Booking &Travel English
Functional language for transport, hotels and travel problems
Your level · You are here
Get Talking · Section 1
5 minStart the conversation
What was the last thing you booked for a trip — flight, room, restaurant? In English or your language?
Tell me about a small travel problem you sorted out in another language.
Where's the line between politely complaining and being pushy?
Grammar · Section 2
8–10 minIndirect questions and polite requests — the toolkit of travel English
- Direct questions ('What time is breakfast?') are fine, but travel English leans on INDIRECT questions because they sound friendlier, especially with strangers.
- The structure: opener + normal word order.
- Openers: COULD YOU TELL ME…?, DO YOU KNOW…?, I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD…, WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO…?
- Examples: 'Could you tell me WHAT TIME breakfast IS?' (not '…what time is breakfast?') / 'Do you know IF the bus STOPS at the airport?' / 'I was wondering if I COULD CHECK IN a bit earlier.' For yes/no questions, use IF or WHETHER inside the indirect form.
- For polite requests, COULD I…?, WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO…?, and IS THERE ANY WAY YOU COULD…? all soften the ask without lengthening it much.
Could you tell me what time check-in starts?
Do you know if there's a direct train to the airport?
I was wondering if I could leave my bags here until three.
Would it be possible to change the room? Ours is right next to the lift.
Is there any way you could move us to a quieter table?
Question 1.Choose the indirect version: 'What time is breakfast?'
Question 2.Choose: 'Do you know ____ the museum is open on Sundays?'
Question 3.Which is the politest?
Question 4.Choose: 'I was ____ if I could check in early.'
Build the sentence → spot the natural chunks → say it aloud → reply like a real conversation.
1.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
2.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
3.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
4.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
Quick check 1.Which sounds most natural at a hotel reception?
Vocabulary · Section 3
5–7 minWords & phrases to learn
to check in / check out
arrive / leave a hotel formally
In context
"We can check in any time after three."
Now try it yourself
What time did you last check in somewhere?
a single / double / twin room
1 bed / 1 big bed / 2 single beds
In context
"I'd like a twin room for two nights, please."
Now try it yourself
Which would you book for yourself, and why?
fully booked
no availability left
In context
"Sorry, we're fully booked for tonight."
Now try it yourself
When was the last time something was 'fully booked' on you?
a late check-out
permission to leave the room after the standard time
In context
"Could we have a late check-out — say, two o'clock?"
Now try it yourself
Politely request a late check-out from your teacher.
to misplace something
to lose something temporarily (polite for 'lost')
In context
"I think I've misplaced my room key."
Now try it yourself
Report a 'misplaced' item to your teacher.
a delay / to be delayed
later than scheduled
In context
"Our train's been delayed by about forty minutes."
Now try it yourself
Tell me about your worst travel delay.
a connecting flight / train
the next leg of your journey
In context
"I've got a connecting flight at five — will I make it?"
Now try it yourself
Have you ever missed a connecting flight or train?
to sort something out
to fix or resolve a problem
In context
"Don't worry, we'll sort it out for you."
Now try it yourself
Describe a small problem you sorted out on a trip.
Pick at least three words from above and use each one in a sentence about your real life. Say each one aloud before you write.
Ask your teacher (or a partner) a question that uses one of today's words. They reply using a different word.
Rank today's words from most to least useful for you this week. Defend your top choice.
Finish: "Honestly, I'd say…" using one of today's words.
Tip: aim to reuse at least two of these words later in the Speaking and Writing tasks.
Tap an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.
Pronunciation · Section 4
3–4 minPolite stress and weak forms in indirect questions
Indirect questions get their politeness from MELODY. The opener ('Could you tell me…') drops slightly. The main information word — what / where / when — rises in pitch. The end falls. 'Could you tell me — WHAT TIME — breakfast IS↘.' Weak forms matter too: 'could you' becomes /kʊdʒə/, 'do you' becomes /djə/. Pronouncing every syllable carefully actually sounds LESS polite — it sounds clipped. Smooth, weak openers + clear key word = naturally polite English.
- • /kʊdʒə/ tell me what time CHECK-IN starts↘
- • /djə/ know if the BUS stops here↘
- • I was WONdering if I could have a LATE check-out↘
- • Would it be POSSible to change our TABle↘
Reading · Section 5
8–10 minSorting out a midnight check-in
By the time the taxi pulled up outside the hotel, it was nearly one in the morning. Our flight had been delayed by four hours, we'd missed our connecting train, and we were absolutely shattered. The receptionist — Aleksandra, by her badge — took one look at us and smiled. 'Long day?' she said.
I did the thing my teacher had drilled into me: don't apologise for being tired, don't dump the whole story, just be polite and specific. 'Hi — really sorry it's so late. Could you tell me if it's still possible to check in? We had a booking for ten, under Patel.' She nodded, checked the screen, and said the magic words: 'No problem at all — I'll sort it out for you.' Within five minutes she'd upgraded us to a quieter room, organised a late check-out for the next day, and offered us tea. I don't know what English class she'd been to, but it had clearly been a good one. We were asleep by half past one — and the whole exchange had taken sixty seconds of careful, polite English.
Question 1.What caused the writer to arrive at the hotel at nearly one in the morning?
Question 2.Apart from completing the check-in, what two additional things did the receptionist do?
Question 3.The writer says 'don't dump the whole story, just be polite and specific.' What does this suggest?
Question 4.Why does the writer joke 'I don't know what English class she'd been to, but it had clearly been a good one'?
Q1.The receptionist gave them a worse room as a result of the late arrival.
Q2.The polite exchange took about a minute.
Listening · Section 6
8–10 minA traveller sorts out three small problems
Listening audio
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
Show transcript
Tara:Hi, good morning — could you tell me what time check-in starts?
Receptionist:Officially three, but if your room's ready earlier I'll let you in. Name?
Tara:Booking under Khan, for two nights, a double room.
Receptionist:Got it. Actually, your room's ready now — lucky you.
Tara:Oh, brilliant, thank you. One more thing — I was wondering if I could leave my bags down here on the last day until about five? I've got a connecting flight in the evening.
Receptionist:Of course, no problem at all. We'll sort it out.
Tara:Perfect. And — sorry, one more — do you know if breakfast is included?
Receptionist:It is. Six thirty to ten in the room next to reception. There's a vegetarian option and a vegan option — just let the chef know.
Tara:Amazing. One last thing — would it be possible to swap the room if it's noisy? I'm a really light sleeper.
Receptionist:Yours is at the back of the building, so it should be quiet — but if not, just pop down and we'll move you.
Question 1.When does the receptionist say check-in officially starts?
Question 2.Why does Tara want to leave her bags until five on the last day?
Question 3.Tara asks about swapping the room before she has even been in it. What does this suggest about her?
Question 4.The receptionist uses the phrase 'no problem at all' twice. What effect does this have on the conversation?
Exam tip · Section 7
5 minSpeaking — transactional role-play (Cambridge B1 Preliminary Part 2 style)
Task
Role-play arriving at a hotel two hours before check-in time. You have a connecting flight tomorrow evening and need a late check-out. Make THREE polite requests using three DIFFERENT indirect-question or polite-request structures.
Strategy
OPEN with 'Hi, sorry to bother you…' to set a polite tone. USE indirect openers — never start with 'Give me…' or bare 'Can…'. CHAIN requests with 'One more thing — would it be possible to…?' so you don't sound demanding. CLOSE with 'Thank you so much — really appreciate it.' Examiners specifically reward indirect-question structures over direct ones.
Example
Hi, sorry to bother you — could you tell me if early check-in is possible? Our flight got in really early. … Brilliant, thank you. One more thing — I was wondering if we could have a late check-out tomorrow, around two? We've got a connecting flight in the evening. … Perfect. And finally — is there any way you could recommend a quiet café for breakfast nearby? Thank you so much, really appreciate it.
Practice · Section 8
8–10 minFill in the blank
Question 1.Could you tell me what time check-in ____?
Question 2.Do you know ____ breakfast is included?
Question 3.I was ____ if I could have a late check-out.
Question 4.Would it be ____ to change our room?
Question 5.I've got a ____ flight at five — will I make it?
There isn't one "right" answer — write a natural version, then compare with the model.
Q1.Ask politely about breakfast times.
Q2.Request a late check-out indirectly.
Q3.Ask about a transport connection politely.
Q4.Politely raise a problem about a noisy room.
Writing · Section 9
5 minPut it in writing
Your task
Write a 90–120 word email to a hotel before arrival. Request (1) early check-in, (2) a late check-out on the last day, and (3) confirmation about breakfast. Use at least THREE different indirect-question / polite-request structures.
Your answer
Your work saves automatically0 words
Show model answer
Subject: Booking ref 8842 — a few quick questions Hi, I'm getting in touch ahead of our stay (Friday–Monday, booking 8842). I was wondering if early check-in might be possible on the Friday — our flight lands at 11am and we'd love to drop our bags. On the Monday, would it be possible to have a late check-out, around two? We've got a connecting flight in the evening. Could you also tell me whether breakfast is included in our rate, and what time it's served? Lastly, do you know if there's a direct bus from the airport, or would you recommend a taxi? Thank you so much — really appreciate any help you can offer. Best, Alex
Speaking · Section 10
10–15 minMake it a real conversation
Role-play with your teacher (or a partner): a hotel reception scene. Student is the guest, teacher is the receptionist (then swap). Guest must make at least FOUR polite requests using FOUR different indirect/polite structures, and handle ONE problem (noisy room, missing booking, broken hairdryer). No starting a sentence with 'Give me…' or 'I want…'.
Useful phrases
- • Could you tell me…?
- • Do you know if…?
- • I was wondering if I could…
- • Would it be possible to…?
- • Is there any way you could…?
Speaking reflection & notes
Your work saves automatically0 words
- AHi, can I help you?
- B_______________
- AOf course — it's on the card here.
- B_______________
- ANo problem at all — we'll sort it out.
- B_______________
Homework · Section 11
Take-homeTake it home
Record a 60-second voice note checking into a hotel. Make three polite requests using three different structures.
Write a 110-word email to a hotel before your stay. Use three indirect questions.
Watch a 5-minute travel-show check-in scene and note 5 polite phrases the traveller uses.
Homework notes
Your work saves automatically0 words
Recap · Section 12
2–3 minWhat you've learned
- Indirect openers: Could you tell me…? / Do you know…? / I was wondering if… / Would it be possible to…?
- After the opener, use NORMAL word order — not question word order.
- Use 'if' for yes/no info: 'Do you know IF breakfast is included?'
- Polite travel set phrases: late check-out · connecting flight · sort it out · no problem at all.
- Chain requests with 'One more thing…' to avoid sounding demanding.