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English vocabulary for a hotel stay

Practical words for booking a room, checking in, asking about services, requesting help and checking out.

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How to speak English at a hotel

When you arrive, tell reception that you have a reservation, give your name and confirm the type of room. A single room is for one guest, while a double room is normally for two people and has one double bed.

Check-in is the arrival process and check-out is the departure process. After registering, you receive a key or key card. It is also useful to ask whether breakfast is included, where the lift is and how to request an extra towel.

Vocabulary

Words in this topic

Use the speaker icon to hear each word in British English.

  • hotel — a place that provides rooms for travellers

    hotel

    IPA: /həʊˈtɛl/

    a place that provides rooms for travellers

  • reservation — an arrangement to have a room kept for you

    reservation

    IPA: /ˌrɛzəˈveɪʃən/

    an arrangement to have a room kept for you

  • reception — the hotel desk where guests check in and ask for help

    reception

    IPA: /rɪˈsɛpʃən/

    the hotel desk where guests check in and ask for help

  • room — a part of a hotel where a guest stays

    room

    IPA: /ruːm/

    a part of a hotel where a guest stays

  • single room — a hotel room intended for one guest

    single room

    IPA: /ˈsɪŋɡəlrʊm/

    a hotel room intended for one guest

  • double room — a room for two people, usually with one double bed

    double room

    IPA: /ˈdʌbəlrʊm/

    a room for two people, usually with one double bed

  • key — an object used to lock or unlock a hotel room door

    key

    IPA: /kiː/

    an object used to lock or unlock a hotel room door

  • check-in — the process of registering when you arrive at a hotel

    check-in

    IPA: /ˈtʃɛkɪn/

    the process of registering when you arrive at a hotel

  • check-out — the process or time of leaving a hotel after your stay

    check-out

    IPA: /ˈtʃɛkaʊt/

    the process or time of leaving a hotel after your stay

  • lift — a machine that carries people between floors

    lift

    IPA: /lɪft/

    a machine that carries people between floors

  • breakfast — the first meal of the day, sometimes included with a room

    breakfast

    IPA: /ˈbrɛkfəst/

    the first meal of the day, sometimes included with a room

  • towel — a piece of cloth used for drying yourself

    towel

    IPA: /ˈtaʊəl/

    a piece of cloth used for drying yourself

01

How to remember these words

  1. Act out a reception conversation from confirming a reservation to receiving a key.
  2. Compare a single room and a double room, then choose one for an imaginary trip.
  3. Write three questions about breakfast, the lift and check-out time.

02

Useful phrases

I have a reservation under the name Kovalenko.

Use under the name to identify the name attached to a booking.

I’d like to check in, please.

Check in is the verb for registering when you arrive.

Could we have a double room with breakfast?

With breakfast asks for a rate or room that includes the morning meal.

What time is check-out?

Use this question to ask when you must leave the room.

Could I have two clean towels, please?

Could I have…? makes a request to hotel staff polite.

Quick answers

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between check-in and check in?

Check-in with a hyphen is a noun: Check-in starts at 2 p.m. Check in without a hyphen is a verb: I’d like to check in. The same pattern applies to check-out and check out.

What is the difference between a double room and a twin room?

A double room normally has one double bed. A twin room has two separate single beds. Both room types are intended for two guests.

What is the difference between lift and elevator?

Both words mean the same thing. Lift is usual in British English, while elevator is usual in American English.

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