Chapter 5: STAYING IN ACCOMODATIONS
To fully enjoy Italy, you must also find a comfortable accommodation for yourself. Visiting the country, you’ll find that there’s plenty of different options that will suit any taste; whether you’re looking for something more rustic or something more sophisticated, knowing how to ask for the right room will help make your experience better.
Whilst most accommodations in Italy would employ someone who can speak English in it, you’ll find that knowing key phrases would help make your stay a more pleasant and hassle free one.
Here’s what you need to remember:
I.                    CHECKING IN
Typically, the people at the hotel reception would be capable of speaking in English in order to accommodate guests from all over the globe. However, there might be instances wherein they might not be fully fluent in it or might have a hard time understanding if you have a particularly strong accent.
By knowing some of these basic hotel-related questions, you can get all the details you need and make check-in a lot smoother. Besides, it’s a great way of practicing what you have learned—the only way you’ll get better at any language is by using it in everyday speech.
-          Camera d’albergo – Hotel room
-          Puoi consigliarmi un albergo economico ? – Can you recommend a more affordable room?
-          Quanto costa a notte ? – How much will it cost per night?
-          Quanto costa a settimana ? – How much will it cost per week?
-          C’e qualcosa di piu economico ? – Is there one that’s cheaper?
-          Posso vedere la camera ? – May I see the room?
-          Ci sono camera libere ? – Is there a room available?
-          C’e la piscina ? – Is there a pool?
-          Dov’è la piscina ? – Where is the pool?
-          Ha il bagno privato ? – Does it have a private bathroom?
-          La stanza ha un letto matrimoniale – Does it have a double bed?
-          Ha due letti ? – Does it have 2 beds?
-          Offrite il servizio in camera ? – Is there room service?
-          Sono inclusi i pasti ? – Are meals already included?
-          C’e il ristorante ? – Do you have a restaurant?
-          Sono un ospite . – I am a guest.
-          Ho prenotato . – I have a reservation.
-          Non ho prenotato . – I do not have a reservation.
-          Pago adesso o piu tardi ? – Do I pay now or later?
-          Ci serve una camera con l’aria condizionata . – We need an air-conditioned room.
-          Ci fermiano due settimane . – We are staying for 2 weeks.
-          Vorremmo una camera fronte mare . – We would like to have a view of the ocean.
-          Ci servono tre chiavi . – We need three keys.
-          Questa camera non mi piace . – I do not like this room.
-          A che ora è il check out ? – What time do i need to checkout?
II.                 HOTEL NEEDS
When it comes to getting your needs across, it pays to be able to express yourself using the local language. Consider these little interactions with the staff as great practice, to further improve your grasp of Italian.
-          Non c’e acqua calda. – There is no hot water.
-          Ci servono asciugamani per la piscina. – We need towels for pool use.
-          Posso avere un altro cuscino? – Can you bring another pillow?
-          In camera non ci sono coperte. – This room does not have any blankets.
-          La doccia non funziona. – The shower isn’t working.
-          Ho bisogno di piu carta igienica. – I need more toilet paper.
-          Ho bisogno di piu sapone. – I need more soap.
-          La nostra camera non è stata pulita. – The room hasn’t been cleaned.
-          Ho bisogno di lenzuola pulite. – I need clean sheets.
-          Il riscaldamento è rotto. – The heater is broken.
-          Dov’è l’ascensore. – Where is the elevator?
-          Quando viene servita la colazione? – When do you serve breakfast?
-          Devo parlare con il direttore. – I need to speak with the manager.
III.             HOTEL EMERGENCIES
Emergencies can happen anywhere and at any given time. These emergency related phrases can be applied outside of the hotel as well. It’s good to be familiar with them in case you find yourself in the middle of an emergency announcement or if you’re ever caught up in something potential dangerous.
If there are phrases that’s essential to your trip, these are certainly among those.
-          Ascoltare – Listen
-          Guardare – Look
-          Attento – Attention
-          Incendio – Fire
-          Aiuto ! – Help! / Help me!
-          Presto – Hurry
-          Esci Subito – Get out of here
-          Fermo – Stop
-          Polizia – Police
-          E’ un emergenza – It is an emergency
IV.              TELEPHONE AND POST
-          A carico del destinario – Reverse charges
-          Resti in linea – Hold the line
-          Occupato – Engaged
-          Richiamare – To call back
-          Riagganciare – Hang up
-          Squillare – To ring
-          La cabina telefonica – Telephone box
-          La guida Telefonica – Phone directory
-          Il segnale acustico – Dial tone
-          E’ caduta la linea – I have been cut off
-          Vorrei telefonare a Singapore – I need to call/ telephone Singapore
V.                  CHECKING OUT
As always, it pays to be polite whenever you’re leaving an establishment. If you require help with getting to the airport or anywhere else, below are some useful phrases along with a few others you can use for expressing gratitude to the hotel staff.
Sure, tips are great, but nothing beats getting complimented and the promise of a recommendation from satisfied guest.
-          Mi serve il fattorino – I need a bellhop
-          Puoi chiamarmi un taxi? – Can you get me a taxi?
-          Dove posso trovare un taxi ? – Where can I find a taxi?
-          Devo noleggiare un’auto – I need to rent a car
-          Dov’è l’ambasciata Americana ? – Where is the American embassy?
-          Vorrei fare il check out – I am ready to check out
-          Mi piace la terrazza – I enjoyed the balcony
-          Questo è un bellissimo albergo – This is a beautiful hotel
-          Mi sono trovato molto bene – I enjoyed my stay
-          Il vostro personale è straordinario – The staff is outstanding
-          Vi raccomanderò – I will recommend you
-          Grazie di tutto – Thank you for everything!
VI.              STAYING AT CAMP SITES
If you’re the outdoorsy type and want something non-traditional for home in Italy, you’d be glad to know that you have plenty of options to choose from! But first, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the right phrases to help you secure the right place for your stay. Here are a few that you should keep in mind:
-          C’e posto per un caravan? – Is there room for a caravan?
-          C’e posto per una tenda? – Is there room for a tent?
-          Vorremmo rimanere fino a domenica prossima – We would like to stay until next Sunday
-          Vorremmo rimanere tre notti – We would like to stay for 3 nights
-          C’e un negozio nel campeggio? – Is there a shop in the campsite
-          C’e una presa elettrica per il nostro caravan? – Is there an electric connection for the caravan?
-          Dov’è il bagno? – Where is the toilet?
-          Dove sono le docce? – where is the shower block?
-          Dove sono le pattumiere? – Where are the garbage bins?
-          Dove posso comprare bombole di gas da campeggio? – Where can I get bottles of Camping Gaz?
VII.          RENTING AN APARTMENT
For more long-term stays, it would be best to rent your own place instead of paying by the day in a hotel room. There are plenty of beautiful and already furnished apartments in the city, providing you with all the basics and a bit of extra luxury for your stay.
That said, if you’re planning renting an apartment, you must familiarize yourself with a few handy phrases, along with some local know-how to avoid getting scammed. Here’s what you need to know:
-          Appartamento - Apartment
-          Stanze/Locali – Rooms
-          Monolocale – Studio apartment
-          Bilocale – Two bedroom apartment
-          Trilocale – Three bedroom apartment
-          Quadrilocale – Four bedroom apartment
Note that the “locali” or “rooms” might vary from place to place. For example, a trilocale in one area can mean three bedrooms, whilst in another it could be referring to two bedrooms and a living room. Some even include the kitchen in their calculations. Needless to say, it’s best to clarify this before signing.
-          La pianta del piano – Floorplan
-          Coinquilini – Flatmates
-          Una camera de letto – A single bedroom (In a shared apartment)
-          Un posto letto – One bed in a shared room
-          Arredato – Furnished
-          Non-arredato – Non-furnished or furnished sparingly
-          Cucinotto / Angolo cottura – Kitchenette
-          Una cucina – A large kitchen, but one that you can’t fit a table in it
-          Una cucina abitabile – A kitchen big enough to fit a dining table
-          Balcone – Balcony
-          Ascensore – Lift
-          Box – Garage
-          Lavatoviglie – Dishwasher
-          Lavatrice – Washing machine
-          Giardino – Garden
-          Truffe – Scams
-          Visura catastale – Property deed
-          Le chiavi – The keys
-          In contanti – In cash
-          Trattabile – Negotiable
-          Contratto – Contract
-          Spese condominiali – Extra service charges
-          Utenze – Utilities
-          Riscaldamento – Heating
-          Cauzione – Deposit
-          Il trasloco – The move