Inside a Hotel Room

Here are some words that you might need to use when talking about the inside of a hotel room.

• complimentary — This word means “free.” Often hotels will serve a complimentary breakfast (included in the cost of your room), or have complimentary shampoos and soaps in the bathroom.

• bathtub — A bathtub is in the bathroom, where people can clean themselves by taking a bath.

• shower — Showers allow people to wash themselves while standing up. The shower head is the part that sprays water, and the drain is on the floor, where the water leaves. Most bathtubs have showers in them, but a standing shower is in a smaller space by itself (without a bathtub).

• towel — People use towels to dry themselves off after taking a shower or a bath. There are also hand towels, which are smaller, and a bath mat—a towel you put on the floor to stand on.

• robes — Some hotels provide robes for guests to wear after they shower. They are also called bathrobes.

• toiletries — Toiletries are small personal items you might use in the bathroom, such as shampoo/conditioner (for washing hair), soap, toothbrush and toothpaste (for brushing teeth).

• hair dryer — Most hotels will have an electric hair dryer for guests to use to dry their wet hair after washing it. In standard hotels, hair dryers are attached to the walls with a cord. These are also called blow dryers.

• sink — The sink is where people wash their hands. It has a faucet, where the water comes out, and a drain, where the water leaves.

• soap — Soap is used to kill germs and bacteria when you wash your hands. It can be either liquid (stored in a soap dispenser) or a solid bar. Some hotels have both hand soap and body soap.

• lamp — Lamps provide extra light somewhere in the room. Guests might tell you that a light burned out in their lamp, meaning it needs a new light bulb.

• executive desk — Some rooms might come with a desk to sit and write or work. These are sometimes called executive desks (just a fancier name, often used in business suites).

• kitchenette — This is a mini-kitchen where people can prepare basic food, usually with a microwave and sink. Most hotel rooms have a mini-fridge (small refrigerator) that has some beverages and snacks inside. If guests eat the snacks and beverages, they have to pay for them when they check out.

• coffee machine — Coffee machines in hotel rooms allow guests to make their own coffee in the morning. Guests might need more filters or coffee grounds when they run out.

• room service — This is a service that lets guests order food or drinks and have it delivered to their hotel room.

• turndown service — This is a service that has housekeepers go into the room and remake the beds. They might put a mint or chocolate on the pillow to show the bed has been “turned down.”

• curtains — These usually hang from a curtain rod to cover a window. Curtains can be pulled open or closed to let sunlight in or keep it out.

• TV — Most rooms have a TV with a remote control (small hand-held device used to change the channel or volume). The TV remote might need new batteries from time to time. Some hotels have a listing of the local TV channels. There are also often pay-per-view channels or movies, that guests are later charged for.

• safe — This is a small box locked with a combination or key where guests can keep valuable items locked and secure.

• cot — This is a small bed that folds up and rolls on wheels, so it can be moved into rooms when an extra bed is needed.

• pull-out sofa — This is a couch that can pull out into a sofa-bed.

• armchair — This is a more comfortable chair with rests for both of your arms.

• linens — These are cloths such as sheets on the bed, pillow cases to cover the pillows, a blanket to keep warm or a comforter (the thick blanket on top of a bed). Sheets have a thread count, which tells their quality/smoothness.

• iron and ironing board — When clothes are wrinkled, guests can get rid of the wrinkles by using an iron with an ironing board.

• private jacuzzi — This is a hot tub somewhere inside or attached to the room. “Private” is the opposite of “public,” and means that this jacuzzi is just for the people in that room.