Congratulations! You’re planning on traveling to an English speaking country! Of course, there are hundreds of possible expressions that you could use in each of these situations, this guide shows some quick tips to help you in the most important situations. Watch the full YouTube playlist here to get more details about each expression. Happy Travels!
**The Magic Phrase** Excuse me, I don’t want to bother you, but… [do you know when the train comes]?
At the hotel 1. Do you have a reservation? -Yes, it’s under [your name]. 2. When is check in and check out time? 3. The room won’t be ready until 1pm, but if you want, you can leave your bags here. 4. I’d like to stay an extra night. How much will that be? 5. Can we have two extra towels brought up to Room 203?
At the airport 1. [At check-in] Can I see your ID, passport, and boarding pass? -Here you go. 2. Do you have any checked bags? Do you have a carry on bag? -Yes, I have two checked bags and one carry-on. 3. Do you have any food, liquids, or medicines in your bag? -All my liquids are in this bag. 4. I missed my connecting flight to ___ , what should I do?/ When is the next flight to___? 5. [At immigration] When is your return flight? Do you have your return ticket? Can I see it? *It’s helpful if you have a paper copy to show the immigration officer.
On the bus/subway/taxi 1. Can I get a weeklong pass for the subway? /I’ll be here for 4 days. What’s the best deal? 2. What’s the best way to get to ___ from here? –You can take the subway 4 stops, get out at 2nd Street, and walk two blocks. 3. I think I missed my stop. Where can I get the bus going in the opposite direction? 4. Do you know when the next bus/train comes? –It’ll be 20 minutes. You should just walk. 5. Do you know where I can get/catch a taxi? –There’s a taxi stand right around the corner.
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At a restaurant 1. Welcome to The Best Restaurant. Do you have 3 people? –No, one more is coming later. 2. Would you like to start with an appetizer? –No thanks, but we’re ready to order. 3. I’m going to get the blue cheese burger with sweet potato fries. [Click here for 3 other ways to order in a restaurant] 4. I’m sorry, I ordered the sweet potato fries. Is there any way that I can get those instead? 5. Did you save any room for dessert? Oh, no thanks, we’re stuffed. But we’ll take the bill. *In the US, don’t forget to give a 20% tip if you have a server.
Asking/Giving directions 1. How can I get to the botanical gardens? –Just keep going straight, and go right at the big intersection. 2. Where can I find the tourist information center? –It’s across the street from the McDonalds up there. 3. I thought that the Hilton Hotel was around here, but I think I’m on the wrong street. Do you know where it is? –Oh yeah, just go back one block and turn left at the light. 4. I’m trying to get to the train station. Am I on the right road? –Yeah, but it’s a long way to walk. You can catch the bus right here in five minutes. 5. How can I get to the center of town? At the third light, turn right, and you’ll see a big statue of a horse on your left. That’s downtown.
Getting attraction tickets 1. I’d like to get four tickets for the zoo, please. 2. Sorry, the concert is fully booked/is full. –Oh, I didn’t know that we needed reservations. Can I get on a waiting list? 3. Do I need to buy tickets in advance? Or can I just walk up and get them? 4. Is there any way to skip/jump the line? –You can buy a fast pass, but it’ll cost $20 extra per ticket. 5. We bought tickets for tomorrow, but we’re not going to be able to go. Can we return them? www.SpeakEnglishWithVanessa.com