Practice English for travel

Travel throws quick, real conversations at you: checking in, ordering a meal, asking for directions, sorting out a problem at a hotel. Knowing the words is not enough — you need to say them, and understand the reply.

Airi role-plays the people you will meet on your trip: the airline agent, the waiter, the receptionist, the stranger you ask for directions. You practice the whole exchange out loud, in a natural voice, until it feels easy. When your trip comes, the conversations are ones you have already had.

A quick example with Airi

I'm the check-in agent. Good morning! May I see your passport, please?

Yes, here it is. I want to check one bag.

Certainly. Would you like a window or an aisle seat?

Window, please. How much is for the bag?

Small fix: "How much is the bag?" It's twenty dollars. Anything else?

Try a conversation like this, free600 free credits, about 8 minutes of speaking. No card.

Travel conversations to rehearse before any trip

Many travel conversations follow the same short pattern: you walk up to a counter, say one line, and get a quick question back. Say the middle column out loud, then check that the reply in the right column would not surprise you.

Moment	You say	You may hear
Hotel check-in	Hi, I have a reservation under the name Silva, for two nights.	Could I see your passport and a credit card for incidentals?
Getting a table	A table for two, please. We don't have a reservation.	It'll be about fifteen minutes. Is that OK?
Ordering food	I'll have the steak, please.	How would you like that cooked?
Ordering coffee	Could I have a small latte, please?	For here or to go?
Paying	Could we have the check, please?	Sure. Together or separate?
Asking directions	Excuse me, how do I get to the train station from here?	Go straight for two blocks, then turn left at the light.
Buying a ticket	One ticket to the airport, please.	One-way or round-trip?

"Incidentals" are extras charged to your room, such as the minibar or room service, and many hotels place a temporary hold on your card to cover them. Answer the steak question with "rare", "medium" or "well done". "Together or separate?" asks whether you want one check for the table or one for each person.

Travel phrases for hotels, restaurants, shops and getting around

When you need to	Say
Stay in the room a little longer	Could I check out an hour later?
Leave your bags after checkout	Could I leave my luggage here until this afternoon?
Mention an allergy	I'm allergic to nuts. Does this have nuts in it?
Take your food with you	Could I get this to go?
Find your size in a shop	Do you have this in a larger size?
Check how you can pay	Do you take credit cards?
Check you are on the right bus	Does this bus go to the city center?
Know when to get off	Could you tell me when we get to the museum stop?
Take a taxi	Could you take me to this address, please? About how much will it be?

Notice the openers: "Could I ...", "Could you ..." and "Do you ..." (or "Does this ..."). Keep the opener, change the ending, and you have a new polite request: "Could I have another towel?", "Do you have a table outside?"

American and British travel words that mean the same thing

Which word you hear depends on where you are and who is speaking, so learn to recognize both columns even if you only say one. The first row is the one that can send you to the wrong floor: in American usage the first floor is at street level, while in British usage it is the floor above the ground floor.

American English	British English	Where you will meet it
first floor	ground floor	Elevator buttons and directions inside a hotel
elevator	lift	Hotels and stations
restroom, bathroom	toilet	Restaurants, stations and airports
check	bill	Restaurants
takeout, to go	takeaway	Cafes and fast food
line	queue	Airports and ticket offices
round-trip ticket	return ticket	Trains and buses
one-way ticket	single ticket	Trains and buses
subway	underground (in London, the Tube)	City transport

Common travel English mistakes and what to say instead

Instead of	Say	Why
I want a coffee.	Could I have a coffee, please?	"I want" is grammatical but can sound abrupt. "Could I have" and "I'd like" are the usual polite ways to order.
I have a reservation on the name Silva.	I have a reservation under the name Silva.	A booking is "under" a name. "In the name of Silva" is also correct.
How can I go to the station?	How do I get to the station?	"Go to" will be understood, but "get to" is the natural phrase when you ask for directions.
I lost my bus.	I missed my bus.	You lose things you cannot find. A bus, train or flight you were too late for is "missed".
We are four.	There are four of us.	To say how many people are in your group, use "there are ... of us". At a restaurant, "A table for four, please" also works.
I'd like to make the check-in.	I'd like to check in.	"Check in" is already a verb, so it needs no "make". The same goes for "check out".
Can you make a photo of us?	Could you take a picture of us, please?	In English you "take" a photo or a picture.

What to say when something goes wrong on your trip

When something goes wrong, keep it simple: say what happened in one sentence, then ask one clear question.

Room problem. "The air conditioning in my room isn't working. Could someone take a look, or could I change rooms?"
Lost key. "I've lost my key card. Could I get another one? I'm in room 508."
Wrong order. "Excuse me, I don't think this is what I ordered. I ordered the vegetarian pasta."
Mistake on the check. "I think there's a mistake on the check. We only had two drinks."
Card declined. "Could you try it one more time? If it still doesn't work, I'll use a different card."
Missed train. "I missed my train. Can I use this ticket on the next one?"
Feeling sick. "I'm not feeling well. Is there a pharmacy or a doctor nearby?"

An eight-minute travel rehearsal with Airi

Your free credits cover about eight minutes of speaking, enough for two short scenes. Pick the two travel moments you are most nervous about.

Set the scene in one sentence: "Be a hotel receptionist. I'm checking in for three nights. Speak at a natural pace."
Check in, then ask for one extra thing: a later checkout, a quieter room, or somewhere to leave your bags.
Add a problem: "Now tell me you can't find my reservation." Stay polite and ask what can be done.
When Airi shows a small fix, repeat the corrected line the way you would say it at the front desk, then carry on with the scene.
Switch scenes: "Now be a waiter in a busy restaurant. Ask me follow-up questions about my order."
If you miss a reply, stay in English: "Sorry, I didn't catch that. Could you say it again?" The same line works with real staff on your trip.

How to get the most from it

Pick your trip

Tell Airi where you're going and what you'll do, and she'll role-play the exact situations you'll face.

Practice understanding, not just speaking

Let Airi speak at a natural pace so your ear gets used to real replies, not textbook ones.

Handle problems

Rehearse the awkward ones: a delayed flight, a wrong order, a room that isn't ready.

Start speaking today

Your first 600 credits are free — no credit card. Sign in and have your first conversation with Airi.

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Frequently asked questions

What travel situations can I practice?

Airports, hotels, restaurants, taxis, shops, asking for directions, and handling problems. Tell Airi the setting and she will play the other person.

Does this practice listening as well as speaking?

Yes. Airi answers out loud, and you can ask her to speak at a natural pace, so you practice catching a spoken reply as well as saying your own line. Real voices vary in accent and speed, so it is still worth having a phrase ready for asking someone to repeat.

Can I practice on my phone before a flight?

Yes. Airi runs in your phone's browser, and you can add it to your home screen for quick access. She needs an internet connection, so practice before you board.

What should I say if I don't understand the reply?

Ask again instead of guessing: "Sorry, could you say that again more slowly?" or "Could you write that down for me?" Both are polite and perfectly normal requests.

Should I learn American or British English for travel?

Either works, because both are widely understood. Speak the one you know, and learn to recognize the few words that differ, such as check and bill, elevator and lift, or line and queue.

Is it free to try?

Yes. You start with 600 free credits when you sign up with Google, which is about eight minutes of speaking. After that, credits come in one-off packs of USD 5, 10 or 20, with no subscription.

Last updated: 2026-10-03