Hotels: Booking a room and checking in and checking out

Traveling and staying in a hotel can be an exciting experience, but it requires clear communication to navigate booking a room, checking in, and checking out smoothly. This lesson introduces essential vocabulary, practical phrases, and realistic dialogues to help learners confidently interact in hotel settings.

Designed for beginner to intermediate English learners, the material focuses on simple, polite language that is easy to understand and apply. Through visuals, role-plays, and personalized practice, learners will build the skills to handle common hotel scenarios with ease. Whether planning a trip or preparing for real-world conversations, this lesson provides a solid foundation for effective communication in a hotel environment.

Basic vocabulary

Start with essential words related to booking a room, checking in, and checking out. These should be simple, commonly used terms that learners can easily apply.

Vocabulary list

• Hotel: A place where people stay and pay for a room.
• Room: A space for sleeping or staying (e.g., single room, double room).
• Booking/reservation: Arranging to stay at a hotel in advance.
• Check-in: The process of arriving and registering at a hotel.
• Check-out: The process of leaving and paying at a hotel.
• Reception/front desk: The area where guests check in or ask questions.
• Guest: A person staying at a hotel.
• Key/key card: Used to open a hotel room.
• Rate/price: The cost of the room (e.g., $100 per night).
• Available: A room that is free to book.
• Stay: The time spent at the hotel (e.g., a three-night stay).
• Luggage/bags: Suitcases or bags a guest brings.
• Payment: The method of paying (e.g., credit card, cash).
• Breakfast: A meal included or offered at the hotel.
• Wi-Fi: Internet access provided by the hotel.

Vocabulary words for extension

• Elevator/lift: A machine that takes guests to different floors.
• Lobby: The main entrance area of a hotel where guests gather.
• Amenities: Extra services or features (e.g., pool, gym).
• Housekeeping: Staff who clean rooms and provide fresh towels.
• Towel: A cloth provided for bathing or drying.
• Suite: A larger, more luxurious hotel room with extra space.
• Balcony: An outdoor area attached to a room.
• Minibar: A small refrigerator in the room with drinks or snacks.
• Concierge: A hotel staff member who helps with guest requests (e.g., booking tours).
• Deposit: Money paid upfront to secure a booking.

Teaching tips

• Use visuals like pictures of a hotel reception, key card, or booking website to connect vocabulary to real contexts.
• Practice pronunciation of terms like “reservation” (rez-er-VAY-shun) or “check-in” (CHECK-in).
• Create flashcards with words on one side and definitions or images on the other for quick recall.

Useful phrases

Teach simple sentence structures for booking a room, checking in, and checking out. These phrases should be polite, practical, and adaptable.

Key phrases

1. Booking a room
   • “I’d like to book a room for [date].”
   • “Do you have any rooms available?”
   • “How much is the rate per night?”
   • “Can I make a reservation for [number] people?”
2. Checking in
   • “I have a reservation under [name].”
   • “Can I check in now?”
   • “Is breakfast included?”
   • “Can you give me the key, please?”
3. Checking out
   • “I’d like to check out, please.”
   • “Can I have the bill?”
   • “I’ll pay with [credit card/cash].”
   • “Can you call a taxi for me?”
4. Asking questions
   • “Is Wi-Fi available in the room?”
   • “What time is check-in/check-out?”
   • “Can I change my reservation?”
   • “Where is the [restaurant/elevator]?”

Teaching tips

• Write phrases on a board or handout and model their use (e.g., “I’d like to book a room for tomorrow. Is Wi-Fi included?”).
• Have learners substitute their own details (e.g., dates, names, or payment methods) into the phrases.
• Emphasize polite language (e.g., “Can I…” or “Please”) to sound natural in hotel settings.

Example conversations

Provide short, realistic dialogues to model how to book a room, check in, and check out. These examples progress from basic to more detailed.

Conversation 1: Booking a room (Basic)

Guest (Anna): Hello, I’d like to book a room for June 1st.
Receptionist (Tom): Sure. Do you want a single or double room?
Anna: A single room, please.
Tom: We have one available. The rate is $80 per night.
Anna: Great. Can I book it for two nights?
Tom: Yes, I’ll need your name and credit card details.

Conversation 2: Checking in (Adding details)

Guest (Sara): Hi, I have a reservation under Sara Lopez.
Receptionist (Juan): Welcome, Ms. Lopez. Can I see your ID, please?
Sara: Here it is. Is breakfast included?
Juan: Yes, breakfast is from 7 to 10 AM. Here’s your key card for Room 305.
Sara: Thank you. Is Wi-Fi available?
Juan: Yes, the Wi-Fi password is on the card. Enjoy your stay!

Conversation 3: Checking out (More advanced)

Guest (Mark): Good morning, I’d like to check out, please.
Receptionist (Lisa): Sure, Mr. Smith. Can I have your room number?
Mark: It’s Room 412. Can I see the bill?
Lisa: Here it is. The total is $200 for two nights. How will you pay?
Mark: With a credit card. Can you call a taxi for me?
Lisa: Of course. Your receipt is ready, and the taxi will be here in 10 minutes.

Teaching tips

• Role-play these dialogues with the learner, switching roles to practice both guest and receptionist perspectives.
• Encourage learners to adapt the dialogues using their own names or travel scenarios.
• In group settings, pair students to practice, prompting them to ask at least one follow-up question.

Teaching strategy

Here’s a step-by-step lesson plan to teach this topic effectively (approximately 45 minutes).

Step 1: Warm-up (5 minutes)

• Ask: “Have you ever stayed in a hotel? What did you say?” to spark interest.
• Show a picture or short video clip of a hotel reception or booking website to introduce the topic.

Step 2: Vocabulary introduction (10 minutes)

• Present the vocabulary list using visuals or a slideshow of hotel-related images (e.g., a key card or front desk).
• Practice pronunciation, especially for terms like “reservation” or “check-out.”
• Play a quick game: Say a word (e.g., “check-in”), and learners explain what it means or use it in a sentence.

Step 3: Phrase practice (10 minutes)

• Display key phrases and model them with your own example (e.g., “I’d like to book a room for Friday. Is breakfast included?”).
• Have learners practice by filling in the blanks (e.g., “I’d like to book a room for ____. Can I pay with ____?”).
• Correct pronunciation and grammar gently, emphasizing polite language.

Step 4: Conversation practice (15 minutes)

• Read one example conversation aloud, emphasizing natural tone and politeness.
• Pair learners (or role-play with them) to practice the dialogues, encouraging personalization.
• Ask learners to create their own short dialogue about booking, checking in, or checking out.

Step 5: Wrap-up and personalization (5 minutes)

• Have each learner share one or two sentences about a hotel experience (e.g., “I booked a room for two nights. I paid with a credit card.”).
• Provide feedback on their use of vocabulary and phrases.
• Assign homework: Write 3-5 sentences about booking or staying at a hotel, or practice a dialogue with a friend.

Additional tips

• Cultural sensitivity: Be aware that hotel customs (e.g., tipping, check-in times) may vary by country. Discuss differences if relevant to learners.
• Visual aids: Use images or videos of hotel check-in processes (e.g., from YouTube or travel websites) to make the lesson engaging.
• Listening practice: Play a short audio or video clip (e.g., from ESL resources) of a hotel check-in or check-out to expose learners to different accents.
• Adapt for level: For beginners, focus on simple phrases (e.g., “I want a room.”). For intermediate learners, encourage details (e.g., “Can I change my reservation to a double room?”).
• Incorporate technology: If teaching online, share a screen with a hotel booking website or use a virtual whiteboard to highlight vocabulary.

Common mistakes to address

• Grammar: Learners may say “I book room” instead of “I’d like to book a room.” Emphasize polite structures like “I’d like” or “Can I.”
• Pronunciation: Terms like “reservation” or “key card” may be mispronounced. Practice these explicitly.
• Word choice: Clarify differences like “booking” (arranging in advance) vs. “check-in” (arriving at the hotel).

Example activity: “Hotel role-play”

For group classes, try this interactive activity:

• Set up a mock hotel reception with props (e.g., a table as the front desk, a toy key as a key card).
• Assign roles (guest and receptionist) and give learners a scenario (e.g., “Book a room for two nights” or “Check out and ask for a taxi”).
• Learners act out the scenario, using vocabulary and phrases, while others ask questions (e.g., “Was Wi-Fi included?”).

Homework or follow-up

• Writing: Write a short paragraph (5 sentences) about booking a room or checking into a hotel.
• Speaking: Record a 30-second audio or video acting out a hotel check-in or check-out dialogue.
• Research: Visit a hotel website and write down three new words related to booking or staying (e.g., “deposit,” “amenities,” “cancellation”).