Funny you mention reading the handouts in Spanish Tommy - I have a tendency to do the same! We were at the Tower of London a while back and I took a leaflet in Spanish and told John what I thought it said, then he read it to me in English to see how close I was...not that we're short on entertainment or anything
But anyway, I think it's a great idea especially for things you might need to communicate with a reception etc - I have trouble remembering words like
pillow = almohadilla
sheet = hoja (de cama)
blanket = manta
(feel free to correct my european Spanish into a more Mexican version)
.....and PLEASE can someone tell me the correct way to refer to t.p. in Mexican Spanish - I never had any trouble getting any in Spain but for some reason my Mexican maids have struggled to understand me!