Page 181 - English Vocabulary in Use (Pre & Intermediate)

S7 Hotels

Types of hotel

Hotels in Britain are graded with stars from one-star to five-star (five-star hotels are the best
and most expensive). You can also stay in a Bed & Breakfast (B&B) (also called Guest
Houses) where you pay for a bedroom, possibly an ensuite (= room with private bathroom)
and breakfast.

Types of hotel accommodation
a single room: for one person with a single bed
a double room: for two people with one large double bed
a twin room: for two people with two single beds
full board: includes breakfast, lunch and dinner
half board: includes breakfast and dinner
B & B: just the room and breakfast

A visit to a hotel
We stayed in the Carlton Hotel for three
nights in July, but I booked (= reserved) our
room three months in advance (= before; in
other words, in April) because it was the
middle of the tourist season. When we
arrived we checked in at reception, then the
porter carried our suitcases up to our room. |
gave him a small tip (n, v) - about SOp, I
think. The staff were very friendly - we had
a very nice chambermaid (= the woman who
cleans the room) — and the room was very
comfortable. The only problem we had, in
fact, was with the shower which didn’t work
(= function) very well. (You could also say
‘There was something wrong with the
shower’.)

Useful words and expressions

Could I book (= reserve) a room for next Thursday?
Could I have an early morning call at 7 a.m. please? (= Could you wake me at 7 a.m.?)
Could you put it on my bill, please? (= add the cost to the bill, e.g. for a drink you have in
the hotel bar)
Could I pay my bill, please? (= pay for everything)
Could you order (= call) a taxi for me to go to the airport?
Are you fully booked (= completely full) next week?
Is breakfast/dinner included? (= Does the price include breakfast/dinner?)
Where’s the lift? (= the machine which takes you up or down a floor) [AmEng = elevator]
Excuse me. How do I get to the underground station from here?

178 English Vocabulary in Use (pre-intermediate & intermediate)