Making Bookings
Whether you are booking a restaurant table, a hotel room, a tour, or an activity, knowing the right English phrases ensures your reservation is made correctly.
Making a Reservation
| Type | Key phrases |
|---|---|
| Restaurant | ”I’d like to book a table for [number] people on [date] at [time], please.” |
| Hotel | ”I’d like to reserve a room for [number] nights from [date].” |
| Tour / Activity | ”I’d like to book [number] places on the [name] tour.” |
| By phone | ”Could I make a reservation for…?” |
| In person | ”I’d like to make a booking, please.” |
Checking and Confirming
After making a booking, confirm the details:
- “Could you confirm the booking reference, please?”
- “So that’s a table for four on Friday the 12th at 7pm — is that right?”
- “Will you send a confirmation email?”
- “Is a deposit required?”
Always ask for a booking reference number or confirmation email. This protects you if there is a dispute about the reservation. Screenshot it or write it down.
Booking Vocabulary
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Reservation / booking | An arrangement to have something held for you |
| Availability | Whether something is free/open |
| Deposit | Money paid in advance to secure the booking |
| Cancellation policy | Rules about cancelling and getting refunds |
| Non-refundable | Cannot be refunded if cancelled |
| Flexible booking | Can be changed or cancelled without penalty |
| Check-in / check-out | Arrival / departure (hotel) |
| No-show | Failing to arrive for a booking |
Changing or Cancelling a Booking
| Situation | Phrase |
|---|---|
| Change date/time | ”I’d like to change my reservation — is it possible to move it to [new date/time]?” |
| Change number of people | ”I need to add/reduce the number in my party to [X].” |
| Cancel | ”I need to cancel my reservation for [date]. The name is [Name].” |
| Cancellation fee | ”Is there a cancellation fee?” |
Always check the cancellation policy before booking. Many budget hotels, flights, and attractions offer non-refundable rates that are cheaper but cannot be changed. If flexibility matters, choose a “flexible” or “free cancellation” option even if it costs more.
When Something Goes Wrong
If your booking is not honoured:
“I have a reservation under the name [Name] for [date/time]. Could you check your records, please?”
If there is no record:
“I have a confirmation email here — could you look into this?”