Learn Hardcore Spanish (Spain): Durante el invierno, me gusta viajar en avión a lugares cálidos. - During the winter, I like to travel by plane to warm places.

In Spanish, "gustar" works differently than most verbs. The literal structure is "(Something) pleases me," so "me gusta" uses the third-person singular form "gusta" (it pleases) and "me" to indicate "to me." If you said "me gusto," it would mean "I please myself," which is not the intended meaning here.

Why do we say "durante el invierno" with the article "el" instead of just "durante invierno"?

In Spanish, when talking about seasons, the definite article (el, la) is often used, even if you could omit it in English. Saying "durante el invierno" is both natural and grammatically correct in Spanish and translates to "during (the) winter." Dropping "el" would generally sound less natural or colloquial.

Why is it "viajar en avión" rather than "por avión" or "con avión"?

To express the means of transportation, Spanish often uses "en" (meaning "by" in this context) before the vehicle: "en avión," "en tren," "en coche," etc. Using "por avión" would be less typical and might imply something else, such as sending a package "by air" rather than describing a passenger traveling.

Why do you say "a lugares cálidos" rather than "lugares calientes"?

In Spanish, "cálido" is the preferred adjective for "warm" when describing climates or places. "Caliente" often refers to something physically hot (like food or objects). So, "cálido" conveys a comfortable or pleasantly warm climate, which fits the idea of warm destinations in winter.

Could "lugar" be replaced by "sitio" in "a lugares cálidos"?

Yes, "sitio" is another common word for "place," although "sitio" can sound slightly more casual or general. "Lugar" is perfectly fine here and is very common when referencing destinations. If you said "a sitios cálidos," the meaning would still be understood, but "lugares" remains a very standard choice.