Travel Basics
Airport and hotel English.
Learn key travel vocabulary and useful sentences for the airport and a hotel.
Look & say · Step 1
5 minGet ready
When did you last take a flight?
Do you prefer hotels or apartments?
Big suitcase or small?
Words to learn · Step 2
8 minNew words today
flight
A plane journey
"My flight is at 8 a.m."
passport
Travel ID document
"Show me your passport, please."
boarding pass
Ticket to board the plane
"Here is my boarding pass."
gate
Door to the plane
"Gate 14 is over there."
suitcase / luggage
Your travel bag(s)
"I have one suitcase."
window/aisle seat
Seat by the window / corridor
"Could I have an aisle seat?"
hotel
Place to stay
"Our hotel is near the beach."
check in / check out
Arrive/leave a hotel
"Check-in is at 3 p.m."
room (single/double)
Hotel room
"I have a double room."
key card
Card to open the room
"Here is your key card."
breakfast
Morning meal
"Breakfast is from 7 to 10."
Wi-Fi
Internet
"Is the Wi-Fi free?"
Activate · Personalise · Recycle
Use these words now
Make each sentence true for you. Say it aloud to a partner.
suitcase / luggage
"For me, suitcase / luggage is …"
Finish the sentence with your own idea.
flight
"For me, flight is …"
Finish the sentence with your own idea.
breakfast
"For me, breakfast is …"
Finish the sentence with your own idea.
You'll meet these words again in Reading, Listening, Speaking and Homework.
Tap an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.
Sounds & saying · Step 3
5 minNumbers & gates
Listen carefully to numbers: 13 /θɜːˈtiːn/ vs 30 /ˈθɜːti/. At the airport, gate numbers and times are key.
- • Gate 13.
- • Gate 30.
- • Flight BA 215.
- • Boarding at 7:45.
- • Room 412.
Language focus · Step 4
10 minPolite requests for travel
Quick rule
Polite requests for travel
At the airport and hotel use polite phrases: 'Could I have…?', 'Is there…?', 'Where is…?', 'How much…?' These are friendly and useful in many situations.
Could I have a window seat, please?
Where is gate 14?
Is there Wi-Fi in the room?
How much is breakfast?
I'd like to check in, please.
Question 1.___ I have a window seat?
Question 2.___ is gate 14?
Question 3.___ there Wi-Fi here?
Question 4.I'd ___ to check in.
Rebuild each line, spot the natural chunks, then practise responding aloud.
Quick check 1.Polite request:
Quick check 2.Asking location:
Reading · Step 5
7 minArriving at the hotel
Maria arrives at her hotel at 4 p.m. 🏨 She goes to reception. 'Hello, I have a reservation under Maria Lopez.' The receptionist smiles. 'Welcome! Your passport, please.' 🛂 Maria shows her passport. 'You're in room 412, on the fourth floor. 🛏️ Here is your key card. 🔑 Breakfast is from 7 to 10 in the restaurant. 🥐 The Wi-Fi password is on the back of this card. 📶 Check-out is at 11 a.m.' Maria says thank you and takes the lift to her room.
Question 1.What is Maria's room number?
Question 2.When is breakfast?
Question 3.When is check-out?
Q1.Maria's room is on the second floor.
Q2.The Wi-Fi password is on the back of the key card.
Listening · Step 6
10 minAt the check-in desk
Listening audio
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
Agent
Good morning, can I see your passport and boarding pass, please?
Tom
Sure, here you are.
Agent
Thank you. How many bags are you checking in?
Tom
Just one. And one small bag with me.
Agent
Perfect. Would you like a window or an aisle seat?
Tom
A window seat, please.
Agent
Done. Your flight leaves from gate 22 at 10:45. Have a good trip!
Tom
Thank you!
Question 1.How many bags does Tom check in?
Question 2.What seat does he choose?
Question 3.What is the gate number?
Practice · Step 7
8 minChoose the word
Question 1.Could I have a ___ seat, please?
Question 2.Show me your ___, please.
Question 3.Your room is on the fourth ___.
Question 4.Breakfast is from 7 ___ 10.
Q1.Document for travel:
Q2.Place to board the plane:
Survival English · Step 8
4 minSpeaking — travel roleplay
Task
In pairs, do a roleplay: A is at hotel reception, B is the guest checking in. Then swap and do an airport check-in.
Strategy
Use polite phrases: 'Could I…?', 'I'd like…', 'Thank you'. Always greet and say goodbye.
Example
Good evening. I'd like to check in, please. — Of course, your name? — Smith. — Could I see your passport? — Here you are.
Writing · Step 9
5 minWrite a little
Your task
Write a short travel conversation (8 lines) at a hotel OR an airport.
Show model answer
A: Good evening. I'd like to check in. B: Of course. Your name, please? A: Sara Lee. B: Thank you. Could I see your passport? A: Here you are. B: You're in room 305. Breakfast is from 7 to 10. A: Great, thank you!
Speaking · Step 10
12 minTalk together
Pairs: roleplay 2 travel scenes (airport check-in + hotel reception). Swap roles.
Useful phrases
- • I'd like to check in, please.
- • Could I have ___?
- • Where is ___?
- • How much is ___?
- • Is there ___?
- ACould I see your passport, please?
- B_______________
- AWindow or aisle seat?
- B_______________
- AIs there Wi-Fi in the room?
- B_______________
Homework · Step 11
Take-homePractice at home
Learn 12 travel words.
Write a hotel check-in dialogue (8 lines).
Record yourself doing airport check-in.
Recap · Step 12
3 minWhat you learned
- ✈️ You know airport vocabulary.
- 🏨 You can check in at a hotel.
- 🗣️ You can make polite travel requests.
- ✍️ You can write a short travel dialogue.