Hotels: Checking In and Out
Jane: I think many hotels inform you about the rules you are expected to observe. And I wonder if they are so important. And, indeed, are they so important?
Frank: My impression is that they are important. It makes it possible for hotel management to ensure security for your stay in a hotel.
Jane: Frank, can you give an example? Okay, for example, some people may forget to lock the doors of their rooms. So you may be reminded there are easily operating magnetic chips that you must use when leaving a room. It is not difficult at all but very important.
Frank: What worries me most are valuables.Where should I keep them?
Jane: Place them in a safe deposit box. I am sure they'll remain safe there.
Frank: Suppose that I have some preferences (about location of rooms, view out of the window, conveniences, etc.), whom should I tell about it? Usually people talk about it with a desk clerk (at the reception). After all, it's his business to greet the guests and find out what their preferences are. Do you share my view, Jane?
Jane: Is it important to find outwhen you have to check out?
Frank: Certainly! There is a penalty for late checkout. You must remember about this.
Jane: If my luggage is too heavy, can Iexpect a help?
Frank: Certainly! And don't forget about proper payment of bills.And get a receipt.
Jane: Hotel rules, you say. Are pets allowed?
Frank: Not in this hotel.
Jane: And I wonder where the hotel restaurant is.
Frank: The restaurant is not too far from the lobby.
Jane: Speaking of hotels, are they primarily all over the city or in suburbia as well?
Frank: I think they are all over.
Jane: What about the term "hotel accommodation"? I hear that some people sometimes say accommodations.
Frank: Well, if you speak British English, you should say accommodation. But if you speak American English, you will use the word accommodations (the plural). But it's all the same. No difference at all! It's just a matter of usage. Don't worry about that!
Jane: Have you got to pay for the setting around your room?
Frank: You, probably, mean if the setting requires extra charge? Of course, it does. Sure thing, it's much better if your hotel overlooks, let's say, a garden, a palace, or a nice street. It is also good if your street is police-patrolled. But the price of such accommodation will be higher. So it boils down to this. If you want to have a magnificent room facing a magnificent view, you have to pay good money for magnificence.
Jane: I see. And what about mid-price hotels?
Frank: There are plenty of them in most of the capitalsof Europe. Some of them have even hotel fitness centres.
Jane: Okay. Suppose that I'd like to get an accommodation in a mid-price hotel. But it may be rather far from tourist sights. So what's to be done?
Frank: If you, Jane, want to gain in prices, yes, your hotel may be far away from the centre (= from the downtown area). As to fitness halls, they are needed everywhere.
Jane: I suppose for fitness fanatics!
Frank: You may be ironic and put it anyway you like, Jane. But this shouldn't worry us too much. The important thing is that there is a fitness centre. And if it is at the top of the hotel or right in its basement, who cares? What you should take into account, however, when choosing your hotel, it is the hotel facilities as such plus prime sites. For example, if good shops are around, and there are museums there, and art galleries, and restaurants, and what not, all this is superb. Because this is not only convenient but, moreover, this way you can save on transport costs and save time too.
Jane: Do hotel rates depend on the time you come (in winter, in spring, summer, autumn)?
Frank: Certainly, Jane. Let me give you some hard facts. In all transient hotels(as they are sometimes called), the prices, as a rule, are rather high. This is how things stand in many countries of the world. The price rangemay be wide enough. A single roomis much cheaper than a double room.There is a vast difference between high-seasonand low-season hotel rates.Remember this. Ask for lower rates,especially if it is not high season yet. So, what are the rates? They are usually given in guidebooks as a guideline.If you want to stay for a longer period, don't fail to mention this fact when talking about your stay. Make your reservations in advance.Also remember that cheaper places may not accept reservations.
Jane: But I can phone ahead, can't I?
Frank: Sure, you can. If it is holiday times and there are a lot of local events, this is one situation. But times change. Hard times may come. Anyway, reservations may be made for months ahead. It's your right, you know. After all, you pay the money. Make your own decision. Normally you have to give them a credit card number to hold a room for you, or at least to keep your problem in mind.
Jane: And what happens if I don't show? Frank: Well, this also happens. You'll have to call them in that case. Remember that if you don't show and don't call them to cancel your reservation, you'll be charged some sum of money, for example, you'll be charged the first night's rental. These are the rales of many hotels.
Jane: The cancellation procedure, I believe, is the same all around Europe, isn't it?
Frank: No, not at all. As a matter of fact, it often varies. Much depends on the time (season), the country you go to and the traditional practice.
Jane: And I suppose it may vary taking into account the calibre of a guest.
Frank: All right. Or if you are a business traveller and you often stay at that hotel, their attitude may be different.
Vocabulary for the Topic: Hotels: Checking In and Out
В & Bs (bed and breakfast) проживання в умовах «ночівля і сніданок»
Basic основний
basic hotel facilities основні зручності готелю
book one's accommodation забронювати номер/проживання
central locations в центрі
checkout time час виписки з готелю
class of service категорія обслуговування
cocktail lounge салон-бар
conveniences зручності
desk clerk працівник готелю
double bed двоспальне ліжко
double room двомісний номер
ensure hotel security забезпечувати безпеку проживання в готелі
family-run guesthouse дім для гостей, що використовується сім’єю
find out when... дізнатися коли...
fold-out beds складні ліжка (в номері)
front desk регістратура (в готелі)
hostel гуртожиток
hostelling associations асоціації гуртожитків
hotel reservations бронювання номера в готелі
hotel restaurant ресторан готелю
in suburbia за містом
inexpensive hotel недорогой готель
international student houses міжнародні студентські доми/гуртожитки
keep the valuables зберігати цінності
lodging житло
luggage is too heavy багаж надто важкий
matter of usage питання використання
may be made available вам можуть надати
medium-priced hotels готелі з середньою ціною
meeting room зала для зібрань
prime sites цікаві місця (для туристів)
receipt квитанція
to observe виконувати
single bed односпальне ліжко
single room одномісний номер
tourist sights визначні пам’ятки
youth hostels молодіжні гуртожитки
1. Answer the following questions to the dialogue:
1) If you know the prices and phone numbers, is it difficult to reserve hotel accommodation?
2) Do you prefer to stay at a hotel because there is no other place to stay at?
3) What locations are you interested in: in the centre (downtown areas) or in the country?
4) What is a guesthouse?
5) Do you know what В & Bs stands for? Explain it.
6) If a hotel clerk says that a room will soon be available to you, what does he mean?
7) Frank says: "I see what you are driving at." What does he mean? (Paraphrase it.)
8) How can you characterize lodge hotels? What do they represent?
9) Do you like nature around you? Why? Does it make you feel better?
10) What can you say about class of service in different hotels?
11) What does it mean to be on the budget?
12) What are the basic hotel facilities? Having a private bathroom? A pigeon hole (at the reception)? A swimming pool? A gym )? A restaurant? A mini-bar in your room? A room service?
13) What are the advantages and disadvantages of an inexpensive hotel?
14) If a street is police-patrolled, is it safer?
15) What tourist sights are most interesting to you?
16) Do hotel rates depend on the time of the year?
17) Is it important to confirm or cancel your hotel reservation at the right time?
18) Do you book your hotel accommodations yourself?
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