Question 1

How do I say 'I went on holiday' in Spanish?

Accepted Answer

The most common phrase is 'Fui de vacaciones' (I went on holiday). If you want to specify where, say 'Fui de vacaciones a España'. Remember that 'fui' is the preterite of both 'ir' (to go) and 'ser' (to be), so context is key. For example, 'El año pasado fui a la playa' clearly means 'I went to the beach'.

Question 2

What's the difference between 'hacer turismo' and 'visitar'?

Accepted Answer

'Hacer turismo' means 'to go sightseeing' or 'to do tourism' in a general sense, like exploring a city. 'Visitar' means 'to visit' a specific place, like a museum or monument. For example, 'Hicimos turismo por Madrid' (We went sightseeing in Madrid) vs 'Visitamos el Museo del Prado' (We visited the Prado Museum). Both are useful for the topic.

Question 3

How do I describe a hotel in Spanish?

Accepted Answer

Use adjectives like 'cómodo' (comfortable), 'limpio' (clean), 'céntrico' (central), 'ruidoso' (noisy), or 'antiguo' (old). For example, 'El hotel era muy cómodo y estaba en el centro' (The hotel was very comfortable and was in the centre). You can also mention facilities: 'Tenía piscina y gimnasio' (It had a pool and gym).

Question 4

What tense should I use to talk about my last holiday?

Accepted Answer

Use the preterite tense for completed actions in the past. For example, 'El verano pasado fui a Francia con mi familia. Visitamos la Torre Eiffel y comimos en un restaurante típico.' (Last summer I went to France with my family. We visited the Eiffel Tower and ate in a typical restaurant.) Avoid using the imperfect for specific actions; the imperfect is for descriptions or habitual actions (e.g., 'El hotel era bonito' – the hotel was pretty).

Question 5

How can I give a justified opinion about a holiday?

Accepted Answer

Start with an opinion phrase like 'Me gustó mucho...' (I really liked...), 'Lo mejor fue...' (The best thing was...), or 'No me gustó nada...' (I didn't like... at all). Then add a reason with 'porque' (because). For example, 'Me gustó la playa porque el agua estaba muy caliente' (I liked the beach because the water was very warm). For higher marks, use 'ya que' or 'puesto que' instead of 'porque'.

Question 6

What vocabulary do I need for different types of holidays?

Accepted Answer

For a beach holiday: la playa, el mar, tomar el sol, nadar, bucear. For a city break: visitar monumentos, ir de compras, probar la comida local. For an adventure holiday: hacer senderismo, escalar, acampar. For a cultural holiday: visitar museos, ver espectáculos, aprender sobre la historia. Also learn phrases like 'unas vacaciones de aventura' (an adventure holiday) or 'un viaje cultural' (a cultural trip).

The Wider World – Holidays and Tourism

Topic Overview

Key Concepts

What You Need to Demonstrate

Marking Points

Examiner Tips

Common Mistakes

Frequently Asked Questions

Before You Start

Likely Command Words

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Related Topics in WJEC GCSE Spanish

Appendix A: Prescribed Vocabulary List (organised by theme/sub-theme)

Appendix B: Grammar Requirements – Foundation Tier

Current and Future Study and Employment

Current Study – School/College Life

How to Revise The Wider World – Holidays and Tourism — WJEC GCSE Spanish

Examiner Tips for The Wider World – Holidays and Tourism

Common Mistakes in The Wider World – Holidays and Tourism

Key Marking Points