Travel English: Phrases for the Airport, Hotel, Restaurant and Getting Around

The 10 phrases that cover most of a trip

If you learn only ten lines, learn these. Each one works in several places, and you can swap one word to fit your situation.

Why “Could I…?” and not “I want…”. In English, a polite request usually sounds like a question. “Could I have…?”, “Can I get…?” and “Is there…?” leave room for the other person to say yes, so they sound friendly. “I want a coffee” and “Give me the check” are clear, but they sound blunt, even with “please.” “Can I get…?” is the casual version you’ll hear a lot when people order in the US; “Could I have…?” is a little more polite and works everywhere. “I’d like…” works too: “I’d like a room for two nights.”

Start with “Excuse me” when you need someone’s attention, and keep “Sorry” for when you apologize or didn’t hear. Add “please” to a request and “thank you” when you get what you asked for.

At the airport: check-in, security and the gate

Checking in and dropping off bags

At the counter or the bag drop, the agent asks for your passport, then about bags and seats. Have your passport ready, and listen for two details: the gate and the boarding time.

Words to know: a carry-on is the bag you take on the plane, and a checked bag travels in the hold. Your boarding pass shows your seat, gate and boarding time. A layover or connection is a stop where you change planes.

Daniel checks the gate the moment he isn’t sure. “Sorry, was that B12 or B20?” takes two seconds; walking to the wrong gate can take twenty minutes.

Going through security

Security rules differ by country. In the US, the TSA says liquids in your carry-on must be in travel-size containers of 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less in one quart-size bag, and in the standard lane you take electronics larger than a cell phone out of your bag and put them in a separate bin. Most of what you’ll hear at security is short instructions:

• “Laptops and liquids out, please.” Put them in their own bin.
• “Anything in your pockets?” Empty them into a bin: phone, keys, coins.
• “Step forward.” · “Arms up, please.” · “Wait here, please.”
• “Is this your bag? We need to take a look.” Answer “Yes, it’s mine,” and wait while they check it.

And the questions you may need to ask: “Do I need to take my shoes off?” · “Can I bring this through?” · “Should my jacket go in the bin too?”

At the gate: delays, gate changes and connections

• “Is this the line for group 3?”
• “Has the gate changed? My boarding pass says B12.”
• “The flight is delayed. Do you know how long?”
• “My flight was canceled. Could you rebook me on the next one?”
• “I have a connection in Toronto. Will I make it?”
• “I missed my connection. What are my options?”

Announcements are fast and often hard to hear. If you catch your flight number and miss the rest, ask an agent: “Sorry, was that announcement about the flight to Chicago?”

If your bag doesn’t arrive

Find your airline’s desk in the baggage claim area before you leave the airport. Show your baggage tag (the receipt you got at check-in) and describe the bag:

• “My bag didn’t arrive. I was on the flight from Chicago.”
• “Here’s my baggage tag.”
• “It’s a large black suitcase with a red ribbon on the handle.”
• “Could you deliver it to my hotel when it arrives?”
• “Could I get a reference number, please?”

Immigration and customs: questions you may hear and simple answers

When you land in another country, a border officer checks your passport and asks a few questions. The US Department of Homeland Security describes this first stop, called primary inspection, as the booth where an officer asks questions to verify your documents and decides whether to admit you, and gives “What is the purpose of your visit to the United States?” as an example question. In the UK, GOV.UK says that if you’re from outside the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, “you’ll usually be asked why you’re coming to the UK”; some travelers can use the automatic eGates instead.

Five habits make this part easier:

• Answer the question you were asked. “Ten days” is a complete answer to “How long are you staying?” You don’t need a full sentence or a story.
• Tell the truth, and keep it simple. Your answers should match your documents and your reservations. Don’t guess, and don’t joke.
• If you didn’t understand, say so. “Sorry, could you repeat the question?” is always better than “Yes” to a question you didn’t catch.
• Have your documents ready. GOV.UK asks travelers to have their passport ready and to take it out of its holder or wallet. Keep your hotel address and return flight on your phone in case you’re asked.
• Declare what you carry. US Customs and Border Protection asks travelers to declare food and other agricultural items, and anyone carrying more than $10,000 in cash or other monetary instruments must declare it. In the UK, you must declare to customs anything over your duty-free allowance, banned or restricted goods, goods you plan to sell, and more than €10,000 in cash if you’re coming from outside the EU.

This section helps you understand and answer; it isn’t legal advice. Visas and entry rules depend on your passport, so check the official government site of the country you’re visiting before you book.

On the plane

On board, most conversations are short: finding your seat, a drink, a blanket, a question about your connection.

Listen for the crew’s instructions too. “Please fasten your seat belt” means sit down and buckle up; “Please return your seat to the upright position” comes before takeoff and landing; “We’re starting our descent” means you’ll land soon.

At the hotel: check-in, problems and checkout

Checking in

• “Hi, I have a reservation under Park. It’s for three nights.”
• “Is breakfast included?” · “What time is breakfast?”
• “What time is checkout?”
• “Could I leave my bags here until the room is ready?”
• “What’s the Wi-Fi password?”
• “Could I have a wake-up call at 6:30, please?”

The front desk may ask for your ID and the card you booked with, then tell you where to go: “You’re in 412, on the fourth floor. The elevators are on your right.” In the US, the first floor is the ground floor; in the UK, the first floor is one floor above the ground floor, and the elevator is the lift.

When something is wrong with the room

Say what’s wrong, then ask for what you want. Two short sentences work better than a long apology: “The shower has no hot water. Could someone take a look?”

If your plugs are different, bring an adapter or ask for one. VisitBritain, for example, notes that British plugs are type G, with three rectangular pins, and visitors will probably need an adapter.

Notice the order: Ana gives her room number, says what’s wrong, answers the question and then asks for the extra things one at a time. If it’s late or you’re tired, the same request works as a call from your room phone: “Hi, this is room 412. The air conditioning isn’t working.”

Checking out

• “Hi, I’d like to check out. Room 412.”
• “Could I get a receipt, please?”
• “I think there’s a mistake on the bill. What’s this charge for?”
• “Could you keep my bags until three? My flight is in the evening.”

At a restaurant or café: ordering, allergies and the check

Getting a table and ordering

To order, say “I’ll have…” or “Can I get…?”, and change a dish with “with,” “without” and “on the side”: “I’ll have the burger with no onions.” · “Could I get the dressing on the side?” · “Is it spicy?” At a café counter, the classic question is “For here or to go?”; in the UK, food to go is takeaway, so you may hear “Eat in or take away?” For a full café order and a clothing store, see the coffee shop and shopping dialogues in our guide to English conversation for beginners.

Allergies and diets

Mention it before you order, not when the food arrives, and say it’s an allergy, not just a preference, so the server tells the kitchen.

• “I’m allergic to peanuts. Does this dish have any nuts in it?”
• “I have a serious shellfish allergy. Could you check with the kitchen?”
• “Is this gluten-free?” · “Does this have dairy in it?”
• “I’m vegetarian. Which dishes don’t have meat or fish?”
• “I don’t eat pork. Is there any pork in the sauce?”

In the US, nine foods are major food allergens under federal law: milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans and sesame, which was added in 2023. In the UK, restaurants and cafés must provide information on 14 allergens, on the menu or by telling you how to get it, and the government’s advice is to tell staff about any allergy and not to eat there if you doubt they understand. If your allergy is serious, carry a short note in English as well: “I have a severe peanut allergy. Please make sure my food has no peanuts or peanut oil.”

The check, paying and tipping

In the US, the bill at a restaurant is the check; in the UK, it’s the bill. Either word is understood:

• “Could we get the check, please?” (US) · “Could we have the bill, please?” (UK)
• “Can we pay separately?” · “Could you split it in two?”
• “Do you take cards?” · “Can I pay by card?”
• “Is service included?”
• “Could I get a receipt?”

Tipping in the US. The Emily Post Institute’s tipping guide suggests 15–20% of the pre-tax bill for table service, no obligation at a takeout counter, 15–20% of the fare for a taxi and $2–$5 a day for hotel housekeeping.

Tipping in the UK. VisitBritain says an optional service charge is sometimes added to restaurant bills and noted on the bill, and you can choose whether to pay it; if nothing is added and you liked the service, a tip of 10–15% is well received. In taxis, rounding up to the nearest pound is customary. So read the bill first, and ask “Is service included?” if you can’t tell.

Daniel names the allergy before he orders and asks the server to pass it on. “Is that together or separate?” is the usual question when a group pays; answer “Together” or “Separate, please.”

Shopping

In shops, staff often speak first: “Hi, can I help you find anything?” If you only want to look around, say “I’m just looking, thanks.” When you need help:

• “Do you have this in a medium?” · “Do you have it in black?”
• “Can I try this on?” · “Where are the fitting rooms?”
• “How much is this?” · “Is this on sale?”
• “Does the price include tax?”
• “Can I pay by card?” · “Could I get a bag?”
• “Can I return it if it doesn’t fit?” · “Could I get a receipt?”

Directions and transport: taxis, rideshares, trains and buses

Asking for directions

• “Excuse me, how do I get to the museum?”
• “Is it far? Can I walk there?”
• “Could you show me on the map?” (hand them your phone)
• “Which way is the subway station?”

Answers come fast: “Go straight for two blocks, then turn left at the light. It’s about a ten-minute walk.” A block is the distance from one street to the next. Repeat the key part back (“Two blocks, then left?”) and ask the person to slow down if you need to. Our beginners guide has a full directions dialogue to practice.

Taxis and rideshares

• “Could you take me to this address, please?” (show it on your phone)
• “How long does it take to get to the airport?”
• “About how much will it cost?”
• “Could you stop here, please?” · “You can drop me off at the corner.”
• “Can I pay by card?” · “Could I get a receipt?”

With a rideshare app, Uber’s safety tips are to match the license plate, the car’s make and model and the driver’s photo with the app before you get in, and to ask the driver “Who are you here to pick up?”, so the driver says your name first. To help the driver find you: “I’m at the main entrance, next to the coffee shop.” · “I’m wearing a red jacket.”

Trains, subways and buses

A city’s underground railway is the subway in the US; in London, it’s the Underground or the Tube, and a British “subway” is a pedestrian tunnel under a road.

“Three or thirteen?” is the check that saves you from the wrong track: numbers ending in -teen and -ty sound alike when people speak fast.

Emergencies, health and the pharmacy

Save the emergency number for your destination before you go. 911 is the emergency number in the US and Canada. In Britain, VisitBritain says to dial 999 for the police, fire and ambulance. In England, the NHS says NHS 111 can help if you think you need medical help right now; for signs of a life-threatening illness, call 999.

In an emergency

• “I need help!” · “Please call an ambulance.”
• “There’s been an accident.”
• “Someone stole my wallet.” · “I’d like to report a theft.”
• “I lost my passport.” · “Where is the nearest police station?”
• “I don’t feel well. I need a doctor.”

When you call, say where you are first, then what happened: “I’m at Lakeview train station, at the main entrance. A man fell and he’s not moving.” The location of a cell phone call isn’t always accurate, so the address or a landmark nearby helps. If you lose your passport, contact your country’s embassy or consulate.

At the pharmacy

In the US, you buy medicine at a pharmacy or drugstore; in the UK, a pharmacy is also called a chemist. In England, the NHS says pharmacists can give advice on illnesses such as coughs, colds and sore throats. Say what you feel, how long you’ve had it and anything you’re allergic to:

• “I have a sore throat and a fever. What do you recommend?”
• “I’ve had a headache since yesterday.”
• “I have a cold.” · “I have a stomachache.” · “I have diarrhea.”
• “Do I need a prescription for this?”
• “How often should I take it?” · “Should I take it with food?”
• “I’m allergic to penicillin.”

A prescription is a doctor’s written order for a medicine; an over-the-counter medicine is one you can buy without a prescription.

How to ask people to repeat or slow down

Travel English is fast: announcements, a busy server, a driver who wants a short answer. Asking again is normal, and it’s always better than guessing.

• “Sorry, could you say that again?” The all-purpose request. “Sorry?” on its own works for one missed word.
• “Could you speak a little more slowly, please?” Ask early, before the important part.
• “Sorry, did you say fifteen or fifty?” Ask about the part you missed, and the other person repeats only that.
• “Could you write it down?” Useful for addresses, prices and times. Or hand over your phone: “Could you type it here?”
• “What does ‘layover’ mean?” Repeat the word you don’t know, and the person can explain it in simpler words.
• “So, gate B12 at 9:40, right?” Read the key details back. If you got something wrong, they’ll correct you.

If you expect to ask often, say it once at the start: “English isn’t my first language, so I may ask you to repeat things.” For spelling your name and saying numbers clearly, see the spelling section of our phone call guide. For greetings and small talk with the people you meet, see 22 ways to say hello and 50 questions to ask someone from another country.

US and UK travel words

This guide uses American English. British people usually understand the American words, but you’ll see and hear these differences in the UK (all from Wiktionary):

Common mistakes in travel English

Learners also bring habits from their first language. A few to watch:

• Japanese speakers: some hotel words in Japanese come from English but work differently. フロント is the front desk, バイキング is a buffet and コンセント is an outlet.
• Korean speakers: 서비스 (something free) is “on the house” or “complimentary,” 더치페이 is “Can we pay separately?” and 아이쇼핑 is “I’m just looking.”
• Spanish speakers: pretender means “to intend,” so “I pretend to stay two weeks” should be “I’m planning to stay two weeks.” At the pharmacy, estoy constipado is “I have a cold,” and a receta is a prescription.
• Brazilian Portuguese speakers: pretender works the same way; PUSH on a door means empurre, not puxe; and lanche is a snack, not lunch.

A pre-trip practice routine

Start a week or two before you fly. It’s a suggested routine, not a tested program, so adjust it to your trip.

On the day, reread the lines for the next scene while you wait in line. The last step matters most: a script trains you to say your lines, and a role-play trains you to answer lines you didn’t write.

Rehearse your trip with an AI tutor

In Fluently, you talk with an AI tutor by voice. Describe the scene you want to practice as your own scenario, such as checking in at a hotel in Chicago when your room isn’t ready, ordering dinner with a peanut allergy or answering an immigration officer’s questions, and the tutor plays the other person. After your turn, a card can show a grammar fix, a more natural way to say your sentence (the way a native speaker would put it) or a better word, and the conversation keeps going.

At a check-in desk or a café counter, nobody shows you the words, so turn off live captions in the tutor settings and practice with your ears alone. If the tutor speaks too fast at first, lower its speaking pace, then raise it again as you get comfortable. Your scores for pronunciation, fluency, vocabulary, grammar and coherence update as you practice.

Fluently is free to start. Take a free AI speaking assessment to see your level, then practice with games that build your vocabulary and pronunciation. Conversations with your AI tutor come with Fluently Premium.

See your level, then rehearse your trip

Get the Fluently app and take the free AI speaking assessment to see your level, then practice with games that build your vocabulary and pronunciation. Conversations with your AI tutor, where you can rehearse check-in, ordering or a taxi ride before you go, come with Fluently Premium.

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