Una noche en el hotel
A night at the hotel
1 · Spanish Story
La historia
Llego al hotel en Santiago. La recepción está tranquila. Hay una mesa. Hay una planta. Veo a una mujer en el mostrador. Ella sonríe. Ella me saluda.
Yo digo: “Tengo una reserva”. Ella mira su computador. Busca mi nombre. Luego me da una tarjeta. Dice: “Tu pieza está en el tercer piso”.
Subo por el ascensor. La pieza está limpia. Hay dos camas. Hay una ventana. Pongo mi bolso sobre la silla. Abro la puerta del baño. El agua está fría.
Bajo otra vez. Digo: “Mi tarjeta no abre la puerta”. Ella revisa la tarjeta. Luego me da otra tarjeta. Dice: “Ahora abre al tiro”. Yo sonrío. Más tarde. Descanso en la pieza. El hotel está en silencio.
2 · Key Phrases
Language to keep
Tengo una reserva
I have a reservationA simple way to tell the hotel staff that you booked a room.
Tengo una reserva para mañana.
I have a reservation for tomorrow.
Tu pieza está en el tercer piso
Your room is on the third floorIn Chile, pieza is a common word for a room in a hotel or house.
Usage: The phrase uses pieza, a Chilean word for room. In many other places, people say habitación.
Tu pieza está cerca del ascensor.
Your room is near the elevator.
Mi tarjeta no abre la puerta
My card does not open the doorUseful for telling hotel staff about a key card problem.
Mi tarjeta no abre la puerta de mi pieza.
My card does not open my room door.
abre al tiro
opens right awayThis phrase is common in Chile and means that something works immediately.
Usage: Conversational; common in relaxed speech. This phrase is common in Chile. It means the door opens right away.
La tarjeta nueva abre al tiro.
The new card opens right away.
3 · English Translation
The full story in English
I arrive at the hotel in Santiago. The reception is quiet. There is a table. There is a plant. I see a woman at the counter. She smiles. She greets me.
I say: “I have a reservation”. She looks at her computer. She looks for my name. Then she gives me a card. She says: “Your room is on the third floor”.
I go up in the elevator. The room is clean. There are two beds. There is a window. I put my bag on the chair. I open the bathroom door. The water is cold.
I go down again. I say: “My card does not open the door”. She checks the card. Then she gives me another card. She says: “Now it opens right away”. I smile. Later. I rest in the room. The hotel is quiet.