Are you planning to stay in a hotel or guesthouse? This unit provides you with some English words and pharses which may be useful for booking a room and for describing hotel facilities, services and staff.

 

Word/Phrase
Meaning Example
adjoining rooms
n.
two hotel rooms with a door in the centre If you want we can book your parents in an adjoining room.
amenities
n.
local facilities such as stores and restaurants We are located downtown, so we are close to all of the amenities.
attractions
n.
things for tourists to see and do The zoo is our city’s most popular attraction for kids.
baggage
n.
bags and suitcases packed with personal belongings If you need help with your baggage we have a cart you can use.
Bed and Breakfast
n.
a home that offers a place to stay and a place to eat I can book you into a beautiful Bed and  Breakfast on the lake.
bellboy
n.
a staff member who helps guests with their luggage The bellboy will take your bags to your room for you.
book
v.
arrange to stay in a hotel I can book your family in for the weekend of the seventh.
booked
adj
full, no vacancies I’m afraid the hotel is booked tonight.
brochures
n.
small booklets that provide information on the local sites and attractions Feel free to take some brochures to your room to look at.
check-in
v.
go to the front desk to receive keys You can check-in anytime after four o’clock.
check-out
 n.
return the keys and pay for the bill Please return your parking pass when you check-out.
complimentary  breakfast
 n.
free of charge All of our rooms have complimentary soap, hampoo, and coffee.
cot, rollaway bed
 n.
a single bed on wheels that folds up If you need an extra bed, we have cots available.
damage charge
 n.
money a guest owes for repairs to hotel property (when caused by violent or careless acts) We will have to add a damage charge for the hole you put in the wall.
deposit
n.
amount paid ahead of time to secure a reservation You will not receive your deposit back if you cancel.
double bed
n.
a bed large enough for two people They are a family of four, so give them a room with two double beds.
floor
n.
a level of the building The swimming pool is on the main floor.
 front desk,  reception
 n.
the place where guests go to check in and out and to  get information Towels are available at the front desk.
guest
n.
a person that is staying at the hotel Our washrooms are for guests only.
hostel
n.
 a very inexpensive place for backbackers and  travelers on a budget In the hostel you probably won’t get your own room.
hotel manager
n.
person in charge at the hotel I’ll let you make your complaint to the hotel manager.
housekeeping, maid n. staff members that clean the rooms and linen Put a sign on the door if you want housekeeping to come in and change the sheets on the bed.
ice machine
n.
a machine that automatically makes ice that guests can use to keep drinks cold There is an ice machine by the elevator on all of the even numbered floors.
indoor pool
n.
place for guests to swim inside the hotel The heated indoor pool is open until 10 pm.
inn
n.
another word for “hotel” There’s an inn on the other side of town that has a vacancy.
Jacuzzi, hot tub, whirl pool
n.
a small hot pool for relaxation Our honeymoon room has a personal hot tub.
king-size bed
n.
extra large bed A room with a king size bed costs an extra ten dollars  a night.
kitchenette
n.
a small fridge and cooking area Your room has a kitchenette so you can prepare your  own breakfasts and lunches.
late charge
n.
a fee for staying past the check-out time You will be charged a ten dollar late charge for checking out after 11 am.
linen
n.
sheets, blankets, pillow cases We will come in and change the linens while you are out of your room.
lobby
n.
large open area at the front of the hotel You can stand in the lobby and wait for your bus.
luggage cart
n.
a device on wheels that guests can push their luggage on Please return the luggage cart to the lobby when you are finshed with it.
maximum  capacity
n.
 the most amount of people allowed The maximum capacity in the hot tub is ten people.
motels
n.
 accommodations that are slightly cheaper than  hotels Our motel is very clean and is close to the beach.
noisy
adj
 loud The guests next to you have complained that you are being too noisy.
parking pass
n.
a piece of paper that guests display in the car window while in the hotel parking lot Display this parking pass in your window to show that you are a hotel guest.
pay-per-view movie
n.
extra charge for movies and special television features If you order a pay-per-view movie, the charge will appear on your bill.
pillow case
n.
the covering that goes over a pillow Room 201 doesn’t need their sheets changed, but they  requested one new pillow case.
queen size bed
n.
bed with plenty of space for two people (bigger than  a double) They have a queen size bed so the small child can eaily fit in the middle.
rate
n.
cost of renting a room for a certain time period Our rates change depending on the season.
reservation
n.
a request to save a specific room for a future date They say they made a reservation but it doesn’t show  on the computer.
room service
n.
delivery of food or other services requested by guests If you would like a bottle of wine, just call room service.
sauna
n.
a hot room for relaxation, filled with steam We don’t recommend bringing young children into the sauna.
single bed
n.
a bed for one person The economy priced room includes one single bed.
sofa bed, pull-out couch
n.
a bed built into a sofa or couch The room contains a sofa bed so the room actually sleeps five.
towel
n.
used to cover and dry the body after swimming or bathing You can get your swimming pool towels at the front desk.
vacancy
n.
vacant
adj
available rooms We only have one vacancy left, and it is for a single room.
valet
n.
staff that parks the guests’ vehicles If you leave your car keys with us, the valet will park your car underground.
vending machine
n.
a machine that distributes snacks and beverages when you insert coins The vending machine on the fifth floor has chocolate bars and chips.
view
n.
a window that offers a nice image for guests The room is more expensive because it has a spectacular view of the beach.
wake up call
n.
a morning phone call from the front desk, acts as an  alarm clock What time would you like your wake up call?
weight room, workout room, gym
n.
a room that guests can use for exercise and fitness Our weight room has a stair climber and a stationary  bicycle.