Staying There: Hotels, Check‑in, and Money Matters - Survival Travel Phrases in Spanish, French, and Mandarin

New Words and Phrases (in English)

Key phrases for checking into a hotel, solving simple room problems, and paying for things in local currency.

Word	Pronunciation	Translation	Example
1) "I have a reservation" / "J’ai une réservation" / "Tengo una reserva" / "我有预订"	English: eye hav uh reh-zur-VAY-shun French: zh-ay oon ray-zair-vah-SYON Spanish: TEHN-goh oo-nah reh-SEH-rvah Mandarin (我有预订): wǒ yǒu yù-dìng (waw yoh yoo-ding)	I have a reservation.	French: Bonjour, j’ai une réservation au nom de Martin. Spanish: Hola, tengo una reserva a nombre de Martín. Mandarin: 你好，我有预订，名字是马丁。 (Nǐ hǎo, wǒ yǒu yùdìng, míngzi shì Mǎdīng.)(Hello, I have a reservation under the name Martin.)
2) "I would like a room" / "Je voudrais une chambre" / "Quisiera una habitación" / "我想要一个房间"	English: eye wood-LIKE uh room French: zhuh voo-DRAY oon SHAHM-bruh Spanish: kee-SYEH-rah oo-nah ah-bee-tah-SYON Mandarin (我想要一个房间): wǒ xiǎng yào yí ge fángjiān (waw shyang yow ee guh fahng-jyen)	I would like a room.	French: Bonjour, je voudrais une chambre pour deux nuits. Spanish: Hola, quisiera una habitación para dos noches. Mandarin: 你好，我想要一个房间，住两晚。 (Nǐ hǎo, wǒ xiǎng yào yí ge fángjiān, zhù liǎng wǎn.)(Hello, I would like a room for two nights.)
3) "With a private bathroom" / "Avec salle de bain privée" / "Con baño privado" / "带独立浴室"	English: with uh PRY-vit BATH-room French: ah-VEK sal duh ban pree-VAY Spanish: kohn BAH-nyoh pree-VAH-doh Mandarin (带独立浴室): dài dú-lì yù-shì (dye doo-lee yoo-shrr)	With a private bathroom.	French: Est-ce que la chambre a une salle de bain privée ? Spanish: ¿La habitación tiene baño privado? Mandarin: 房间有带独立浴室吗？ (Fángjiān yǒu dài dúlì yùshì ma?)(Does the room have a private bathroom?)
4) "There is no hot water" / "Il n’y a pas d’eau chaude" / "No hay agua caliente" / "没有热水"	English: thair iz no hot WAW-ter French: eel nya pah doh shohd Spanish: noh eye AH-gwah kah-lyen-teh Mandarin (没有热水): méi yǒu rè shuǐ (may yoh ruh shway)	There is no hot water.	French: Excusez-moi, il n’y a pas d’eau chaude dans ma chambre. Spanish: Disculpe, no hay agua caliente en mi habitación. Mandarin: 不好意思，我的房间没有热水。 (Bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ de fángjiān méiyǒu rèshuǐ.)(Excuse me, there is no hot water in my room.)
5) "It’s very noisy" / "C’est très bruyant" / "Es muy ruidoso" / "这里很吵"	English: its VER-ee NOY-zee French: say tray brwee-YAN Spanish: ess MOO-ee rwee-DOH-soh Mandarin (这里很吵): zhèli hěn chǎo (jer-lee hun chao)	It’s very noisy.	French: La chambre est très bruyante, s’il vous plaît. Spanish: La habitación es muy ruidosa, por favor. Mandarin: 这里很吵，可以换房间吗？ (Zhèlǐ hěn chǎo, kěyǐ huàn fángjiān ma?)(It’s very noisy here, can I change rooms?)
6) "Can I pay by card?" / "Je peux payer par carte ?" / "¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?" / "可以刷卡吗？"	English: kan eye pay by kard French: zhuh puh pay-YAY par kart Spanish: PWEH-doh pah-GAR kohn tar-HEH-tah Mandarin (可以刷卡吗？): kěyǐ shuā kǎ ma? (kuh-yee shwah kah ma)	Can I pay by card?	French: Je peux payer par carte ou seulement en espèces ? Spanish: ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta o solo en efectivo? Mandarin: 我可以刷卡吗，还是只能付现金？ (Wǒ kěyǐ shuā kǎ ma, háishì zhǐ néng fù xiànjīn?)(Can I pay by card, or only in cash?)
7) "How much is it?" / "C’est combien ?" / "¿Cuánto cuesta?" / "这个多少钱？"	English: how much IZ it French: say kohm-BYEN Spanish: KWAHN-toh KWEHS-tah Mandarin (这个多少钱？): zhè ge duō-shǎo qián? (jer guh dwor-shaow chyen)	How much is it?	French: Excusez-moi, c’est combien, la chambre par nuit ? Spanish: Disculpe, ¿cuánto cuesta la habitación por noche? Mandarin: 请问，这个房间一晚多少钱？ (Qǐngwèn, zhège fángjiān yì wǎn duōshǎo qián?)(Excuse me, how much is the room per night?)
8) "Could I have the receipt, please?" / "Je peux avoir le reçu, s’il vous plaît ?" / "¿Me puede dar el recibo, por favor?" / "请给我发票 / 收据"	English: koood eye hav thuh rih-SEET pleez French: zhuh puh ah-VWAR luh ruh-SU, seel voo PLEH Spanish: meh PWEH-deh dar el reh-SEE-boh, por fah-VOR Mandarin (请给我发票 / 收据): qǐng gěi wǒ fāpiào / shōujù (ching gay waw fah-pyow / show-jyoo)	Could I have the receipt, please?	French: Je peux avoir le reçu, s’il vous plaît ? Spanish: ¿Me puede dar el recibo, por favor? Mandarin: 请给我发票，可以吗？ (Qǐng gěi wǒ fāpiào, kěyǐ ma?)(Could I have the receipt, please?)

Language Pattern (in English)

1. Softening requests: “I would like / I want”

In hotels and shops, you want to sound polite, not demanding.

French
Very common polite pattern: « Je voudrais … » (I would like…)
Example: Je voudrais une chambre. – “I would like a room.”
Slightly more direct: « Je veux … » (I want…), usually avoided with staff.

Spanish
Very common polite pattern: « Quisiera … » (I would like… – soft, polite)
Example: Quisiera una habitación con baño privado. – “I would like a room with a private bathroom.”
Slightly less formal but still okay: « Quiero … » (I want…).

Mandarin
Polite, softer: 我想要 … (wǒ xiǎng yào …) – literally “I would like / I want to have …”
Example: 我想要一个房间。 – “I would like a room.”
Shorter and common: 我要 … (wǒ yào …) – more direct “I want …”; fine in many situations but can sound stronger.

Tip: In hotels, prefer:

French: Je voudrais …
Spanish: Quisiera …
Mandarin: 我想要 … (wǒ xiǎng yào …)

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2. Talking about problems with “there is / there is not”

To report simple issues, notice the pattern “there is no …”.

French
Il y a … – “There is / there are …”
Il n’y a pas de … – “There is no … / There are no …”
Example: Il n’y a pas d’eau chaude. – “There is no hot water.”

Spanish
Hay … – “There is / there are …”
No hay … – “There is no … / There are no …”
Example: No hay agua caliente. – “There is no hot water.”

Mandarin
有 … (yǒu …) – “There is / to have …”
没有 … (méiyǒu …) – “There is no / does not have …”
Example: 房间没有热水。 – “The room has no hot water / There is no hot water in the room.”

You can plug in other problems:

French: Il n’y a pas de serviettes. – There are no towels.
Spanish: No hay toallas. – There are no towels.
Mandarin: 没有毛巾。 – There are no towels.

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3. Yes–no questions for payment

To ask about payment methods you often:

add a rising tone (spoken)
or add a question word / particle.

French
Statement: Je peux payer par carte. – I can pay by card.
Question (informal but common): Je peux payer par carte ? – “Can I pay by card?” (just raise your voice)

Spanish
Statement: Puedo pagar con tarjeta. – I can pay by card.
Question: ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta? – “Can I pay by card?” (question marks + rising intonation)

Mandarin
Statement: 可以刷卡。 (kěyǐ shuā kǎ.) – (You/I) can pay by card.
Question: 可以刷卡吗？ (kěyǐ shuā kǎ ma?) – “Can I pay by card?”
The particle 吗 (ma) at the end turns a statement into a yes–no question.

You can reuse this pattern:

C’est combien ? / ¿Cuánto cuesta? / 这个多少钱？ – “How much is it?”
Then: Je peux payer par carte ? / ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta? / 可以刷卡吗？ – “Can I pay by card?”

Practice Dialogue (in English)

You arrive at a small hotel, check in, report a problem with the room, and then pay and ask for a receipt when you check out. Each turn shows Spanish, French, and Mandarin versions with English.

At a small hotel: check-in, simple problem, and payment.

Guest

Spanish: Hola, tengo una reserva a nombre de Taylor. French: Bonjour, j’ai une réservation au nom de Taylor. Mandarin: 你好，我有预订，名字是泰勒。 (Nǐ hǎo, wǒ yǒu yùdìng, míngzi shì Tàilè.)

Hello, I have a reservation under the name Taylor.

Receptionist

Spanish: Buenas tardes, sí, aquí está. ¿Para dos noches? French: Bonjour, oui, la voilà. C’est pour deux nuits ? Mandarin: 您好，是的，在这里。住两晚吗？ (Nín hǎo, shì de, zài zhèlǐ. Zhù liǎng wǎn ma?)

Good afternoon, yes, here it is. For two nights?

Guest

Spanish: Sí, y quisiera una habitación con baño privado, por favor. French: Oui, et je voudrais une chambre avec salle de bain privée, s’il vous plaît. Mandarin: 对，两晚。我想要一个带独立浴室的房间。 (Duì, liǎng wǎn. Wǒ xiǎng yào yí ge dài dúlì yùshì de fángjiān.)

Yes, and I would like a room with a private bathroom, please.

Receptionist

Spanish: Perfecto, aquí tiene la llave. La habitación es la 305. French: Parfait, voici la clé. La chambre, c’est la 305. Mandarin: 好的，这是您的房卡，房间是三零五。 (Hǎo de, zhè shì nín de fángkǎ, fángjiān shì sān líng wǔ.)

Perfect, here is the key. The room is 305.

Guest (later)

Spanish: Disculpe, en mi habitación no hay agua caliente. French: Excusez-moi, dans ma chambre il n’y a pas d’eau chaude. Mandarin: 不好意思，我的房间没有热水。 (Bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ de fángjiān méiyǒu rèshuǐ.)

Excuse me, in my room there is no hot water.

Receptionist

Spanish: Lo siento, es un problema del sistema. ¿Quiere cambiar de habitación? French: Je suis désolé, c’est un problème de système. Vous voulez changer de chambre ? Mandarin: 真抱歉，是系统问题。您要换房间吗？ (Zhēn bàoqiàn, shì xìtǒng wèntí. Nín yào huàn fángjiān ma?)

I’m sorry, it’s a system problem. Would you like to change rooms?

Guest

Spanish: Sí, por favor, aquí es muy ruidoso también. French: Oui, s’il vous plaît, ici c’est très bruyant aussi. Mandarin: 好的，这里也很吵，我想换房间。 (Hǎo de, zhèlǐ yě hěn chǎo, wǒ xiǎng huàn fángjiān.)

Yes, please, it’s very noisy here as well.

Receptionist (checkout)

Spanish: Son 120 euros en total. ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta? French: Ça fait 120 euros au total. Vous pouvez payer par carte ? Mandarin: 一共是一百二十欧元。可以刷卡吗？ (Yígòng shì yìbǎi èrshí ōuyuán. Kěyǐ shuā kǎ ma?)

It’s 120 euros in total. Can you pay by card?

Guest

Spanish: Sí, claro. ¿Y me puede dar el recibo, por favor? French: Oui, bien sûr. Et je peux avoir le reçu, s’il vous plaît ? Mandarin: 可以，当然。请给我发票，可以吗？ (Kěyǐ, dāngrán. Qǐng gěi wǒ fāpiào, kěyǐ ma?)

Yes, of course. And could I have the receipt, please?

Receptionist

Spanish: Por supuesto, aquí tiene. Gracias y buen viaje. French: Bien sûr, le voilà. Merci et bon voyage. Mandarin: 当然，可以。这是您的发票。谢谢，祝您旅途愉快。 (Dāngrán, kěyǐ. Zhè shì nín de fāpiào. Xièxie, zhù nín lǚtú yúkuài.)

Of course, here you are. Thank you and have a good trip.

Check Your Understanding (in English)

Answer this question about one of the key money phrases from the module.

You are at hotel checkout and want to pay with a card. Which option correctly means “Can I pay by card?”

Spanish: ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta? / French: Je peux payer par carte ? / Mandarin: 可以刷卡吗？ (Kěyǐ shuā kǎ ma?)
Spanish: Quisiera una habitación. / French: Je voudrais une chambre. / Mandarin: 我想要一个房间。 (Wǒ xiǎng yào yí ge fángjiān.)
Spanish: No hay agua caliente. / French: Il n’y a pas d’eau chaude. / Mandarin: 没有热水。 (Méiyǒu rèshuǐ.)
Spanish: ¿Cuánto cuesta? / French: C’est combien ? / Mandarin: 这个多少钱？ (Zhège duōshǎo qián?)

Show Answer

Answer: A) Spanish: ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta? / French: Je peux payer par carte ? / Mandarin: 可以刷卡吗？ (Kěyǐ shuā kǎ ma?)

Option 1 uses the specific payment phrase in all three languages: “¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?” (Spanish), “Je peux payer par carte ?” (French), and “可以刷卡吗？” (Mandarin). These all literally ask if you can pay by card. The other options talk about wanting a room, having no hot water, or asking the price, not about paying by card.

Key Terms

Es muy ruidoso, C’est très bruyant, 这里很吵: It is very noisy here – to complain politely about noise.
Tengo una reserva, J’ai une réservation, 我有预订: I have a reservation – useful when you arrive at a hotel with a booking.
¿Cuánto cuesta?, C’est combien ?, 这个多少钱？: How much is it? – basic question for prices in shops and hotels.
Con baño privado, Avec salle de bain privée, 带独立浴室: With a private bathroom – specify room type when booking or checking in.
No hay agua caliente, Il n’y a pas d’eau chaude, 没有热水: There is no hot water – to report a common room problem.
Quisiera una habitación, Je voudrais une chambre, 我想要一个房间: I would like a room – polite way to ask for a room.
¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?, Je peux payer par carte ?, 可以刷卡吗？: Can I pay by card? – to check if card payment is possible.
¿Me puede dar el recibo?, Je peux avoir le reçu ?, 请给我发票 / 收据: Could I have the receipt, please? – useful for expense claims or records.