Arriving late at a hotel in English, with a booking problem
Sorry I'm so late. My train was delayed because of the weather.
“Sorry I am very late. Bad weather made my train late.”
When: Arriving at the front desk much later than you planned
The moment
Your train into Penn Station was two hours late, and you reach your hotel in Chelsea at midnight. The clerk can't find the king room you booked, so you explain what happened, show your booking and work out a fair solution at the desk.
A2 · Unit 2 · Travel days · Checkpoint
This is the unit’s checkpoint: one roleplay that puts the unit’s scenes together.
The lines
Explaining why you're late
Say sorry, then give the reason with 'because': 'Sorry I'm so late. My train was delayed because of the weather.' Use the past ('was delayed') for what already happened.
Sorry I'm so late. My train was delayed because of the weather.
“Sorry I am very late. Bad weather made my train late.”
When to use it: Arriving at the front desk much later than you planned
What you’ll hear back: No worries, it happens. What's the name on the reservation? (It's okay. What name did you book with?)
Negotiating a fix
When the hotel made the mistake, stay calm and ask what they can do: 'I booked a king room. Is there anything you can do?' This sounds polite. It also asks them to make it right.
I booked a king room. Is there anything you can do?
“I booked a room with a king bed. Can you help me?”
When to use it: When the room you get is not the room you paid for
What you’ll hear back: I can give you two queens tonight and take thirty dollars off.
Words for this scene
| Word or phrase | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| I have the confirmation email right here. | ai hav thuh kon-fer-MAY-shun EE-mayl rait HEER | I can show you the email that proves my booking. |
It says two nights, king bed. I have the confirmation email right here. My booking is two nights with a big bed. Look, here is the email. Tip: Showing your phone calmly works better than arguing at US desks. | ||
| Could you move me tomorrow? | KUH-joo MOOV mee tuh-MAR-oh | Can I go to the right room tomorrow? |
Okay, I'll take this room tonight. Could you move me tomorrow? Fine, I will stay in this room tonight. Can I change rooms tomorrow? Tip: Asking for a later fix often gets you a free upgrade. | ||
| That works for me. | THAT WERKS fer mee | Okay, I agree. That is fine. |
Two queens tonight and thirty dollars off? That works for me. Two beds tonight and a lower price? Okay, I agree. Tip: Americans end a deal warmly; a quick 'Thanks so much' helps. | ||
Your objective
Explain why you’re arriving so late, give the name on your booking, and when there’s a problem with it, agree on a room for tonight.
- why you’re late
- the name on your booking
- a room for tonight
Lines that get it done
- Sorry I'm so late. My train was delayed because of the weather.
- I have the confirmation email right here. · I can show you the email that proves my booking.
In the live scene the objective stays on screen, and the Replay afterwards says whether you got it done.
Check yourself
1. You reach the hotel two hours late. What do you say to the clerk?
- Sorry I'm so late. My train was delayed because of the weather.
- Sorry I'm so late. My train delayed because the weather.
- Sorry for the lateness. My train is delayed from the weather.
- Sorry I'm so late. My train was late for cause of the weather.
Show the answer
Sorry I'm so late. My train was delayed because of the weather.
Use 'was delayed' for a past event, and 'because of' before a noun like 'the weather'.
2. The hotel has no king rooms left. How do you politely push for a fix?
- I booked a king room. Is there anything you can do?
- I booked a king room. What will you make for me?
- I booked a king room. You must give me one now.
- I reserved a king room. Is there something you can make?
Show the answer
I booked a king room. Is there anything you can do?
'Is there anything you can do?' is polite but clearly asks the hotel to fix its mistake.
3. The clerk offers two queen beds tonight and thirty dollars off. You are happy with this. What do you say?
- That works for me.
- That walks for me.
- That is working to me.
- That goes with me.
Show the answer
That works for me.
'That works for me' is the everyday way to accept an offer or plan.