Book a room at a hotel

When you book a hotel room, you use special polite phrases. Hotel staff hear these phrases every day, so they are easy to use. Learn the most important ones and you can book a room in any country.

The first phrase is 'I'd like to book a room.' This is a polite way to start. You can add details: 'I'd like to book a double room.' or 'I'd like to book a room for two nights.'

You also need to ask questions. 'Do you have any rooms available?' means 'Do you have a free room?' The answer is usually 'Yes, we do' or 'Sorry, we are full.'

To ask about the price, say 'How much is it per night?' This is the most common way to ask. The receptionist will say the price, for example, 'It's 80 pounds per night.'

Hotels sometimes include breakfast and sometimes do not. Always ask: 'Does the price include breakfast?' This is very important for your budget.

When you arrive at the hotel, say 'I'd like to check in, please.' When you leave, say 'I'd like to check out, please.' You can also ask 'What time is check-out?' to find out when you must leave the room.

Finally, in modern hotels you need Wi-Fi. Ask 'Can I have the Wi-Fi password?' and the receptionist will give you the code.

Here is a quick table of the key phrases:

A guest is at the hotel reception. Listen to the phrases in a real situation.

Practise the key phrase for booking a hotel room.

Practise asking about breakfast.

You are going to hear a phone call between a guest and a hotel receptionist. The guest, Emma, is calling the Grand Hotel. She wants to book a room for the weekend. Tom, the receptionist, answers the phone and asks her some questions.

Strategy: Predicting before you listen Before you listen to a phone call, think about what the people will talk about. When you book a hotel room, you usually talk about four things: the dates, the room type, the price, and your personal details. Predict the answers to these questions before you press play. This makes listening easier because you know what to listen for.

In the conversation you are about to hear, ask yourself: What kind of room does Emma want? How many nights does she want to stay? What is the price per night? Is breakfast included? Listen carefully and find the answers.

Emma is calling the Grand Hotel to book a room. Listen carefully.

What is the main reason for the phone call?

In English, two long vowel sounds are very important when you book a hotel: the /ɔː/ sound (like in four) and the /əʊ/ sound (like in phone). Many A2 learners mix these two sounds, but they are very different. Listening carefully to the difference will help you understand hotel staff when you book a room by phone.

To make the /ɔː/ sound, open your mouth wide, pull your tongue to the back, and round your lips into a circle. Hold the sound for a long time. Your jaw drops down. The sound is dark and deep. It is the same vowel in four, door, more, and floor.

To make the /əʊ/ sound, start with your mouth open and your tongue in the middle of your mouth. Then, slowly close your mouth and round your lips as you say the sound. The vowel begins open and ends closed. It is the same vowel in phone, hotel, home, and cold.

These two sounds appear in the most important words for hotel booking. You will say 'a phone number' (with /əʊ/) and 'four nights' (with /ɔː/). You will ask 'How much more?' (with /ɔː/) and 'Is breakfast included?' (with /əʊ/ in the first syllable of included).

Listen carefully to the difference. The /ɔː/ sound is one long, open, dark sound. The /əʊ/ sound moves from open to closed. Now practise saying both sounds clearly so that hotel staff understand you on the phone.

/ɔː/ — like in four: mouth wide, tongue back, lips rounded, one long sound. /əʊ/ — like in phone: start open, close slowly, lips form a small circle at the end. Both are long vowels, but /ɔː/ stays open and /əʊ/ moves to a closed position.

Read this phrase. Hold the /ɔː/ sound long: 'foooor nights.'

Read this phrase. Start open and close slowly: 'phoooone number.'

Read this phrase. Say the /əʊ/ sound clearly in 'hotel' and the /uː/ sound clearly in 'room'.

When you book a hotel by email, the hotel sends you a confirmation email. This email has all the important information about your booking: your name, the dates, the room type, and the price. It is important to read the confirmation carefully so you know the details are correct.

Strategy box: Scanning for key information When you read a booking confirmation, you do not need to read every word. Scan the email and look for the important details: the guest name, the check-in date, the check-out date, the room type, and the price. These details are usually easy to find in a list or at the top of the email.

Before you read, learn these key words:

Subject: Booking Confirmation - Room 205

Dear Ms Smith,

Thank you for your booking. We are happy to confirm your reservation at the Grand Hotel.

Booking details:

• Guest: Emma Smith
• Check-in: Friday, 15 March (from 2 pm)
• Check-out: Sunday, 17 March (by 11 am)
• Room type: Double room
• Number of nights: 2
• Price: 80 pounds per night
• Breakfast: Included

The hotel has free Wi-Fi in all rooms. The restaurant is open from 7 am to 10 pm. If you have any questions, please email us at reception@grandhotel.com.

We look forward to welcoming you to the Grand Hotel.

Best regards, Tom Brown Grand Hotel Reception

What is the email about?

Now you will practise booking a hotel room by phone. This is a very common situation for travellers. The key is to be polite, clear, and ready to give your details.

Useful phrases for booking by phone:

Listen to the model conversation first. Then practise the key sentences. Finally, you will have a live conversation with the AI receptionist — speak clearly and use the phrases from the table.

Listen to a model phone call. The guest books a room for one night.

Practise the opening sentence of a hotel booking phone call.

Practise asking about breakfast clearly.

You can book a hotel room by email. This is useful when you want to plan your trip before you travel. A booking email is short, polite, and has all the important information. The hotel replies with a confirmation email (like the one you read earlier).

Model email:

Subject: Room Booking Request

Dear Sir/Madam,

I would like to book a double room for two nights, from Friday 15 March to Sunday 17 March. My name is Emma Smith. Could you tell me the price per night and whether breakfast is included?

Thank you for your help.

Best regards, Emma Smith

Using clear information in an email A good booking email has four parts. First, a polite greeting (Dear Sir/Madam). Second, a clear request (I would like to book a double room). Third, the details (dates, room type, your name). Fourth, a polite closing (Thank you / Best regards). Always write the date clearly (Friday 15 March) — not 'next Friday'. Always include your name.

Now look at the model email again. Can you find the four parts? The greeting is 'Dear Sir/Madam'. The request is 'I would like to book a double room'. The details are the dates and the name. The closing is 'Thank you' and 'Best regards'.

In the steps below, you will check your understanding of the model, then write your own short booking email.

Using clear information in an email A good booking email has four parts: (1) a polite greeting, (2) a clear request, (3) the important details (dates, room type, your name), and (4) a polite closing. Write the date clearly, for example 'Friday 15 March', not 'next Friday'.

Which sentence is clearer in a booking email?

Now write your own short email to book a hotel room. Use 3-4 sentences. Include a greeting, your request, the dates, the room type, and a closing. Read your email aloud when you finish.