Putting up at a Hotel

“Where are we going now, Richard? ”

“I’m taking you to your hotel. We are going in my car. Here it is.”

“It is very nice. Is it new? ”

“Yes, it’s comfortable too. Let’s put your luggage in the boot, Paul”.

We got to the car and started off. Richard was driving slowly because there were a lot of cars on the road. There was a lot of traffic at that time.

Some time later we turned into Park Lane. There it was, “the Hyde Park Court”, the hotel I was going to stay at. That was a new hotel and looked pleasant.

“Let’s park there and take your luggage in”

Paul’s room was on the third floor, number 38. It was a single room with bath and it also has a telephone. The bathroom had a washbasin, a toilet and a shower with hot and cold water. There were two cupboards and some drawers for the guest’s clothes. The room also had two small tables with some books and magazines on them. The telephone was right at the bedside.

Paul’s room was small but it had a large window and a balcony. So the room looked light and cosy.

Task 3. Try to answer the following questions:

1. Where were the two men going?

2. Were they going in a taxi?

3. Where did they put the luggage?

4. Was Richard going fast or slowly? Why?

5. What was the name of Paul’s hotel?

6. Was that an old hotel?

7. Was there a park car under the hotel?

8. Where was Paul’s room?

9. Was No. 38 a single or a double room?

10. What was there in the bathroom?

11. What else was there in the room?

12. What made the room light and cosy?

Task 4. Please write a letter to your friend/parents describing the room at the hotel where you are staying now.

Model: Begin your letter like this:

My dear Robert

I’m writing this letter to you from my room at the Sheraton Inn hotel. I like my room very much, because it is very cosy and quiet. There is…

(ideas: a single room, a suite, nice, rather noisy, noisy, light, large, small, not very good, a bed, a sofa, armchairs, a bedside table, a lamp, TV, a video, a refrigerator, etc.)

Task 5. You are an agent at the tourist bureau. Try to help your client to find good accommodation that will suit him/her.

Task 6. Imagine that you are staying at a hotel. Invite your friend to your room and show it to him/her.

Task 7. You are not satisfied with your room. Phone the receptionist, say what you don’t like in your room and ask to change the room.

Task 8. You are the owner of a hotel. Try to attract as many guests as possible to your hotel.

Task 9. You have come to London. You are looking for a place to stay in. You want maximum convenience and comfort, but you are economical and don’t like wasting money. Make up the following conversation:

Clerk: Good morning, sir. Can I help you?

You: (Скажите, что Вам нужен одноместный номер с душем, туалетом и континентальным завтраком на одну неделю)

Clerk: I’m sorry, sir. I’m afraid we have no rooms with a shower available at the moment.

You: (Спросите его, можно ли снять номер с ванной)

Clerk: let me see… yes, there are some rooms.

You: (Спросите сколько стоит такой номер)

Clerk: 20 pounds a night.

You: (Спросите нет ли у них более дешевых номеров)

Clerk: I’m afraid not. It’s the cheapest.

You: (Спросите нет ли поблизости более дешевого отеля)

Clerk: You may try the Northern Star Hotel. It’s near the station on Davies street.

You: (поблагодарите клерка)

Task 10. Make up a Conversation:

Staying at a hotel

R: Good afternoon, sir. What can I do for you?

S: __________________________

R: Wait a minute, please. I’ll check it. Yes, that’s right. One single room with private bath for today. Will Miss Smirnova register, please?

Sm: _________________________

R: Your name and address, please.

Sm: _________________________

R: Bed and breakfast is fifty euro.

Sm: _________________________

R: Yes, of course.

Sm: _________________________

R: Breakfast is served from 7 to 9. Here is your key.

Sm: _________________________

1) What’s the rate for a single room with a bath?

2) Good afternoon. We have reserved accommodation for Miss Smirnova at your hotel.

3) What time is breakfast served here?

4) Thank you very much.

5) Is there a TV set and a telephone in the room?

6) What shall I write in the arrival card?

Task 11. Learn and use in your communicating activity the following words:

Here we are!

Are we going to stay here?

This is a new modern comfortable hotel, one of the best in Moscow.

That’s sounds nice.

This way, please.

Have a look, gentlemen. There is an exchange office on the right.

You can exchange your money – dollars, pounds, euro - for roubles here.

If you have any problems, turn to the reception.

How much is the room?

A single room is 800 roubles a night.

And now can I have your passport and form, please.

Here are your keys.

My room is 536.

Make a reservation for a room.

Booking confirmation

In advance

Discount

Hotel facilities

The rate includes sauna, gym, parking, safe deposit box.

Check- in- time (заселение в номер, устанавливается администрацией гостиницы)

Check-out-time (выписка из гостиницы, в большинстве гостиниц- 12: 00)

Pay for services

Payment in local currency

Pay cash

Cater

Available

At the moment there are no rooms available.

Task 11. Learn new words on the topic “Guest Services”

Laundry service – прачечная

Valet service – shoe shining, clothes dry-shining and pressing

A bar and a coffee shop – кафе, бар

A bookstore (newsstand) – книжный магазин

A gift shop – магазин подарков

A drugstore – аптека

A luxury hotel – отель-люкс

A barbershop – парикмахерская

A beauty salon – салон красоты

A car rental agency – агентство по прокату автомобилей

A free morning paper – бесплатная утренняя пресса

Free drinks (“cocktails”) – бесплатные напитки

Task 12. Read the following text to understand it.

Guest services

Hotels offer a variety of services to their guests. The most traditional are laundry service (clothing washing) and valet service (shoe shining and clothes dry-cleaning and pressing), although some hotels run them on do-it-yourself basis. A big hotel will also have a restaurant, a bar and a coffee shop, a bookstore or a newsstand, a gift shop selling a variety of souvenirs, and a drugstore providing the guests with medicine and cosmetics. At a luxury hotel one can often find a barbershop and a beauty salon. The guests might also need the services of a car rental agency, to be able to rent a car through the hotel. Many hotels provide a free morning paper and free drinks (“cocktails”) in the afternoon.

Local phone calls are usually free, long distance calls are added to the room bills, and are 2 to 3 times expensive than a pay-phone down in the lobby. You can also order various services from the front desk by dialing “0”.

A number of hotel staff rely on tips to raise their wages. The bellman expects up to $1 per bag for taking your baggage to your room. The hotel doorman gets at least 50 cents if he summons a taxi (and of course your taxi driver should be given 15 percent of fare!). Chambermaids usually receive a few dollars if you stay at a hotel for several days. In restaurants and nightclubs you are expected to tip 15 to 20 percent of the bill (before taxes are added). No tipping is required for elevator operators or hotel desk clerks.

Tipping allows you to reward good service. On the other hand, if the service has been particularly bad no tip need be left. It is a good idea to consider all these expenses when you are anticipating the cost of your stay at a hotel.

Task 13. Study the text and try to find answers to the questions.

1. What is the right place to go to if you want: a) to buy medicine; b) to have your haircut; c) to have your shirt washed; d) to have a light meal; e) to have your clothes pressed; f) to buy a souvenir; g) to rent a car; h) to buy a newspaper?

2. Which services at a hotel: a) are free; b) require tipping; c) can be managed by the guest if he/she doesn’t want to waste money?

Task14. Replace the words and expressions in Italics with expressions from the text which have the same meaning.

1.Our hotel offers its guests both clothes washing and clothes dry-cleaning. 2. At a big hotel one can find a place for cutting men’s hair as well as for cutting and styling women’s hair, for buying cosmetics, for buying souvenirs. 3. You should give a gift of money for personal services. 4. Calls within the local area are usually not to be paid for. 5. Rooms cleaners and baggage carriers expect to be tipped by hotel residents. 6. One can order additional services by phone from the registration desk. 7. The assistant at the door expects to get at least 50 cents if he calls a taxi.

Task 15. Share your experience about staying at a hotel. Use expressions from the text to speak about the following:

3. your first experience in a foreign hotel;

4. your preferences in choosing a hotel;

5. difference between hotels in country and abroad.

Task 17. Everybody hopes to have a great time at the hotel. And it is very important to know all the peculiarities of staying at any hotel. Read the text to understand them.