Learn Spanish (Spain): Estimado señor: Quisiera reservar una habitación doble. - Dear Sir: I would like to reserve a double room.

In Spanish, formal letters and emails always use a colon (:) after the opening greeting. Using a comma is an English convention that is considered a punctuation error in Spanish.

Why use Quisiera here instead of Quiero?

Quisiera is a very polite way to say 'I would like.' While Quiero means 'I want' and is grammatically correct, using it in a formal request sounds too direct and demanding. Quisiera softens the request, which is perfect for a business email or letter.

Is Quisiera the same as Me gustaría?

Yes, in this context they are completely interchangeable. Both are polite ways to make a request. Quisiera is technically the imperfect subjunctive form of querer (to want), while Me gustaría is the conditional form of gustar (to like). Native speakers use both frequently for polite requests like booking a room.

Does Estimado mean the same thing as 'Dear' in all letters?

Estimado is used for 'Dear' in formal contexts, such as writing to a business or a professional contact. It literally translates more closely to 'esteemed' or 'valued.' If you were writing an informal letter to a friend or family member, you would use Querido instead.