Italian for hotels: check-in, rooms and requests
Hotel Italian is mostly predictable, except for a handful of words that look exactly like their English cousins and mean something completely different. These are the phrases for check-in through check-out, and the traps worth knowing before you get to reception.
Checking in
Ho una prenotazione a nome Smith.
I have a reservation under Smith.
Avete una camera per stanotte?
Do you have a room for tonight?
camera means room, not a camera. The device is macchina fotografica.
La colazione è inclusa?
Is breakfast included?
A che ora è il check-out?
What time is check-out?
Potrei avere una camera vicino ai miei parenti?
Could I have a room near my relatives?
parenti means relatives, not parents. Your mother and father are i tuoi genitori.
The room
Il pavimento è un po' sporco.
The floor is a bit dirty.
pavimento means floor, not pavement. A pavement/sidewalk is marciapiede.
Avete una camera con vista?
Do you have a room with a view?
L'aria condizionata non funziona.
The air conditioning isn't working.
C'è qualcosa per la pelle sensibile?
Is there anything for sensitive skin?
sensibile means sensitive here, close to English, but a sensible/reasonable person is ragionevole, not sensibile.
Potrei avere un cuscino in più?
Could I have an extra pillow?
Requests and problems
Potrebbe chiamarmi un taxi?
Could you call a taxi for me?
Vorrei lasciare le valigie in deposito.
I'd like to store my bags.
A che ora chiude la piscina?
What time does the pool close?
Congratulazioni, sono quelli i confetti del matrimonio?
Congratulations, is that wedding confetti?
confetti are sugared almonds given as wedding favors, not paper confetti. Paper confetti is coriandoli.
Grazie, è stato tutto ottimo.
Thank you, everything was great.
False friend traps
camera looks like camera (the device), but means room
Camera doppia is a double room. The device for taking pictures is macchina fotografica or fotocamera.
pavimento looks like pavement, but means floor
Il pavimento della camera is the room's floor. A pavement or sidewalk outside is marciapiede.
parenti looks like parents, but means relatives
I miei parenti vengono a trovarmi means my relatives are visiting. Mom and dad specifically are i genitori.
sensibile looks like sensible, but means sensitive (emotionally or physically)
Pelle sensibile is sensitive skin. A sensible, reasonable decision is una decisione ragionevole.
confetti looks like paper confetti, but means sugared almonds
Confetti are the candy given out at Italian weddings and christenings. What gets thrown in the air at parties is coriandoli.
FAQ
Common questions
Short answers to what people ask most about this situation.
Is tipping expected at Italian hotels?
Not obligatory, but a euro or two for housekeeping or a bellhop who helps with bags is a nice gesture, more common in city and business hotels than small family-run ones.
What's the difference between a camera matrimoniale and a camera doppia?
A camera matrimoniale has one large bed, while a camera doppia has two single beds. Always specify which you want when booking, since the names sound interchangeable but aren't.
Do Italian hotels charge a city tax?
Many do: a tassa di soggiorno charged per person per night, usually a few euros, paid in cash directly at the hotel and separate from the room rate booked online.
What time is check-in and check-out?
Standard is check-in from 2-3pm and check-out by 10-11am, though smaller hotels are often flexible if you ask at reception - it's worth asking rather than assuming.