Effortless English Learning - Checking into a hotel in English.

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Checking into a hotel in English.

Will: Welcome to Effortless English Podcasts!

Alison: This is Effortless English Learning.

Alison: We help you speak English with confidence.

Will: Today, we’re talking about checking into a hotel.

Alison: Have you ever arrived at a hotel and didn’t know what to say?

Will: Maybe you forgot how to ask about Wi-Fi or breakfast?

Alison: Or maybe you wanted a bigger room but didn’t know how to ask?

Will: No worries!

Will: We’ve got you covered.

Alison: In today’s episode, we’ll go through common hotel conversations.

Will: You’ll learn key phrases and how to use them.

Alison: Plus, we’ll compare American and British hotel terms.

Will: And we’ll share some funny mistakes people make.

Alison: Before we start, don’t forget to subscribe!

Will: Hit that subscribe button so you never miss an episode.

Alison: Also, we have multilingual subtitles available.

Will: If you need subtitles, just turn on CC.

Alison: Now, let’s get started!

Jack: Hi, do you have any rooms available?

Clerk: Yes, we do. How many nights will you stay?

Jack: Just one night. How much is a room?

Clerk: A standard room is $100 per night.

Jack: Do you have any bigger rooms?

Clerk: Yes, we have a suite for $150.

Jack: I’ll take the standard room.

Clerk: Okay. May I see your ID?

Jack: Sure, here it is.

Clerk: Thank you. How would you like to pay?

Jack: I’ll pay with my credit card.

Clerk: Great. Please sign here.

Jack: Okay. What time is check-out?

Clerk: Check-out is at 11 a.m.

Jack: Do you have free Wi-Fi?

Clerk: Yes, the password is on your key card.

Jack: Is breakfast included?

Clerk: Yes, it starts at 7 a.m.

Jack: Where is the elevator?

Clerk: It’s down the hall on your right.

Jack: Hello, my room has a problem.

Clerk: I’m sorry. What’s the issue?

Jack: The air conditioner is not working.

Clerk: Let me send someone to fix it.

Jack: Also, the bed is not very clean.

Clerk: I apologize. Would you like a new room?

Jack: Yes, that would be better.

Clerk: I’ll move you to room 305.

Jack: Thanks. How do I get there?

Clerk: Take the elevator to the third floor.

Jack: The new room is still too hot.

Clerk: I’m really sorry about that.

Jack: Can I get a fan?

Clerk: Yes, I’ll bring one now.

Jack: Also, the TV is not working.

Clerk: I’ll send someone to check it.

Jack: How long will it take?

Clerk: About 20 minutes.

Jack: Okay. I’ll wait here.

Clerk: Thank you for your patience.

Jack: Do you have late check-out?

Clerk: Yes, until 1 p.m. for $20.

Jack: I’ll just check out at 11.

Clerk: No problem. Need help with bags?

Jack: No, I can carry them.

Clerk: Did you use the minibar?

Jack: No, I didn’t.

Clerk: Okay, I’ll check your bill.

Jack: Do I need to return the key?

Clerk: Yes, please hand it to me.

Jack: I’d like to check out now.

Clerk: Sure. How was your stay?

Jack: It was okay, but the AC was bad.

Clerk: I’m sorry for the trouble.

Jack: Can I get a refund?

Clerk: I can offer a 10% discount.

Jack: That sounds fair.

Clerk: I’ve processed your refund.

Jack: Thanks. I’ll be leaving now.

Clerk: Have a great day!

Will: Now, let’s talk about the key phrases from today’s dialogue.

Alison: The first thing you do at a hotel is ask if they have a room.

Will: In the dialogue, Jack says, "Do you have any rooms available?"

Alison: This is a polite and natural way to ask.

Will: You can also say, "Do you have a room for tonight?"

Alison: Or, "Are there any rooms open?"

Will: But be careful!

Will: Saying "Do you have room?" without "a" can be confusing.

Alison: Yes!

Alison: "Room" without "a" sounds like you are asking about space, not a hotel room.

Will: Next, the clerk asks, "How many nights will you stay?"

Alison: Another way to ask this is, "How long will you be staying?"

Will: Or, "For how many nights?"

Alison: When answering, you can say, "Just one night."

Will: Or, "I’ll stay for three nights."

Alison: Let’s talk about room options.

Will: Jack asks, "Do you have any bigger rooms?"

Alison: A more formal way to ask is, "Do you have any larger rooms available?"

Will: Or, "Is there a suite available?"

Alison: A suite is a bigger, more expensive room.

Will: Yes, and in the dialogue, the suite costs $150.

Alison: If you want a cheaper room, you can ask, "Do you have a smaller room?"

Will: Or, "What’s the cheapest room you have?"

Alison: Now, let’s talk about payment.

Will: The clerk says, "How would you like to pay?"

Alison: A more formal way to ask is, "What method of payment will you use?"

Will: Jack says, "I’ll pay with my credit card."

Alison: You can also say, "I’ll use my debit card."

Will: Or, "Can I pay with cash?"

Alison: After paying, Jack asks, "What time is check-out?"

Will: Another way to ask is, "When do I need to check out?"

Alison: Or, "What time should I leave the room?"

Will: The clerk says, "Check-out is at 11 a.m."

Alison: Sometimes, hotels allow late check-out for an extra fee.

Will: Jack also asks, "Do you have free Wi-Fi?"

Alison: Another way to ask is, "Is Wi-Fi included?"

Will: The clerk says, "The password is on your key card."

Alison: Some hotels give the password at the front desk.

Will: Jack also asks, "Is breakfast included?"

Alison: A more formal way to ask is, "Is breakfast part of the room rate?"

Will: Or, "Do you offer free breakfast?"

Alison: These are all useful phrases for hotel stays.

Will: Now, let’s compare American and British hotel English!

Will: Now, let’s look at the differences between American and British English in hotels.

Alison: Some words are different, but the meaning is the same.

Will: For example, in the U.K., we say "reception" instead of "front desk."

Alison: Right!

Alison: In the U.S., we always say "front desk."

Will: If you ask for "reception" in the U.S., people might be confused.

Alison: Another difference is "reservation" versus "booking."

Will: In the U.K., we say, "I have a booking."

Alison: But in the U.S., we say, "I have a reservation."

Will: They mean the same thing, but the words are different.

Alison: Here’s another one: "single room" versus "twin room."

Will: In the U.K., a "single room" has one bed for one person.

Alison: But in the U.S., "single room" just means a room for one person.

Will: Exactly!

Will: In the U.K., if you want two beds, you ask for a "twin room."

Alison: In the U.S., we call that a "double room."

Will: That can be confusing!

Will: If an American asks for a "single room" in the U.K., they might expect a bigger bed.

Alison: And if a Brit asks for a "double room" in the U.S., they might expect two beds!

Will: Another small difference is "ground floor" versus "first floor."

Alison: Yes!

Alison: In the U.K., the "ground floor" is the bottom floor.

Will: But in the U.S., the "first floor" is the bottom floor.

Alison: If a Brit asks for a "room on the first floor" in the U.S., they might end up on the second floor!

Will: Another common difference is "lift" versus "elevator."

Alison: Americans always say "elevator."

Will: But in the U.K., we say "lift."

Alison: If an American asks, "Where’s the elevator?" in the U.K., people will still understand.

Will: Yes, but Brits almost never say "elevator."

Alison: Another small one is "bill" versus "check."

Will: In the U.K., we say, "Can I have the bill?" when we check out.

Alison: But in the U.S., people say, "Can I have the check?"

Will: In a hotel, it’s better to say "bill" because it’s more common everywhere.

Alison: Another difference is "holiday" versus "vacation."

Will: Brits say, "I’m on holiday."

Alison: But Americans say, "I’m on vacation."

Will: If you say "holiday" in the U.S., people think of Christmas or Thanksgiving.

Alison: That’s true!

Alison: One last difference is "toilet" versus "restroom."

Will: In the U.K., people ask, "Where’s the toilet?"

Alison: But in the U.S., that sounds a bit direct.

Will: Americans usually say, "Where’s the restroom?"

Alison: Or, "Where’s the bathroom?"

Will: These small differences can be confusing for travelers.

Alison: But don’t worry, people will still understand you!

Will: Now, let’s talk about common mistakes people make in hotels.

Will: Now, let’s talk about some common mistakes people make in hotels.

Alison: Even native speakers make mistakes sometimes!

Will: The first mistake is using the wrong question form.

Alison: Right!

Alison: Some people say, "I can have a room?"

Will: That’s incorrect!

Will: You should say, "Can I have a room?"

Alison: Another mistake is forgetting "a" before "room."

Will: If you say, "Do you have room?" it sounds like you’re asking about space, not a hotel room.

Alison: Exactly!

Alison: You should say, "Do you have a room?"

Will: Another mistake is confusing "reservation" and "booking."

Alison: Americans say "reservation," and Brits say "booking."

Will: If an American says, "I have a booking," it might sound a little strange.

Alison: And if a Brit says, "I have a reservation," it might sound more formal than usual.

Will: Another mistake is asking, "Can I lend a towel?"

Alison: Oh, that’s a big one!

Alison: "Lend" means you give something to someone.

Will: You should say, "Can I borrow a towel?"

Alison: Another common mistake is asking, "Where is my room in?"

Will: That sounds unnatural!

Will: Just say, "Where is my room?"

Alison: Another mistake is saying, "Where is the toilet?" in the U.S.

Will: Yes!

Will: In America, people usually say "restroom" or "bathroom."

Alison: If you say "toilet," people might find it a little too direct.

Will: Another mistake is not understanding "key card."

Alison: Some people ask, "Can I have my key?" when they mean a key card.

Will: That’s fine, but many hotels only use key cards now.

Alison: If you lose your key card, don’t say, "I lost my key."

Will: Say, "I lost my key card."

Alison: Another mistake is not checking check-out time.

Will: Some people assume they can leave anytime.

Alison: But hotels usually have a set check-out time.

Will: If you check out too late, you might have to pay extra.

Alison: A safer way is to ask, "What time is check-out?"

Will: Another mistake is not asking about breakfast.

Alison: Some people think all hotels include breakfast.

Will: But some hotels charge extra.

Alison: Always ask, "Is breakfast included?"

Will: Another mistake is not checking if the Wi-Fi is free.

Alison: In some hotels, you have to pay for Wi-Fi.

Will: Always ask, "Do you have free Wi-Fi?"

Alison: Another mistake is not checking for extra fees.

Will: Some hotels charge for parking, gym use, or even towels!

Alison: Before you check out, ask, "Are there any extra charges?"

Will: Another mistake is not asking for help when something is wrong.

Alison: If the air conditioner is broken, don’t just suffer!

Will: Call the front desk and say, "The air conditioner is not working."

Alison: If your bed is dirty, say, "The bed is not clean."

Will: Most hotels will fix the problem or give you a new room.

Alison: Another mistake is not checking your bill carefully.

Will: Some people pay without looking at the charges.

Alison: But sometimes, there are mistakes!

Will: Always check and ask, "Can I see the bill?"

Alison: And if something is wrong, say, "I think there’s a mistake on my bill."

Will: These small mistakes can cause big problems!

Alison: But now, you know how to avoid them.

Will: Next, let’s talk about other common hotel situations.

Will: Now, let’s talk about other common hotel situations.

Alison: Yes!

Alison: Checking in is just the beginning.

Will: Many things can happen during your stay.

Alison: Let’s start with room service.

Will: Some hotels offer food delivery to your room.

Alison: You can call and say, "Can I order room service?"

Will: Or, "Do you have a room service menu?"

Alison: If you want breakfast in bed, you can say, "Can I get breakfast delivered to my room?"

Will: But remember, room service is not always free!

Alison: Always ask, "How much does it cost?"

Will: Another common situation is asking for extra items.

Alison: If you need more towels, say, "Can I have extra towels?"

Will: Or, "Can you send more pillows?"

Alison: You can also ask, "Do you have a hairdryer?" if your room doesn’t have one.

Will: If you need something urgently, say, "Can you bring it as soon as possible?"

Alison: Another important situation is waking up on time.

Will: Some hotels offer wake-up calls.

Alison: You can call the front desk and say, "Can I get a wake-up call at 7 a.m.?"

Will: If your hotel doesn’t offer wake-up calls, set your own alarm!

Alison: Now, let’s talk about noisy neighbors.

Will: Hotels are supposed to be quiet, but sometimes, guests are loud.

Alison: If people in the next room are too noisy, call the front desk.

Will: Say, "My neighbors are too loud. Can you ask them to be quiet?"

Alison: If the noise doesn’t stop, ask, "Can I change rooms?"

Will: Another problem is a broken air conditioner or heater.

Alison: If your room is too hot or cold, call and say, "The air conditioner is not working."

Will: Or, "The heater is not working."

Alison: If they can’t fix it, ask, "Can I get a fan?"

Will: Another situation is losing your key card.

Alison: If you lose it, go to the front desk and say, "I lost my key card. Can I get a new one?"

Will: They might ask for your ID to confirm your room.

Alison: If your key card stops working, say, "My key card is not working. Can you fix it?"

Will: Another important situation is late check-out.

Alison: If you want to leave later than usual, ask, "Do you offer late check-out?"

Will: Some hotels allow it for free, but some charge extra.

Alison: If you don’t want to pay, just say, "I’ll check out at the regular time."

Will: Another common problem is finding the right place in the hotel.

Alison: If you can’t find the elevator, ask, "Where is the elevator?"

Will: If you need the gym, ask, "Do you have a gym?"

Alison: If you want to swim, ask, "Where is the swimming pool?"

Will: Hotels usually have signs, but it’s always okay to ask.

Alison: Another important situation is checking your bill.

Will: Always ask, "Can I see my bill before I pay?"

Alison: If you see an extra charge, ask, "What is this charge for?"

Will: If there’s a mistake, say, "I didn’t use this service. Can you remove it?"

Alison: If everything looks correct, you can say, "Everything looks good. I’m ready to pay."

Will: And finally, don’t forget to return your key card when you leave!

Alison: Some hotels charge a fee if you forget.

Will: Just say, "Here’s my key card." when you check out.

Alison: These small things can make your hotel stay much easier!

Will: Now, let’s go over some practical tips for hotel conversations.

Will: Now, let’s go over some practical tips for hotel conversations.

Alison: Speaking clearly and politely is very important.

Will: Yes!

Will: If you’re polite, hotel staff will be happy to help you.

Alison: Always start with "Excuse me" or "Could you please..."

Will: For example, say, "Excuse me, could you help me with my luggage?"

Alison: Instead of saying, "Give me more towels," say, "Could I have some extra towels, please?"

Will: Small words like "please" and "thank you" make a big difference!

Alison: Another tip is to speak slowly and clearly.

Will: If the staff doesn’t understand, try saying it another way.

Alison: Instead of, "Where’s the nearest ATM?" you can say, "Is there a cash machine close by?"

Will: If you don’t understand their answer, ask, "Could you repeat that, please?"

Alison: Or, "Can you say that again, slowly?"

Will: Another good tip is learning the basics before you travel.

Alison: Yes!

Alison: Learn important words like "room," "Wi-Fi," "breakfast," and "key card."

Will: If you don’t know a word, try to describe it.

Alison: If you forget "hairdryer," you can say, "The thing that dries hair."

Will: That’s a great trick!

Will: Another tip is to double-check all details when checking in.

Alison: Make sure you get the right room type and number of nights.

Will: If something is wrong, say, "I think there’s a mistake with my booking."

Alison: Another important tip is to confirm extra costs.

Will: Ask, "Is there a deposit?" before giving your credit card.

Alison: If you use the minibar, ask, "How much do the drinks cost?"

Will: Some hotels charge for small things like slippers or bottled water.

Alison: Another tip is to write down important hotel information.

Will: When you check in, note the hotel name, address, and room number.

Alison: If you take a taxi, you can show the address to the driver.

Will: Another important tip is to learn useful emergency phrases.

Alison: If there’s a fire, you should know how to say, "Where is the emergency exit?"

Will: If you lose your passport, say, "I lost my passport. Can you help me?"

Alison: Another useful phrase is, "Can you call a doctor for me?"

Will: Hopefully, you won’t need these, but it’s good to be prepared!

Alison: Another tip is to ask about hotel facilities.

Will: If you want to use the gym, ask, "What time does the gym open?"

Alison: If you need to print something, ask, "Do you have a business center?"

Will: If you want to relax, ask, "Do you have a spa?"

Alison: Many hotels offer services you might not know about!

Will: Another good tip is to check transportation options.

Alison: If you need a taxi, ask, "Can you call a taxi for me?"

Will: If you’re taking the train, ask, "Where is the nearest train station?"

Alison: Some hotels even offer free shuttles.

Will: Ask, "Do you have a free airport shuttle?"

Alison: One last tip is to stay calm and friendly.

Will: If there’s a problem, don’t get angry.

Alison: Instead of, "This is terrible!" say, "Is there a way to fix this?"

Will: If you are nice, the staff will try harder to help you.

Alison: These small tips can make your trip much smoother!

Will: Now, let’s wrap things up.

Will: That’s all for today’s episode!

Alison: We covered a lot of useful hotel English.

Will: Yes!

Will: From checking in to checking out.

Alison: And handling problems during your stay.

Will: We also talked about American vs. British hotel English.

Alison: And some common mistakes to avoid.

Will: Plus, we shared some practical tips for hotel conversations.

Alison: Now, you’re ready for your next hotel stay!

Will: Yes!

Will: You’ll know how to ask for a bigger room.

Alison: How to check if breakfast is included.

Will: And how to get help if your air conditioner breaks!

Alison: Just remember to speak clearly and politely.

Will: And always double-check details to avoid surprises.

Alison: Learning these phrases will make your travels easier.

Will: And hotel staff will appreciate your effort!

Alison: Now, here’s a challenge for you.

Will: Try using these phrases in a real conversation!

Alison: The next time you stay in a hotel, practice these sentences.

Will: If you can’t travel soon, try saying them at home.

Alison: Stand in front of a mirror and practice aloud.

Will: Or practice with a friend!

Alison: The more you say them, the more natural they will feel.

Will: And don’t worry about mistakes.

Alison: Mistakes are part of learning!

Will: If you practice, you’ll improve quickly.

Alison: And soon, speaking English will feel effortless.

Will: That’s why we’re Effortless English Learning!

Alison: Before we go, don’t forget to subscribe.

Will: Yes!

Will: Hit that button so you never miss an episode.

Alison: And if you have questions, leave a comment.

Will: Tell us your funny hotel stories!

Alison: Or share any travel mistakes you’ve made.

Will: We’d love to hear from you.

Alison: Thanks for listening today!

Will: We’ll see you in the next episode.

Alison: Bye for now!