Text 12. At the Hotel

Exercise 1. Read the text.

When travelling it is convenient to stay in a hotel. The best way is to reserve a room in advance. Those who travel much know that sometimes tourists experience certain difficulties with booking a room at a suitable hotel. At the height of the season a sign “No Vacancies” can be often seen at the desk-clerk.

But if you are lucky with booking a room you will enjoy your rest. In this case you must first go through some formalities. The receptionist will hand you an arrival card which all guests are required to fill in. The following information is required:

1. Full name

2. Place of permanent residence

3. Passport No.

After filling in the arrival card you must pay for all accommodation. The price depends on the duration of your staying at the hotel and the number of rooms booked. When all the formalities are over the receptionist hands you the key and you may go upstairs to occupy the room. At the hotel you will find rooms with or without bath, single rooms, double rooms and complete suits consisting of two or more rooms.

Once you decide to stay in the hotel you are referred to as a “guest”. You will find notices everywhere reminding guests to leave their keys at the desk when going out. All the keys are hung on a special keyrack.

In the lobby you will usually find a newspaper stall and stalls where souvenirs are sold. Most of hotels have snack bars, coffee-bars and restaurants.

The receptionist will answer all your questions and give you any information you need. Many hotels run a special laundry service for their guests. You can have your laundry done and your clothes ironed. The maid does your room every morning so you needn’t even make your bed. At the entrance of the hotel there stands a doorman whose duty is opening the door for those who enter or leave the hotel, hailing taxicabs, calling a porter and so on.

Guests are required to notify the clerk in advance about leaving so that he could have the bill ready for them in time.

Exercise 2. Answer the questions.

1. Why do travelers usually reserve rooms at the hotels in advance?

2. Is it easy to reserve a room at the hotel in your city?

3. What are the duties of a receptionist?

4. What services do hotels usually run?

5. What information is required for filling in the arrival card?

6. What kinds of rooms are available at the hotels?

Text 13. Hotel Service

Execise 1. Read the text and choose the most suitable hotel for you.

Hotels in the UK may be divided into several categories. The most expensive ones are the Luxe hotels, only millionaires can afford to live there. The next category is the Charming Town House hotels combing good service with relatively inexpensive price (in comparison with the first category). The third category includes relatively cheap hotels located mainly near major railway stations. The fourth category comprises Boarding Houses, Bed and Breakfast (B&B) and inns. The cheapest hotels to live in are Youth Hostels, Youth Holiday Centres, Country Guest Houses. In Great Britain the cost of staying in the hotel often includes the cost of breakfast. There are two variants: continental breakfast (tea or coffee and bread with butter or jam) and English breakfast (flakes with milk, juice, bacon and eggs, tomatoes, white bread and others).