At a hotel

Receptionist: Good afternoon, sir. Can I help you?

Traveller: Good afternoon. Have you a single room with a

bathroom, please?

Receptionist: Yes, I can do a single room for you this evening. Would it only be for one night?

Traveller: For two nights.

Receptionist: For two nights.

Traveller: How much do you charge for a room?

Receptionist: Our terms are 16.50 pounds plus VAT, and that includes a full English breakfast, so altogether that is 18.98 pounds.

Traveller: So it’s 18.98 pounds altogether, including break­

fast.

Receptionist: And VAT, yes.

Traveller: Uh-huh. That’s with a bathroom, isn’t it?

Receptionist: Yes, all the rooms have private bathroom, colour television, complimentary fruit.

Traveller: And can I get dinner here?

Receptionist: We do serve dinner, yes. We have a choice of three restaurants; we have the Garden restaurant, which is on the ground floor, which has an a la carte

menu and a table d’hote menu; we have a Steak-

house, which is for quick meal; and also have the Room at the Top on the 6^th floor, which is a dis­co and cabaret.

Traveller: I see. Well, could I book a room for two nights

then, please?

Receptionist: Yes, certainly, but I’m afraid I will have to ask you for payment in advance with it being an uncon­firmed booking.

Traveller: So you’d like the whole amount in advance,

wouldn’t you?

Receptionist: Yes, please. Is that all right?

Traveller: Yes, that’s all right.

Receptionist: Would you like to register then, please? And the name is...

Traveller: Ross.

Receptionist: So, that’s, Mr Ross, one single for two nights.

Traveller: ' Right.

Receptionist: And that’ll be 37.96 pounds, please, Mr Ross. Thank you.

Hraveller: Thank you.

Receptionist: That’s your receipt. You may have a full copy of the bill in the morning. And here’s your key. That’s room 125, Mr Ross, and you’ll find that

room on the first floor. Take the lift just to your left there up to the first floor.

Traveller: Thank you very much. And what time is break­

fast?

Receptionist: Breakfast is from seven until ten.

Traveller: From seven until ten.

Receptionist: In the garden Restaurant on the ground floor.

Traveller: Uh-huh. And could I have an early call, please?

Receptionist: You, certainly, can. What time?

Traveller: At seven o’clock, please.

Receptionist: Would you like a morning paper?

Traveller: Yes, I’ll have an Express, please.

Receptionist: Right. So seven o’clock early call and an Express.

Traveller: Right. Thank you.

ACTIVITY

1. Make up questions to the text and then discuss them in class.

Hints for hotel guests

When travelling people almost always stay at hotels. It is ad­visable, therefore, to keep in mind the following:

1. The first thing to do is to book a room in advance either by letter, telephone or fax. Otherwise you may arrive at the hotel and be told that there are no rooms.

2. On arrival at the hotel go to the reception desk in the lob­by and confirm your reservation. The clerk will then give you a registration form to fill in and sign. The form is to be filled in block letters. In smaller hotels you simply sign the visitor’s book and give your permanent address.

3. At large hotels you may ask for any service by phone. Tell the operator if you wish to be called at a certain time. Call room service when you want a meal or drinks sent up to your room. Call valet or maid service if you need your suit or dress cleaned or pressed.

4. Let the hotel management know well in advance the day and time of your departure. Vacate your room before noon. 12 o’clock is the international check-out time. If for some reason you stayed longer, you would have to pay for another night.

2. Look at the information about Ritz Paris Hotel and an­swer the questions:

1. How can you get to Ritz Paris Hotel?

2. How many suites and rooms are there?

3. How many different places serve food or beverages?

^/ Ritz Paris ^N