Spanish · A2 · Speaking · about 5 min
Get the right bus ticket at a Spanish station without stress.
Lucas wants to visit the Alhambra and goes to Málaga bus station to buy a ticket to Granada. At the counter he asks for the ticket, answers « ¿de ida o de ida y vuelta? », chooses a return for Sunday, checks the next departure and the bay and asks about a student discount.
MomentYou ask for a ticket.
SayBuenos días, un billete para Granada, por favor.
Whyun billete para + place: the basic ticket request.
MomentThe clerk asks the type.
Say¿De ida o de ida y vuelta?
Whyde ida = single, de ida y vuelta = return: you'll hear this question.
MomentYou choose a return.
SayMe da uno de ida y vuelta, volviendo el domingo.
WhyMe da…: natural spoken request; volviendo (gerund) adds the return day.
MomentYou ask the time.
Say¿A qué hora sale el próximo autobús?
Why¿A qué hora sale…?: salir for departures.
MomentYou ask for the bay.
Say¿De qué andén sale?
Whyandén = bus bay/platform; de qué andén = from which one.
MomentYou ask for a discount.
Say¿Hay descuento para estudiantes?
Why¿Hay…?: ask if something exists.
| Moment | Say | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You ask for a ticket. | Buenos días, un billete para Granada, por favor. | un billete para + place: the basic ticket request. |
| The clerk asks the type. | ¿De ida o de ida y vuelta? | de ida = single, de ida y vuelta = return: you'll hear this question. |
| You choose a return. | Me da uno de ida y vuelta, volviendo el domingo. | Me da…: natural spoken request; volviendo (gerund) adds the return day. |
| You ask the time. | ¿A qué hora sale el próximo autobús? | ¿A qué hora sale…?: salir for departures. |
« Un billete para… » uses para for destination. « Me da… » (present of dar) is a common, polite spoken request at counters. « Salir » is the verb for departures: ¿a qué hora sale? Gerund « volviendo » adds extra info neatly.
In Spain long-distance buses (ALSA and others) leave from an « andén » with a number — check the screen. Keep the ticket: drivers often scan it on boarding, and you may need it for luggage in the hold.
Related topics: /topics/spanish/a2/directions/finding-a-place, /topics/spanish/a2/housing/reporting-a-repair. To keep going, continue the Spanish course on MyAnya.
Ask for a ticket, choose single or return, ask the departure time and bay, and check for a discount.
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You reach the counter. How do you ask for a ticket to Granada?
Buenos días, un billete para Granada, por favor.
un billete para + place: the basic ticket request.
Lucas is at Málaga bus station.
¿De ida o de ida y vuelta?
de ida = single, de ida y vuelta = return: you'll hear this question.
The clerk asks him this question.
Me da uno de ida y vuelta, volviendo el domingo.
Me da…: natural spoken request; volviendo (gerund) adds the return day.
He comes back to Málaga on Sunday.
¿A qué hora sale el próximo autobús?
¿A qué hora sale…?: salir for departures.
He doesn't want to wait two hours.
¿De qué andén sale?
andén = bus bay/platform; de qué andén = from which one.
The station has twenty bays.
¿Hay descuento para estudiantes?
¿Hay…?: ask if something exists.
He has an international student card.
| You ask for the bay. |
| ¿De qué andén sale? |
| andén = bus bay/platform; de qué andén = from which one. |
| You ask for a discount. | ¿Hay descuento para estudiantes? | ¿Hay…?: ask if something exists. |