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Intermediate · Real-life conversations · topic 30 of 59 · 16 min

Travel: stations, airports, hotels and directions

Explanation

When you travel, a few phrases do most of the work: buying a ticket, checking in at an airport or hotel, and asking the way. Learn the direction words: go straight, turn left, opposite, next to. Some Indian travel words are different abroad, so learn both. यात्रा में सबसे ज़्यादा काम आने वाले वाक्य।

Travel English is short and practical. Nobody at a ticket counter or hotel desk wants a long speech. A polite opening ("Excuse me", "Hi"), a clear request and a "thank you" are enough. You already know "Could you" and "I'd like" from module 7; here we use them on the road.

Tickets and bookings

I'd like two tickets to Jaipur for tomorrow, please.

Say it: aid LYK TOO TIK-its to JAI-pur for to-MOR-oh, pleez

मुझे कल के लिए जयपुर के दो टिकट चाहिए।

Ticket "to" a place, not "for" a place: "a ticket to Jaipur".

Is there a seat available in sleeper class?

Say it: iz thair a SEET a-VAY-la-bul in SLEE-per klaas?

क्या स्लीपर क्लास में सीट खाली है?

Available (उपलब्ध) = free to book or use.

At the airport

Could I have a window seat, please?

Say it: kud ai hav a WIN-doh SEET, pleez?

क्या मुझे खिड़की वाली सीट मिल सकती है?

The seat next to the walkway is an "aisle seat". Aisle sounds exactly like "I'll"; the s is silent.

Which gate does the Mumbai flight leave from?

Say it: wich GAYT duz the mum-BAI FLYT LEEV from?

मुंबई वाली फ़्लाइट किस गेट से जाएगी?

Useful airport words: check-in counter, boarding pass, security check, gate, delayed.

At the hotel

Hi, I have a booking under the name Anil Verma.

Say it: hai, ai HAV a BUK-ing UN-der the NAYM AA-nil VER-ma

नमस्ते, अनिल वर्मा के नाम से मेरी बुकिंग है।

Say "I have a booking", not "I am having a booking".

Sorry to trouble you, but the AC in my room isn't working.

Say it: SOR-ee to TRUB-ul yoo, but the AY-SEE in my ROOM IZ-unt WURK-ing

तकलीफ़ देने के लिए माफ़ी, पर मेरे कमरे का एसी काम नहीं कर रहा।

A polite complaint (शिकायत): soft start + the problem + a request ("Could someone check it?").

Asking and giving directions

Excuse me, how do I get to the railway station?

Say it: ik-SKYOOZ mee, HOW doo ai GET to the RAYL-way STAY-shun?

सुनिए, रेलवे स्टेशन कैसे जाऊँ?

Direction wordsHindiExample
go straightसीधे जाइएGo straight for about two hundred metres.
turn left / turn rightबाएँ / दाएँ मुड़िएTurn right at the traffic signal.
oppositeसामने (सड़क के उस पार)The bank is opposite the post office.
next toबगल मेंThe ATM is next to the chemist.
betweenके बीच मेंIt's between the school and the temple.
on the cornerमोड़ / नुक्कड़ परThe tea stall is on the corner.
It's a five-minute walk.पैदल पाँच मिनटThe metro is a five-minute walk from here.

Go straight and take the second left. It's opposite the bank.

Say it: goh STRAYT and tayk the SEK-und LEFT. its OP-a-zit the BANK

सीधे जाइए और दूसरा बायाँ मोड़ लीजिए। वह बैंक के सामने है।

Will you go by the meter?

Say it: wil yoo GOH by the MEE-ter?

मीटर से चलोगे?

For an auto or taxi. You can also ask: "How much to the airport?"

Common in IndiaAlso heard abroadNote
railway stationtrain station (US), railway station (UK)Both are understood.
liftelevator (US), lift (UK)In the US, say elevator.
washroomrestroom (US), toilet (UK)Washroom is also common in Canada.
cab / autotaxi, cabAn auto rickshaw is mostly a South Asian thing.
petrol pumpgas station (US), petrol station (UK)
return ticketround-trip ticket (US)UK English also says return.
Think of it like this: Giving directions in English is like how your local paan-wala gives them: short steps and landmarks (पहचान की जगह). "Seedha jaake, mandir ke saamne" becomes "Go straight; it's opposite the temple." Same idea, English words.
Careful: Common mistakes: "Where is washroom?" (say "Excuse me, where's the washroom?"), "Give one ticket Pune" (say "One ticket to Pune, please"), "Take left" (say "Turn left" or "Take a left"), "I am having a booking" (say "I have a booking").
Tip: Every time you walk somewhere this week, say the route to yourself in English: "I go straight, turn left at the bakery, and the shop is next to the bank."

Watch the lesson

Travel: stations, airports, hotels and directions · 1/7

Travel English

Hello! Today we learn English for travel: tickets, airports, hotels and directions.

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In real life: At the railway station enquiry counter

Meera: Excuse me, is this the enquiry counter? Clerk: Yes, madam. How can I help you? Meera: Which platform does the 6:40 train to Chandigarh leave from? Clerk: Platform 4. It's running about twenty minutes late today. Meera: Thank you. And where is the waiting room? Clerk: Take the foot overbridge and go down to Platform 4. It's next to the food stall. Meera: Is there a washroom there too? Clerk: Yes, it's right opposite the waiting room. Meera: Great, thanks a lot.

Practice (0/4 done)

Task 1 · Speak

Ask for directions politely.

Excuse me, how do I get to the railway station from here?

सुनिए, यहाँ से रेलवे स्टेशन कैसे जाऊँ?

Press Speak, then say the sentence.
Task 2 · Listen and type

Listen and type the directions.

Task 3 · Practice

A visitor asks you the way from your house to the nearest bus stop or station. Write the directions in five or six sentences.

Task 4 · Question

In the US, what do people usually call a "lift"?

Quick quiz

Question 1

1.At a ticket counter, the most natural request is...

Question 2

2."The bank is opposite the post office" means the bank is...

Question 3

3.In an American airport, the usual polite word for the toilet is...

Question 4

4.How does "aisle" (as in aisle seat) sound?

Question 5

5.Your hotel room is very noisy. The best way to complain is...

Pass the quiz (60% or more) or mark this topic as done when you are ready.

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