Intermediate· B1–B2Travel8 min

Checking in at a hotel

Check in, confirm your booking details and ask about breakfast, Wi-Fi and checkout.

The scene

You arrive at your hotel after a long trip. At the front desk you check in, find out about the room and ask a few practical questions.

Speaker A
Front desk clerk
Speaker B
You (guest)

Your goals

  • Check in using your booking details
  • Ask about hotel services and times
  • Make a small request about your room

Key vocabulary

Press the speaker to hear each word or phrase.

  • reservation

    an arrangement to keep a room for you

    I have a reservation under Chen.

  • front desk

    the reception area of a hotel

    Ask at the front desk.

  • key card

    a plastic card that opens your hotel room

    Here are your key cards.

  • checkout

    the time you must leave your room on the last day

    Checkout is at eleven.

  • deposit

    money held on your card in case of extra costs

    We'll take a small deposit.

  • complimentary

    free, included in the price

    Breakfast is complimentary.

  • late checkout

    permission to leave your room later than the normal time

    Is late checkout possible?

Useful phrases

  • I have a reservation under the name …

    Telling the clerk whose booking it is

  • Is breakfast included?

    Checking what the price covers

  • What's the Wi-Fi password?

    Asking for internet access

  • What time is checkout?

    Asking when you must leave

  • Would it be possible to have a quiet room?

    Making a polite request

  • Could I leave my bags here after checkout?

    Asking to store luggage

Practice studio: speak the dialogue

Pick your role and press Start. Your partner's lines are read aloud; then say your line into the microphone (or type it) and see which words you got right.

Your role

  1. Front desk clerk

    Good evening, welcome to the Harbor View Hotel. Are you checking in?

  2. You (guest)

    Yes, I have a reservation under the name Chen. It's for three nights.

  3. Front desk clerk

    Let me find it. Yes, a double room for three nights. Could I see your ID and a credit card?

  4. You (guest)

    Here you are. Is breakfast included in the price?

  5. Front desk clerk

    Yes, breakfast is complimentary. It's served from seven to ten in the restaurant.

  6. You (guest)

    Great. Would it be possible to have a quiet room? I'm a light sleeper.

  7. Front desk clerk

    Of course. I'll put you on the sixth floor, away from the elevator.

  8. You (guest)

    Thank you. And what time is checkout on Friday?

  9. Front desk clerk

    Checkout is at eleven, but you can leave your bags here afterward.

  10. You (guest)

    That's perfect. Could you also tell me the Wi-Fi password?

You speak 5 lines as You (guest); Front desk clerk is read aloud for you.

Speech recognition is done by your browser (in Chrome and Edge this uses the browser maker's online service). Nothing is stored by AltFTool.

Your turn: speak freely

Answer out loud in your own words. There is no score here: aim for full sentences and fewer filler words.

  1. 1. Check in at a hotel and say your name, how many nights and the type of room.

  2. 2. Ask two questions about hotel services, such as breakfast or the gym.

  3. 3. Make a polite request about your room and explain why.

Quick quiz

Choose an answer to see if you are right and why.

  1. 1. What does 'complimentary' mean in a hotel?
  2. 2. Which sentence starts a hotel check-in?
  3. 3. What is 'checkout'?
  4. 4. Which request is the most polite?

0 of 4 answered

Common mistakes

  • Avoid: I have a booking on the name Chen.

    Say: I have a booking under the name Chen.

    Bookings and reservations are 'under' a name.

  • Avoid: What is the password of the Wi-Fi?

    Say: What's the Wi-Fi password?

    English usually puts the noun first: 'Wi-Fi password'.

  • Avoid: Breakfast is inclusive?

    Say: Is breakfast included?

    Use 'included' and make a proper question with 'is' first.

Tips

  • Have your booking confirmation ready on your phone in case the name is spelled differently.
  • Ask your most important question first, such as breakfast times or checkout.
  • Hotels can often say yes to small requests like a quiet room, so it is worth asking.

Questions about this lesson

How do you check in at a hotel in English?

Say 'Hi, I'm checking in. I have a reservation under the name…' The clerk will usually ask for ID and a card.

How do you ask for late checkout in English?

Ask 'Is late checkout possible?' or 'Would it be possible to check out at one o'clock?'

Finish the lesson

Finish the practice studio and the quiz and this lesson is marked complete for you.

Next lesson: Reporting lost luggage

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Checking In at a Hotel in English: Role-Play & Phrases