Hotel Check-In English: Four Lines That Get You Through

The whole conversation

You arrive in the evening and walk up to the desk:

Front desk: Good evening. Do you have a reservation? You: Yes, under Wang. Two nights, please. Front desk: I have it here. May I see some identification? You: Here’s my passport. Is breakfast included? Front desk: It is, from six thirty to ten downstairs. You: Great. What time do I have to check out? Front desk: Noon, but late check-out is usually fine. You: Thank you. Could I have a quiet room?

The four lines that matter

1. Yes, under Wang. Two nights, please.

Under + a last name means “the booking is in this name.” The desk usually searches by last name, so that’s enough; give your full name only if they can’t find it. Adding the number of nights helps them confirm the booking.

Another way to say it: I have a reservation under Wang.

They may ask: Could you spell that? Then say it letter by letter: W-A-N-G.

2. Here’s my passport. Is breakfast included?

Here’s my… is what you say while handing something over. It sounds more natural than “This is my passport.”

Is breakfast included? asks whether breakfast is part of the room rate. “Do you have breakfast?” asks something else: whether the hotel serves breakfast at all. They’ll say yes, and you still won’t know if it costs extra.

Another way to say it: Does the rate include breakfast?

After your ID, most desks also ask for a card: I’ll just need a credit card for incidentals. Incidentals are the deposit and anything charged beyond the room. Just hand the card over.

3. What time do I have to check out?

Have to means “must,” so you’re asking for the deadline. Shorter: What time is check-out?

Some desks mention late check-out on their own, like in this conversation. If you want it, ask: Could I get a late check-out?

4. Could I have a quiet room?

Could I have… is a safe way to start any request at the desk: polite without sounding stiff, and it fits most things you’ll want.

You can be more specific: Could I have a room away from the elevator? Or: Could I have a room on a higher floor?

If they say “Let me see what I have,” they’re checking which rooms are free. Give them a moment.

Now say it yourself

Here are your four lines, with less help each round. Say every round out loud, not just in your head.

Round one, read it:

Yes, under Wang. Two nights, please. / Here’s my passport. Is breakfast included? / Great. What time do I have to check out? / Thank you. Could I have a quiet room?

Round two, a few key words gone:

Yes, _____ Wang. Two ______, please. / Here’s my ________. Is breakfast ________? / Great. What ____ do I have to _____ out? / Thank you. Could I have a _____ ____?

Round three, first letters only:

Y__, u____ W___. T__ n_____, p_____. / H_____ my p_______. Is b________ i_______? / G____. W___ t___ do I h___ to c____ o__? / T____ y__. C____ I h___ a q____ r___?

Round four, only what you need to do:

Give the name on the booking and the number of nights. / Hand over your passport and ask if breakfast is part of the rate. / Ask what time you must leave the room. / Thank them and ask for a quiet room.

If you can get through round four, you won’t need to think about it next time you’re at the desk.

Keep practicing

This conversation is free in Unscript. The front desk’s lines are read aloud in natural English, each sentence you say is checked word by word, and the script comes away in four stages, much like the drill above: open the check-in conversation.

The same hotel situation also has conversations for arriving early and leaving your bags, something broken in the room, and checking out. Different sentences, same way of practicing.