Airbnbs in Latin America will TEST Your Spanish
So, I just checked into a new Airbnb, and I want to show you something that’s pretty typical of Airbnbs in Latin America.
When you first walk in, you’ll probably see a sign, just some basic house rules and instructions for your stay. But here’s the catch: it’s almost always in Spanish. If you don’t understand what it’s saying, you could unknowingly break the rules – and trust me, your host won’t like that.
Let me walk you through a real-life example so you’ll know what to look out for and how to read it.
Follow along with the video for best results:
Common Welcome Signs in Latin American Airbnbs
When I walked in, I found a small sign on the table. It read:
¡BIENVENIDO!
¡Estamos encantados de recibirte! Aquí te brindamos información importante para tu estadía:
Translation?
“Welcome! We’re happy to receive you! Here is some important information for your stay.”
This is your first clue that Latin American Airbnb hosts want you to feel at home, but also that they have expectations. Let’s keep going.
Understanding Check-In and Check-Out Times
The next line said:
Check-in 15:00 horas, check-out 12:00 horas
This is where it gets interesting. Unlike in the U.S. where we use the 12-hour clock, Latin America typically uses the 24-hour clock (also known as “military time).” So how do you read that?
Here’s a quick trick: shave two numbers off the hour after 12. So for example:
- 15:00 becomes 3:00 PM
- 12:00 stays 12:00 PM (noon)
There are more complex ways to learn 24-hour time, but this little shortcut works in most situations. And if you’re still confused, I’ll be making a full video on this soon.
Basic Departure Instructions
Next, the sign said:
Al momento de retirarse, dejar llave y tarjeta de acceso en el escritorio frente a la cama.
Translation:
“When leaving, place the key and access card on the desk in front of the bed.”
It’s a simple request, but again, if you didn’t understand this, you might just walk out with the key and cause a headache for your host.
House Rules You’ll Commonly See
There were a couple more lines on the sign with important rules:
No se admiten mascotas.
No pets allowed.
No se permite fumar dentro del departamento.
No smoking allowed inside the apartment.
Now, here’s something interesting. In Latin America, you might see two different words for apartment: apartamento and departamento. They mean the same thing, so it’s good to recognize both. The latter—departamento—may look less familiar, but you’ll see it used often.
Why Knowing a Few Synonyms Helps
In Spanish, just like in English, there are often multiple ways to say the same thing. That’s why it’s useful to learn a few common synonyms when you travel, especially when it comes to everyday things like accommodations, transportation, and food.
In this example alone, we saw how knowing one or two extra words can help you understand the rules, follow instructions, and avoid unintentional mistakes during your stay.
Final Thoughts: Be Prepared Before You Arrive to Airbnbs in Latin America
You’re going to run into signs like this in most Airbnbs in Latin America. Also, you can expect to find similar signs in many hotels and other short-term rentals. So take a little time to brush up on some basic Spanish or keep a translator app handy.
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