9 Korean phrases for hotel check-in, your stay, and checking out
Hotel Korean is more formal than most situations a traveller meets, and reception staff will speak to you in the highest polite forms. You do not have to match them: clear polite 요 speech from a guest is exactly right, and every phrase here is in that register.
These nine lines cover a whole stay in order, from the moment you reach the desk to the taxi at the end. Most are questions, because a hotel is one of the few places where you need information from the other person rather than just food.
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예약했는데요.
yeyakaenneundeyo.
I have a reservation.
Literally: (I) reserved, and so...
The -는데요 ending trails off on purpose: it hands the turn to the receptionist, who will ask for your name. Say your name as it appears on the booking, surname first if you booked under a Korean one.
Ask Ipsae about this phrase → -
체크인 몇 시부터예요?
chekeuin myeot sibuteoyeyo?
What time is check-in from?
Literally: Check-in how many o'clock from is?
For when you arrive early. 몇 시 asks the hour, and 부터 (from) is what turns it into a question about when the room opens up rather than what time it is now.
Ask Ipsae about this phrase → -
짐 좀 맡겨도 돼요?
jim jom matgyeodo dwaeyo?
Can I leave my bags here?
Literally: Luggage a little entrust-even-if is fine?
-아/어도 돼요 is the standard 'is it okay if I', and 좀 softens it further. Works before check-in and after check-out; most hotels will tag the bag and hand you a slip.
Ask Ipsae about this phrase → -
와이파이 비밀번호가 뭐예요?
waipai bimilbeonhoga mwoyeyo?
What is the wifi password?
Literally: Wifi secret-number what is?
비밀번호 is literally 'secret number' and covers passwords, PINs and door codes. The answer is often printed on your key card sleeve, so check there first.
Ask Ipsae about this phrase → -
조식 포함이에요?
josik pohamieyo?
Is breakfast included?
Literally: Breakfast inclusion is?
조식 is the hotel word for breakfast; in daily speech people say 아침. If it is included the reply usually comes with the hours and the floor, so listen for 층 (floor) and 시 (o'clock).
Ask Ipsae about this phrase → -
수건 좀 더 주세요.
sugeon jom deo juseyo.
Could I have some more towels?
Literally: Towel a little more give.
Swap 수건 for 물 (water), 베개 (pillow) or 휴지 (toilet paper). Said at the desk or on the room phone; 좀 더 (a little more) is the polite way to ask for extras of anything.
Ask Ipsae about this phrase → -
체크아웃 몇 시예요?
chekeuaut myeot siyeyo?
What time is check-out?
Literally: Check-out how many o'clock is?
Eleven is common in Korea, sometimes noon. If you need longer, the follow-up is 늦게 체크아웃할 수 있어요? (can I check out late?), which may cost extra.
Ask Ipsae about this phrase → -
하루 더 연장할 수 있어요?
haru deo yeonjanghal su isseoyo?
Can I extend one more night?
Literally: One day more extend can?
하루 is one day and 연장 is extension, the same word used for visas and contracts. Ask the morning of your last day rather than the evening; the rate may differ from your booking site.
Ask Ipsae about this phrase → -
택시 좀 불러 주세요.
taeksi jom bulleo juseyo.
Could you call me a taxi?
Literally: Taxi a little call give.
The front desk will do this, and knowing where you are going helps: say 공항까지요 (to the airport) or 역까지요 (to the station). Many travellers use the Kakao T app instead, but the desk is the fallback when the app will not take a foreign card.
Ask Ipsae about this phrase →
Two endings do most of the work here: -아/어도 돼요 (is it okay if I) for permission and -(으)ㄹ 수 있어요 (can I) for possibility. Learn those two and you can improvise the hotel questions this list left out, from 늦게 들어와도 돼요 (can I come back late) to 방을 바꿀 수 있어요 (can I change rooms).