Describing Accommodation in German

This section explains how to describe accommodation in German, providing vocabulary and examples.  It also includes tips for students studying foundation and higher tiers.

Accommodation

Accommodation is an essential part of travel, and there are many different types of places to stay. In Germany, as in other countries, you can choose from hotels, hostels, bed and breakfasts, apartments, and more. Below are some common types of accommodation you might encounter while travelling.

Key Vocabulary:

• Das Hotel – Hotel
• Das Hostel – Hostel
• Die Pension – Guesthouse/B&B
• Die Ferienwohnung – Holiday apartment
• Das Zelt – Tent
• Der Campingplatz – Campsite
• Das Luxusresort – Luxury resort
• Das Gästezimmer – Guest room
• Das Einzelzimmer – Single room
• Das Doppelzimmer – Double room
• Das Familienzimmer – Family room
• Der Preis – Price
• Die Ausstattung – Facilities/Equipment
• Die Rezeption – Reception
• Der Aufzug – Lift/elevator
• Der WLAN-Zugang – Wi-Fi access

Describing the Accommodation

When talking about accommodation, it’s helpful to describe the type of place you're staying in, what facilities are available, and your opinion of it. Here are some useful phrases.

Example Phrases for Describing Accommodation:

• Ich habe in einem Hotel in der Stadtmitte übernachtet.
  (I stayed in a hotel in the city centre.)
• Die Pension war sehr gemütlich und die Besitzer waren freundlich.
  (The guesthouse was very cosy and the owners were friendly.)
• Das Hotel bietet kostenloses WLAN und ein Frühstücksbuffet.
  (The hotel offers free Wi-Fi and a breakfast buffet.)
• Unser Zimmer hatte einen Balkon mit Blick auf das Meer.
  (Our room had a balcony with a view of the sea.)
• Die Ferienwohnung war modern und gut ausgestattet.
  (The holiday apartment was modern and well-equipped.)
• Das Zimmer war sehr sauber und hatte ein bequemes Bett.
  (The room was very clean and had a comfortable bed.)
• Das Hostel war billig, aber es war nicht sehr gemütlich.
  (The hostel was cheap, but it wasn’t very cosy.)
• In der Pension gab es keinen Aufzug, was unpraktisch war.
  (There was no lift in the guesthouse, which was inconvenient.)

Describing Facilities

When describing accommodation, you might want to mention the facilities available to you, such as Wi-Fi, breakfast, or a pool. Here are some useful phrases to do this.

Common Facilities Vocabulary:

• Kostenloses WLAN – Free Wi-Fi
• Frühstück inbegriffen – Breakfast included
• Der Pool – The pool
• Der Fitnessraum – The gym
• Der Parkplatz – The car park
• Die Sauna – The sauna
• Die Klimaanlage – The air conditioning
• Der Fernseher – The TV
• Die Küche – The kitchen
• Die Terrasse – The terrace

Example Sentences:

• Das Hotel hat einen Pool und einen Fitnessraum.
  (The hotel has a pool and a gym.)
• Es gab keine Klimaanlage im Zimmer, was im Sommer unangenehm war.
  (There was no air conditioning in the room, which was uncomfortable in the summer.)
• In der Ferienwohnung hatten wir Zugang zur Küche, was sehr praktisch war.
  (In the holiday apartment, we had access to the kitchen, which was very practical.)
• Das Frühstück war lecker, aber es war nicht inbegriffen.
  (The breakfast was tasty, but it was not included.)
• Die Pension hat nur wenige Zimmer, aber es gibt einen wunderschönen Garten.
  (The guesthouse has only a few rooms, but there is a beautiful garden.)

Booking Accommodation

In conversations about accommodation, you may need to talk about the process of booking, the price, and the duration of your stay. Here are some common phrases to help you with this.

Useful Phrases for Booking Accommodation:

• Ich habe ein Einzelzimmer für zwei Nächte gebucht.
  (I booked a single room for two nights.)
• Wir haben das Zimmer online reserviert.
  (We reserved the room online.)
• Wie viel kostet das Zimmer pro Nacht?
  (How much does the room cost per night?)
• Das Zimmer war sehr günstig, nur 50 Euro pro Nacht.
  (The room was very cheap, only 50 euros per night.)
• Gibt es einen Rabatt für längere Aufenthalte?
  (Is there a discount for longer stays?)
• Die Buchung wurde bestätigt.
  (The booking was confirmed.)
• Wir haben leider keine Zimmer mehr frei.
  (Unfortunately, we have no rooms available.)

Discussing the Location

When describing accommodation, you might also want to talk about its location in the town, city, or area.

Example Phrases:

• Das Hotel liegt im Zentrum der Stadt.
  (The hotel is located in the city centre.)
• Die Ferienwohnung ist sehr ruhig, in der Nähe des Waldes.
  (The holiday apartment is very quiet, near the forest.)
• Das Hostel ist etwas außerhalb der Stadt, aber gut mit dem Bus erreichbar.
  (The hostel is a bit outside the city, but easily accessible by bus.)
• Das Hotel hat einen tollen Blick auf den See.
  (The hotel has a great view of the lake.)
• Die Pension ist weit entfernt vom nächsten Bahnhof.
  (The guesthouse is far from the nearest train station.)

Higher Tier Vocabulary

Luxuriös – Luxurious

Verfügbar – Available

Bequem – Comfortable

Modern und stilvoll – Modern and stylish

Die Lage – Location

Die Einrichtung – The interior design

Geräumig – Spacious

Der Ausblick – The view

Die Ausstattung – The equipment/facilities

Das Zimmer war schallisoliert. – The room was soundproof.

Higher Tier Example Sentences:

• Das Hotel war luxuriös und verfügte über ein modernes Fitnessstudio und einen Spa-Bereich.
  (The hotel was luxurious and had a modern gym and a spa area.)
• Die Ferienwohnung war geräumig, mit einem tollen Ausblick auf den See.
  (The holiday apartment was spacious, with a great view of the lake.)
• Die Ausstattung des Hotels war hervorragend, aber die Lage war nicht ideal.
  (The hotel's facilities were excellent, but the location was not ideal.)

Example Dialogue:

Wo hast du während deiner Reise übernachtet?
(Where did you stay during your trip?)

Ich habe in einem kleinen Hotel in der Nähe des Strandes übernachtet. Es war sehr gemütlich.
(I stayed in a small hotel near the beach. It was very cosy.)

Gab es dort gute Einrichtungen?
(Were there good facilities there?)

Ja, das Hotel hatte einen schönen Pool und kostenloses WLAN. Das Frühstück war auch lecker.
(Yes, the hotel had a lovely pool and free Wi-Fi. The breakfast was also tasty.)

Wie viel hat das Zimmer gekostet?
(How much did the room cost?)

Es war nicht teuer, nur 60 Euro pro Nacht.
(It wasn't expensive, only 60 euros per night.)

Common Problems with Accommodation

When talking about accommodation, it’s also useful to know how to express dissatisfaction or problems with your stay.

Common Problems:

• Das Zimmer war zu klein.
  (The room was too small.)
• Es gab kein warmes Wasser im Badezimmer.
  (There was no hot water in the bathroom.)
• Die Heizung hat nicht funktioniert.
  (The heating didn’t work.)
• Das Bett war unbequem.
  (The bed was uncomfortable.)
• Es war zu laut im Hotel.
  (It was too noisy in the hotel.)
• Es gab keine Handtücher im Zimmer.
  (There were no towels in the room.)

Example Sentences:

• Ich habe mich beschwert, weil das Zimmer viel zu warm war.
  (I complained because the room was too warm.)
• Leider war das WLAN im ganzen Hotel sehr schlecht.
  (Unfortunately, the Wi-Fi in the whole hotel was very bad.)

These notes should help you describe accommodation in German at both Foundation and Higher Tier levels. Use the vocabulary and phrases to talk about where you stayed, the facilities available, and your overall experience.