Travel English · A2–B1 01

Essential English for Travellers

English at the Hotel 🏨

Learn the essential vocabulary and expressions you need to book a room, check in, ask for hotel services and solve common problems during your stay.

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

  • Make and confirm a hotel reservation.
  • Choose the correct type of room.
  • Ask about prices, facilities and services.
  • Check in and check out politely.
  • Understand common American and British hotel vocabulary.

💬 Warm-up

Think about your last hotel stay and answer:

  1. Where was the hotel?
  2. How many nights did you stay?
  3. What services did the hotel offer?
House showing different rooms such as the kitchen, bedroom and living room
Author: Altus Team Mentes Altus · Practical English for Real Life
Hotel Vocabulary 02

Vocabulary Bank

Booking and Arrival Vocabulary 🔑

These words are commonly used before arriving at a hotel and during the check-in process.

Word or phraseDefinitionExampleSpanish
📅 ReservationAn arrangement to keep a room for a particular guest and date.“I have a reservation under the name Laura Gómez.”Reserva
✅ Check-inThe process of registering when you arrive at the hotel.“What time does check-in begin?”Registro de entrada
🚪 Check-outThe process of leaving the hotel and paying any remaining charges.“Check-out is at 11:00 a.m.”Salida del hotel
🪪 IdentificationAn official document used to confirm your identity.“May I see your identification, please?”Documento de identidad
💳 DepositMoney temporarily charged or held as a guarantee.“The hotel requires a €100 deposit.”Depósito
🔑 Key cardAn electronic card used to open a hotel room.“Your key card also activates the lift.”Tarjeta de acceso
🧳 GuestA person who is staying at a hotel.“Hotel guests can use the swimming pool.”Huésped
🦉

Alti’s Language Tip

We normally say check in to a hotel, but check into a hotel is also common, especially in American English.

House showing different rooms such as the kitchen, bedroom and living room
Author: Altus Team English at the Hotel
Rooms and Meal Plans 03

Choose the Right Room

Room Types and Hotel Plans 🛏️

Word or phraseDefinitionExampleSpanish
🛏️ Single roomA room designed for one guest, usually with one bed.“Do you have a single room available?”Habitación individual
💑 Double roomA room for two people, normally with one double bed.“We would like a double room for three nights.”Habitación doble
🛏️🛏️ Twin roomA room with two separate single beds.“Could we have a twin room instead?”Habitación con dos camas
✨ SuiteA larger room or set of rooms with extra living space.“They booked a suite for their anniversary.”Suite
👨‍👩‍👧 Family roomA room designed for adults travelling with children.“The family room can accommodate four guests.”Habitación familiar
☕ Bed and breakfastA rate that includes the room and breakfast.“The bed-and-breakfast rate is €95 per night.”Alojamiento y desayuno
🍽️ Half boardA rate that usually includes breakfast and one main meal.“Our half-board package includes breakfast and dinner.”Media pensión
🍳🥗🍝 Full boardA rate that includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.“We chose full board because all three meals were included.”Pensión completa

⚠️ Do not confuse these!

Double roomUsually one bed for two people.
Twin roomTwo separate beds in the same room.
House showing different rooms such as the kitchen, bedroom and living room

✏️ Mini Activity

Which room would you recommend?
  1. One business traveller: __________
  2. Two friends who do not want to share a bed: __________
  3. Two adults and two children: __________
Author: Altus Team English at the Hotel
Services and Facilities 04

During Your Stay

Hotel Services and Facilities 🛎️

Learn the most common hotel services, facilities and staff members you may need during your stay.

Word or phraseDefinitionExampleSpanish
🛎️ Reception / Front desk The area where guests check in, check out and ask for information or assistance. “Please leave your key card at reception when you check out.”Recepción
🎟️ Concierge A hotel staff member who helps guests with reservations, transport, tours and local information. “The concierge booked a restaurant for us.”Conserje
🍽️ Room service A service that delivers food or drinks directly to a guest's room. “Can we order room service after 10 p.m.?”Servicio a la habitación
🧹 Housekeeping The hotel department responsible for cleaning and preparing guest rooms. “Could you send housekeeping to room 204, please?”Servicio de limpieza
👔 Laundry service A service that washes, dries or irons guests' clothes. “How much does the laundry service cost?”Servicio de lavandería
⏰ Wake-up call A scheduled telephone call from the hotel to wake a guest at a specific time. “Could I arrange a wake-up call for 6:30 a.m.?”Llamada de despertador
🚗 Parking facilities Parking spaces or areas provided by the hotel for guests' vehicles. “Does the hotel have secure parking facilities?”Instalaciones de aparcamiento
🏊 Amenities Extra facilities or services offered by a hotel, such as Wi-Fi, a pool, a gym or a spa. “Which amenities are included in the room price?”Servicios / comodidades
House showing different rooms such as the kitchen, bedroom and living room

🗣️ Ask the Hotel

Use Do you have…? or Does the hotel have…?

  • free Wi-Fi
  • a swimming pool
  • airport transport
  • parking
  • a gym
  • laundry service

Example: “Does the hotel have free parking?”

Author: Altus Team English at the Hotel
American and British English 05

English Around the World

American vs British Hotel Vocabulary 🇺🇸 🇬🇧

Both varieties are correct. Knowing the differences can help you avoid confusion when travelling.

MeaningAmerican English 🇺🇸British English 🇬🇧Spanish
🛗 Machine that moves between floorsElevatorLiftAscensor
🏢 Street-level floorFirst floorGround floorPlanta baja
⬆️ Floor immediately above street levelSecond floorFirst floorPrimera planta
🌴 Time away from workVacationHolidayVacaciones
🧾 Amount to payCheckBillCuenta
🧳 Employee who carries luggageBellhop / bell attendantPorterBotones / mozo de equipaje
🚗 Area where cars are parkedParking lotCar parkAparcamiento

💡 Important Language Note

Both booking and reservation are used internationally. Booking is especially common in British travel contexts, but neither word is exclusive to one country.

🎯 Quick Challenge

Change each sentence from American to British English.

  1. Take the elevator to the second floor.
  2. Where is the parking lot?
  3. Could we have the check, please?
Author: Altus Team English at the Hotel
Functional Language 06

Before Your Trip

Making a Hotel Reservation 📞

Use polite questions and complete information when booking by phone, email or at reception.

📅

Starting the reservation

“I’d like to book a room for two nights, please.”

🔍

Asking about availability

“Do you have any double rooms available from 12 to 15 August?”

💶

Asking about the price

“How much is the room per night?”

☕

Checking what is included

“Is breakfast included in the price?”

🌊

Making a special request

“Could we have a quiet room with a sea view?”

✅

Confirming the booking

“Could you send me a booking confirmation by email?”

Grammar in Action: Polite Requests

Could I / we have + noun ?
Could you + base verb ?

“Could we have an extra bed?”

“Could you confirm the total price?”

🔊 Pronunciation Help for Spanish Speakers

  • Room — /ruːm/ — sounds approximately like “rum”, but with a longer u.
  • Available — /əˈveɪləbəl/ — stress the second syllable: a-VEI-la-bol.
  • Suite — /swiːt/ — pronounced like sweet.
  • Guest — /ɡest/ — the u is not pronounced separately.
Author: Altus Team English at the Hotel
Speaking Practice 07

At Reception

Hotel Check-in Conversation 🗣️

🧳
Guest:

Hello. I have a reservation under the name Smith.

🛎️
Receptionist:

Welcome to the Ocean View Hotel. Could I see your passport or ID, please?

🧳
Guest:

Of course. Here you are.

🛎️
Receptionist:

Thank you. You have a double room for two nights, including breakfast.

🧳
Guest:

Great. What time is breakfast served?

🛎️
Receptionist:

Breakfast is served from 7:00 to 10:00 in the restaurant on the ground floor.

🧳
Guest:

Thank you. Is Wi-Fi included?

🛎️
Receptionist:

Yes, it is. The password is written on your key-card holder. Your room is 405, on the fourth floor.

🧳
Guest:

What time is check-out?

🛎️
Receptionist:

Check-out is at 11:00 a.m. Enjoy your stay!

✅ Check Your Understanding

  1. How many nights is the guest staying?
  2. Is breakfast included?
  3. Where is the restaurant?
  4. What is the guest’s room number?
  5. What time must the guest check out?

🎭 Role-play

Change the guest’s name, room type, number of nights and special request. Then practise the conversation with a partner.

Author: Altus Team English at the Hotel
Problem-solving English 08

When Something Is Wrong

Hotel Problems and Polite Requests 🧰

Explain the problem calmly and use polite language when asking the hotel staff for help.

ProblemPolite request
❄️ The air conditioning is not working.“Could someone come and check it, please?”
🚿 There is no hot water.“Could you send someone to look at the shower?”
🔊 The room is very noisy.“Would it be possible to move to a quieter room?”
🧻 There are no clean towels.“Could you send some clean towels to room 405?”
🔑 My key card is not working.“Could you reactivate my key card, please?”
🧹 The room has not been cleaned.“Could you ask housekeeping to clean the room?”

Useful Structure

There is / There are + problem.
Could you…? + requested solution.

“There is a problem with the shower. Could you send someone to check it, please?”

House showing different rooms such as the kitchen, bedroom and living room

🦉 Alti’s Challenge

Choose one problem and make a complete request:

  • a broken lamp
  • a dirty bathroom
  • noisy neighbours
  • a missing hairdryer
Author: Altus Team English at the Hotel
Culture and Communication 09

Travel Smart

Cultural Tips for Hotel Stays 🌍

💵

Tipping

Tipping customs vary by country. In the United States, tips for luggage assistance, valet parking and housekeeping are common. In many European countries, tipping is usually more discretionary.

🔑

Key Cards

Some hotels require a key card to activate the lift, enter the building or switch on the electricity inside the room.

🛏️

Bed Sizes

Terms such as double, queen and king do not always represent exactly the same dimensions in every country.

🚭

Smoking Policies

Many hotels are completely smoke-free. Guests may receive a cleaning charge or penalty for smoking in a non-smoking room.

☕

Continental Breakfast

Usually includes lighter options such as bread, pastries, fruit, coffee or juice. The exact selection depends on the hotel.

🍳

Full English Breakfast

Common elements include eggs, sausages, bacon, beans, toast, tomatoes and mushrooms, although hotels may offer different versions.

🎮 Alti’s Hotel Challenge

1

Name two hotel amenities.

2

Ask for a wake-up call at 6:00 a.m.

3

Explain the difference between a twin and a double room.

4

Ask whether breakfast is included.

5

Report a problem with the shower.

6

Say the British word for “elevator”.

Author: Altus Team English at the Hotel
Lesson Review 10

You Are Ready to Travel

Hotel English: Final Check ✅

📊 Revision Tracker

Tick the statements you can complete confidently.

🗣️ Final Speaking Task

Imagine you are calling a hotel. Create a short conversation that includes:

  • your arrival and departure dates;
  • the type of room you need;
  • a question about the price;
  • a question about breakfast or Wi-Fi;
  • one special request.
Start with:

“Hello. I’d like to book a room from __________ to __________.”

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🗝️ Answer Key

Slide 3: 1. Single room · 2. Twin room · 3. Family room

Slide 5: 1. Take the lift to the first floor. 2. Where is the car park? 3. Could we have the bill, please?

Slide 7: 1. Two nights · 2. Yes · 3. On the ground floor · 4. Room 405 · 5. At 11:00 a.m.

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Author: Altus Team © Mentes Altus · English at the Hotel
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Hotel Vocabulary - Multiple Choice

Pregunta 1: What is the process of registering at a hotel upon arrival?
Pregunta 2: Which hotel staff member helps guests with special requests like booking tours?
Pregunta 3: What is included in 'full board' at a hotel?
Pregunta 4: What do you call a hotel room with two separate beds?
Pregunta 5: What is the British English term for 'Elevator'?
Pregunta 6: Which service provides fresh towels and cleans your room?
Pregunta 7: Which hotel service allows you to order food to your room?
Pregunta 8: What do you need to do before leaving the hotel on your last day?
Pregunta 9: What do you call the place where guests leave their cars at a hotel?
Pregunta 10: What should you ask for if you want to be woken up in the mo
ing?
Inglés · Vocabulary · A2
Lección 7 de 12

Vocabulary in a Hotel

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