"For" when talking about duration
According to the rules I've read you use "por" with duration, ie, por dos horas. My question is do you use "para" instead when talking about renting a hotel room, eg, "quiero una habitación para dos días para el lunes"? In this case I would be using para as a "purpose". Am I right or wrong? Are there specific rules for using para/por in time phrases? Muchísimas gracias
2 Answers
Hello Mojac,
Welcome to the SpanishDict forum 
You asked about using para when asking for a room;
Well, Spanish natives certainly use para in Spanish when reserving a table in a restaurant
eg: Queremos (o Quisieremos) una mesa para cuatro personas, por favor.
= We want (would like) a table for four people, please.
Yes, you would also use para when asking for a room. (recipient)
Queremos (Quisieremos) una habitación para dos personas, por favor.
= We want (would like) a room for two people, please.
If you did not mention how long you were intending to stay, the receptionist would ask: ¿Para cuántas noches, señor?
= For how many nights, sir? (Ie: How long are you staying/do you want to stay?
You might reply: "Para seis noches, por favor."
For six nights, please (if you were planning to stay in that hotel for a week.)
Yes, para is used for purpose, and it is also used when referring to the recipient of an action, but please remember that these are guidelines! Observe how native speakers use their language and imitate them and you will learn far more quickly than simply by learning a set of rules.
To learn how to speak a language well you also need to develop a feel for it ...it is intuitive as well as logical.This comes with a great deal of practice, so keep asking questions and take note how Spanish natives like Daniela, Pablo and Luis speak. (Write)
I hope this helps
Corrijan mi español si es necesario, por favor
