Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Resort in Spanish: Resort
Resort · noun · reh-SORT
The English word resort has been adopted into Spanish and is widely used in tourism contexts, particularly for luxury vacation properties. The more formal Spanish equivalent is complejo turístico, which you will find in official documents and news articles. In Mexico, centro vacacional is common for government-run or family-oriented facilities.
Most Spanish speakers pronounce it similarly to English: reh-SORT, though some adapt it to reh-SOOR with a Spanish 'r' tap. The word is treated as masculine: el resort.
Nos hospedamos en un resort con todo incluido en Cancún.
We stayed at an all-inclusive resort in Cancún.
resort in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for resort, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| resort | resort | reh-SORT | Default, widely understood |
| complejo turístico | resort | formal and widely understood alternative | |
| centro vacacional | resort | used in Mexico for vacation complexes |
How Native Speakers Use Resort
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
booking
Reservamos cinco noches en un complejo turístico frente al mar.
We booked five nights at a beachfront resort.
Complejo turístico is the formal choice in written Spanish.
all-inclusive
Este resort incluye comidas, bebidas y actividades acuáticas.
This resort includes meals, drinks, and water activities.
The borrowed word resort is standard in tourism marketing.
recommendation
Mi familia prefiere los centros vacacionales porque son más económicos.
My family prefers resorts because they are more affordable.
Centro vacacional implies a less luxurious, family-friendly facility.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Resort
feminine article
Incorrect: La resort estaba llena de turistas.
Correct: El resort estaba lleno de turistas.
Resort is treated as a masculine noun in Spanish, requiring the article el and masculine adjective agreement.
using recurso for resort
Incorrect: Fuimos a un recurso en la playa.
Correct: Fuimos a un resort en la playa.
Recurso means 'resource' or 'remedy,' not 'resort' — this is a false cognate that leads to confusion about vacation destinations.
Lock in resort Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
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See Resort used by native speakers
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Common Questions About resort in Spanish
- Is it acceptable to use the English word resort in Spanish?
- The anglicism resort is fully accepted in Spanish-language tourism, hospitality, and marketing. The Real Academia Española recommends complejo turístico as the Spanish alternative, but resort dominates in advertising and everyday usage.
- How do I say 'last resort' in Spanish?
- The idiomatic expression is último recurso, which means 'last resource' or 'last resort.' This uses recurso in its abstract sense of remedy or option, completely unrelated to vacation resorts.
- What does 'todo incluido' mean in resort contexts?
- Todo incluido is the Spanish equivalent of 'all-inclusive,' meaning the price covers accommodation, meals, drinks, and sometimes activities. This model is extremely popular in Caribbean destinations like Cancún, Punta Cana, and Riviera Maya.