A1 (Beginner)Lesson 10: Travel Prep
Availability, reservations, times and practical numbers come up constantly at hotels, airports and bus terminals in Brazil. Phrases like tem…?, tenho reserva and que horas…? make those interactions much easier.
Use tem…? for everyday availability (Tem quarto?)
Use tenho reserva to confirm a booking
Ask time with que horas…? (Que horas sai o ônibus?)
Travel numbers cover rooms, floors, gates and departures
Recognize entrada, saída, recepção, bilhete, passagem, bagagem
Brazilian travel mixes 24-hour times with casual spoken time
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tem…? · tenho reserva · queria reservar… · que horas é / sai / chega…? · quarto número…, andar…, às…
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Confirming a reserva, catching a departure time, and asking Tem quarto? are the make-or-break moments of any trip in Brazil. Get them right and the journey runs smoothly; get Que horas sai o ônibus? wrong and you'll watch your bus to Paraty pull away without you — while the receptionist swears it left bem na hora ("right on time"). Numbers, dates and times suddenly matter a lot more once they're attached to a real hotel, airport or rodoviária.
| Phrase | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Tem…? | is there / do you have | Tem quarto? |
| Tenho reserva | I have a reservation | Tenho reserva no hotel. |
| Que horas…? | ask about time | Que horas é o check-in? |
| Número / andar / horário | practical details | Quarto 204, quinto andar, às oito |
In everyday Brazilian Portuguese, tem is the normal word for availability:
Tem quarto?
Tenho reserva para duas noites no nome de Júlia Costa. (I have a reservation for two nights under the name Júlia Costa.)
Tem quarto com banheiro para hoje? (Do you have a room with a bathroom for tonight?)
Que horas é o check-in da pousada? (What time is check-in at the guesthouse?)
Preciso da chave do quarto 204. (I need the key to room 204.)
Que horas sai o ônibus para Paraty? (What time does the bus to Paraty leave?)
A saída do voo é às seis e vinte. (The flight departs at six twenty.)
Onde fica a entrada para o embarque? (Where is the entrance to boarding?)
Minha bagagem ainda não chegou. (My luggage hasn't arrived yet.)
In everyday Brazilian travel Portuguese, tem is very common for availability. Há is correct too and often sounds more formal:
Tem quarto? = natural in conversation
Há quarto disponível? = correct; often more formal
Quarto means both "bedroom" and "hotel room" — in a hotel context the travel meaning is clear. (It's also the ordinal "fourth"; context sorts it out.)
You will hear ordinals like quinto andar. Higher floors can also use cardinals (andar doze), but ordinals remain possible. In Brazil the ground floor is commonly called térreo, with primeiro andar above it; numbering may vary by building. Follow the labels on the lift and signs.
A heads-up about reservas in Brazil: around Carnaval and Réveillon (New Year’s), popular destinations can fill up, and some hotels sell holiday packages with a minimum stay of several nights. The number of nights and availability of single-night bookings vary by hotel, date and offer, so check the current booking conditions. If you’re hoping to ask Tem vaga? in Rio that week, ask early — otherwise the answer may be Não tem, não!
Sources: Emiliano — a hotel’s holiday package, Rondônia Palace — minimum-stay offer
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