Essential Hotel Vocabulary
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Reservation / Booking | Your room arrangement (used interchangeably) |
| Front desk / Reception | Where you check in and out |
| Concierge | Staff who helps with recommendations and bookings |
| Complimentary | Free (included in your stay) |
| Incidentals | Extra charges (minibar, phone calls, etc.) |
| Checkout time | The time you must leave the room |
| Late checkout | Permission to leave after standard checkout time |
| Housekeeping | Cleaning and room maintenance staff |
Script 1: Hotel Check-In
Receptionist: Good evening! Welcome to the Grand Hotel. How may I help you?
You: Good evening. I have a reservation for two nights under the name [Your Name].
Receptionist: Let me look that up... Yes, I found your booking. A deluxe room with a king-size bed for two nights, checking out on the 15th. Is that correct?
You: Yes, that's correct.
Receptionist: May I have your ID and a credit card for incidentals, please?
You: Here's my passport and credit card. Is breakfast included in the booking?
Receptionist: Yes, complimentary breakfast is served from 7 to 10 AM at the restaurant on the second floor. You'll also have access to the gym and pool.
You: That's great. What's the Wi-Fi password?
Receptionist: The Wi-Fi network is "GrandHotelGuest" and the password is on this card. Here's your room key — you're in Room 412 on the fourth floor. The lifts are to your right.
You: Thank you. One more thing — could I get a wake-up call at 6:30 AM tomorrow?
Receptionist: Absolutely. I've set that up for you. Enjoy your stay!
Script 2: Room Service
Staff: Room service, how may I help you?
You: Hello, this is Room 412. I'd like to order some food, please.
Staff: Of course! What would you like?
You: I'll have the grilled chicken sandwich and a Caesar salad. And could I also get a pot of tea?
Staff: Certainly. Any dietary restrictions or allergies we should be aware of?
You: No allergies, but could you make the sandwich without mayonnaise, please?
Staff: No problem. Your order will be delivered in about 25-30 minutes. Will that be charged to the room?
You: Yes, please charge it to the room. Thank you.
Script 3: Room Complaint
You: Hello, I'm calling from Room 412. I have a couple of issues with my room.
Front Desk: I'm sorry to hear that. What seems to be the problem?
You: First, the air conditioning isn't working properly. It's making a loud buzzing noise and the room isn't cooling down. Second, I only have one towel in the bathroom — I should have a full set.
Front Desk: I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. I'll send a maintenance person to check the AC right away, and housekeeping will bring fresh towels immediately.
You: Thank you. If the AC can't be fixed, would it be possible to switch to a different room?
Front Desk: Absolutely. If maintenance can't resolve it within 30 minutes, we'll upgrade you to an available room at no extra charge.
You: I appreciate that. Thank you for handling this so promptly.
Script 4: Concierge — Asking for Recommendations
You: Hello, I'm hoping you could help me with some local recommendations.
Concierge: Of course! What are you looking for?
You: We'd like to find a good local restaurant for dinner — something authentic, not too touristy. And we're also interested in sightseeing tomorrow.
Concierge: For dinner, I'd recommend "Spice Garden" — it's about a 10-minute walk from here and serves excellent regional cuisine. For sightseeing, the Old Town walking tour is very popular. It starts at 9 AM from the main square.
You: That sounds perfect. Could you book a table for two at 7:30 PM at the restaurant?
Concierge: I'll call them right away. And for the walking tour, would you like me to book tickets?
You: Yes, please. Two tickets for tomorrow morning. How much does it cost?
Concierge: It's 500 rupees per person. I'll add it to your room bill.
You: Perfect. And one last thing — how do we get to the restaurant? Is a taxi the best option?
Concierge: It's an easy walk — I'll mark it on this map for you. But if you'd prefer, I can arrange a taxi.
Script 5: Hotel Check-Out
You: Good morning. I'd like to check out, please. Room 412.
Receptionist: Good morning! Let me pull up your bill. Did you enjoy your stay?
You: Yes, it was wonderful, thank you. The room issue was handled very well.
Receptionist: I'm glad to hear that. Your total comes to 8,500 rupees — that includes room charges, room service, and the walking tour tickets. Would you like to pay by card?
You: Yes, I'll pay by card. Actually, could you also provide an itemized bill? I need it for my expense report.
Receptionist: Of course. I'll print a detailed invoice for you. Would you also like us to arrange a taxi to the airport?
You: Yes, please. My flight is at 3 PM, so I'd need to leave by noon.
Receptionist: I'll arrange a taxi for 12 PM. Here's your invoice. Thank you for staying with us!
You: Thank you! I'll definitely recommend this hotel.
Useful Hotel Phrases
- "Could I have a late checkout?" / "Is early check-in available?"
- "Could you send someone from housekeeping?"
- "Is there a laundry service available?"
- "Could I store my luggage after checkout?"
- "What time does the restaurant close?"
- "Is there a shuttle service to the airport?"
Practice Tips
- Roleplay these scripts with a friend — one plays staff, the other plays guest
- Use these phrases on your next hotel stay for real-world practice
- Watch travel vlogs to hear natural hotel conversations
Practise Hotel Conversations with AI
In TalkDrill's hotel check-in role-play you are the guest and an AI receptionist has a queue behind you and a screen that disagrees with your booking, so you practise holding your place politely. For room service or concierge requests, describe the situation after signing up and TalkDrill builds the role-play. Build your travel English confidence with realistic conversations and a report at the end.
Try the Hotel Check-In Role-Play →