BEGINNER ENGLISH TRAVEL VOCABULARY
Let’s define the vocabulary first:
- A hotel is a building in which travellers can stay for a short or long time. They have to pay for their accommodation and meals. Hotels can also have a restaurant, a tourist shop, a swimming pool, a fitness centre, a spa and a conference room. This establishment can also offer laundry service to clients. Hotels are often rated from one to five stars. Have you ever stayed in a five-star hotel?
- A youth hostel as its name suggests is mainly for young travellers on a budget. These shared lodgings are cheap and affordable. Youth hostels are a good way of meeting new people and knowing local culture.
- A motel is an establishment usually found on major highways. It offers affordable accommodation to people travelling by car. These travellers can easily access their rooms from the car park.
- A lodge is a house that is usually located in the countryside. One can rent a room in such a house and enjoy the natural surroundings. Owners often offer other local activities such as fishing and hiking.
- Airbnb stands for Airbed and Breakfast. Airbnb is, in fact, a popular company that Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia founded in 2008. The firm provides an online service that allows property owners to rent out their house or flat to travellers for short-term stays. Breakfast can be served or not depending on the hosts’ wishes.
- A cottage is a small single-family house that is usually found in the countryside. It often has a unique rural architectural site and offers cozy and comfortable accommodation to travellers.
- An aparthotel is a building with several apartments that are available for rent to short-term and long-term guests. As you can notice, ‘apart’ comes from ‘apartment’.
- A B&B is a type of accommodation that owners offer to travellers usually for a short period of time. B&B stands for Bed and Breakfast. As the name suggests, clients rent a room or several rooms and the price includes a free breakfast. Guests can interact with their hosts or not. This type of accommodation is often found in areas where tourists love to go.
- A tent is a cheap, temporary, foldable and movable shelter. It is made of fabric and supported by poles and ropes. One usually sleeps in a tent on a campsite. There are many different sizes of tents.
- A camper van is a vehicle that contains cooking equipment and a sleeping area with a bed or more. This means that the van is multi-purpose: you can move about, cook and sleep, all in one place! Incredible!
Your turn: Where do you usually sleep when you are on vacation? Can you think of other places where you can get accommodation while travelling? Make at least 2 sentences!
Beginner English Travel Vocabulary: Choosing Your Accommodation
Download blank table: Beginner English Travel Vocabulary (How to Book Accommodation)
Your Turn: Which type of accommodation do you like? Why?
As for me, I like cottages because they are charming. They also remind me of my childhood holidays at lake Malawi.
Beginner English Travel Vocabulary: How to Book Accommodation
Beginner English Travel Vocabulary —Sample Conversation 1 (Solo Traveller):
Receptionist 1: Hello, Karibu Hotel. How can I help you?
Guest 1: I’d like to book a single room for the first week of August.
Receptionist 1: I’m afraid we are fully booked during that period. Would you like to choose another date?
Guest 1: Sure! What about the following week?
Receptionist 1: That will be all right. Is the room for a single person?
Guest 1: Yes, I am travelling alone.
Receptionist 1: All right. The price of the room is 40 dollars per night including taxes and you have a free continental breakfast.
Guest 1: Thank you. Do I need to pay a deposit?
Receptionist 1: Yes, you need to leave us your credit card information. Please send us an email at karibuhotel@gmail.com with all the details: name, payment details, arrival and departure dates and specific needs.
Guest 1: Okay, I will do that. Thank you very much. Goodbye and until next time!
Beginner English Travel Vocabulary Essentials(1): To make a reservation; a single room; to be fully booked; the price of the room; to have a free continental breakfast; to pay a deposit; credit card information; arrival date; departure date
Beginner English Travel Vocabulary —Sample Conversation 2 (Couple):
Receptionist 2: Hello, Karibu Hotel. How can I assist you?
Guest 2: My wife and I would like to make a reservation for next weekend. Do you have any double rooms available?
Receptionist 2: Yes, we do. You are actually very lucky because a couple just cancelled a reservation a few minutes ago.
Guest 2: That’s good news!
Receptionist 2: However, the room has twin beds and not a double bed. Do you mind that?
Guest 2: No, I don’t. Do you have a spa and a swimming pool?
Receptionist 2: Yes, we do. We also have a souvenir shop and a sauna. You can also choose between a continental breakfast and an English breakfast at our international restaurant. Room service is available from 7 o’clock in the morning to 9 o’clock in the evening.
Guest 2: That’s fantastic! How much is the room?
Receptionist 2: Can you repeat your question please? I can’t hear you very well.
Guest 2: How much does the room cost?
Receptionist 2: It’s 150 euros per night and you have to pay half the amount in advance. You can cancel your reservation not later than two days before your arrival. We will send you a link by email where you can make the payment.
Guest 2: All right. I will make the reservation.
Receptionist 2: What’s your name and email address sir?
Guest 2: My first name is John and my last name is Mwale. My wife’s first name is Jane. My email address is johnmwale@gmail.com.
Receptionist 2: I confirm your reservation for next weekend starting from Friday to Sunday. Is that correct?
Guest 2: Yes madam.
Receptionist 2: We will shortly send you an email with all the necessary information. Do check your spam box as well.
Guest 2: All right, Thank you. I will be waiting for your email.
Receptionist 2: Can I help you with something else?
Guest 2: No that will be all, thank you.
Beginner English Travel Vocabulary Essentials(2): to make a reservation; to cancel a reservation; twin beds; double bed; a souvenir shop; English breakfast; How much is the room?; How much does the room cost?; to make a payment; to confirm a reservation; to send an email.
Further Exploration: Beginner English Travel Vocabulary
Download:
- Beginner English Travel Vocabulary (Lesson 1): How to Easily Book Accommodation for Your Fantastic Trip (Level A1-A2), Learn English With Africa, June 2023
- Beginner English Travel Vocabulary (Part 1): Different Types of Accommodation, Learn English With Africa, June 2023
- Beginner English Travel Vocabulary (Making Choices), Learn English With Africa, June 2023
Read:
- English Summer Vocabulary : Lesson 3— What Do You Like to Do in Summer? (with Effective Charts), Learn English With Africa, June 2021
- Useful English Summer Vocabulary: Lesson 2—Where Do You Usually Go in Summer, Learn English With Africa, June 2021
- English Summer Vocabulary: Lesson 1—What Do You Like About Summer?, Learn English With Africa, June 2021
Shop:
About the Author
Thandi Ngwira Gatignol is the founder of Learn English With Africa. She was born on June 11th, 1981 in Blantyre, Malawi. When she was 19, she left her country of birth for France. She currently lives with her two daughters and husband in Poland.
Thandi holds a Bachelor’s degree in English studies obtained at the Université Paris X Nanterre in France and a Certificate in Journalism from Malawi. She has taught English as a French Ministry of Education certified teacher both in France and in Poland. She speaks six languages fluently, including French, Polish and Italian. She is now learning Kiswahili, German and Spanish. Salt No More is her debut novel and you can find her other books here on the website or on Amazon.
Course Title: Beginner English Travel Vocabulary (Lesson 1): How to Easily Book Accommodation for Your Fantastic Trip (Level A1-A2)© Learn English With Africa, June 2023
