How to call a hotel in Italian
By the Travel's Calling team · Updated October 30, 2026
The hotel call is the first one most travelers make in Italy: you're arriving late, you want to confirm the booking, or you need an early check-in. The good news is that it follows a predictable script. Here's what the front desk will say, what they'll ask, and the Italian that answers it.
How the call usually opens
A small hotel will usually answer with its name and "buongiorno" (or "buonasera" later in the day), then wait for you. Lead with the greeting and get straight to the point: "Buongiorno, ho una prenotazione." (Good morning, I have a reservation.) That one sentence tells them who you are and why you're calling.
What they'll ask you
Expect "Il cognome?" (your last name), "Per quante notti?" (for how many nights?), and sometimes "Come si scrive?" (how is it spelled?). Italians often spell using city names (A come Ancona, B come Bologna), but spelling letter by letter, slowly, works fine. Have your confirmation number ready.
The city tax
Many Italian cities charge a tassa di soggiorno (tourist or city tax) for overnight stays, including Rome, Florence, Venice and Milan. It's usually paid at the hotel and often isn't included in your online price, so don't be surprised when it comes up on the phone or at check-in. You can ask: "La tassa di soggiorno è inclusa?"
Arriving late
This is the most common reason to call. Give a time and ask them to hold the room: "Arrivo stasera verso le undici. Potete tenere la camera?" If the reception closes at night, they may give you a door code or tell you where to collect the key. Ask them to repeat any numbers and read them back.
Make it easier on yourself
- Write your last name, dates and booking number before dialing.
- Learn to say your arrival time in Italian. Italians often use the 24-hour clock (le ventitré = 11 PM).
- If you get stuck, try a full Italian sentence first, then ask "Parla inglese?" Trying first usually earns a warmer response.
- Rehearse the call out loud with a partner who asks the questions back.
Phrase table
| Italian | Say it | English |
|---|---|---|
| Buongiorno, ho una prenotazione. | bwohn-JOR-noh, oh OO-nah preh-noh-tah-TSYOH-neh | Good morning, I have a reservation. |
| A nome di Smith. | ah NOH-meh dee Smith | Under the name Smith. |
| Arrivo stasera verso le undici. | ah-REE-voh stah-SEH-rah VEHR-soh leh OON-dee-chee | I'm arriving tonight around eleven. |
| Potete tenere la camera? | poh-TEH-teh teh-NEH-reh lah KAH-meh-rah | Can you hold the room? |
| È possibile fare il check-in prima? | eh pos-SEE-bee-leh FAH-reh eel check-in PREE-mah | Is early check-in possible? |
| Per tre notti. | pehr treh NOT-tee | For three nights. |
| La colazione è inclusa? | lah koh-lah-TSYOH-neh eh een-KLOO-zah | Is breakfast included? |
| La tassa di soggiorno è inclusa? | lah TAHS-sah dee soj-JOR-noh eh een-KLOO-zah | Is the city tax included? |
| Scusi, può ripetere? | SKOO-zee, pwoh ree-PEH-teh-reh | Sorry, can you repeat? |
Practice this call before you go
Travel's Calling turns your own trip into practice phone calls. Pick your destination, upload your itinerary or type a few plans, choose your level, and take a voice call in your browser with an AI character who answers in the local language. After each call you get a short trip report. It works for destinations around the world, so you can rehearse this call in Italian.
Start practicing on Travel's Calling →Quick answers
- How do I say I have a reservation in Italian?
- "Ho una prenotazione" (oh OO-nah preh-noh-tah-TSYOH-neh), then "a nome di" and your last name.
- Is the city tax included in Italian hotel prices?
- Often not. The tassa di soggiorno is usually paid at the hotel, so ask whether it's included.