Emphasizing equality with "tanto... como"
When reviewing a luxury hotel, you often want to praise two things equally. The correlative conjunction pair tanto... como translates to "both... and".
| both ... and | tanto... como |
You can use it to link nouns, adjectives, or entire phrases together to show that they are equally important.
| Both the hospitality and the service are exceptional. | Tanto la hospitalidad como el servicio son excepcionales. |
| We enjoyed both the minibar and the comforts of the room. | Disfrutamos tanto el minibar como las comodidades de la habitación. |
Adding emphasis with "no solo... sino también"
To emphasize that a place offers even more than expected, use no solo... sino también ("not only... but also").
| The hotel is not only welcoming, but also very spacious. | El hotel no solo es acogedor, sino también muy espacioso. |
| Not only is the view beautiful, but also the cuisine. | No solo la vista es hermosa, sino también la gastronomía. |
When to add "que"
There is an important structural rule to remember: if the second part of your sentence (after "but also") introduces a new conjugated verb, you must add que, making the phrase sino que también.
| The staff not only helps, but also satisfies every wish. | El personal no solo ayuda, sino que también satisface cada deseo. |
| The hotel not only has a minibar, but it also satisfies all your whims. | El hotel no solo tiene un minibar, sino que también satisface todos tus caprichos. |
Working with the subjunctive
These conjunctions simply connect ideas; they don't change your existing grammar rules. If your main clause triggers the subjunctive (like expressing an opinion, a desire, or a recommendation), the connected verbs will still follow that rule.
| It is important that both the breakfast and the stay be incomparable. | Es importante que tanto el desayuno como la estancia sean incomparables. |
| You should ask for a room that is not only cozy, but also spacious. | Deberías pedir un cuarto que no solo sea acogedor, sino también espacioso. |