8 we repeated the phrase railroad station (in spainish of course the drive supposidly just spoke spanish) and I pointed to my money (the equivilent of $5) and said this is all you are going to get. With that he pulled a u turn and we were there in less than 5 min. What did I learn from this trip I HATE SPAIN.

clairobscur

If you can't manage to find an english speaker, you can try frenc, especially with older people and in Catalunya. I could help. Make sure to learn some basic spanish sentences, though (like "where is?" and the like).

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