HOTEL REVIEW
“This hotel will give you nightmares”
We stayed 3 nights at this overpriced dump. We arrived late at night and the dingy lobby was the first sign of the impending disaster. The room was small and cramped (“cozy” was the description on their web site), with a carpet covered with stains (some that looked like blood...possibly from a previous murder?). The shower was filthy, and the toilet nasty, with something floating in it (we didn’t look too closely). The bed (mattress), was a lumpy mess and I woke up with red marks all over my body. I don’t know if this was from the bedbugs, or the mosquitos that came in through the window. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that there was no AC so we had to open the window because the room was so stuffy. Unfortunately, the hotel was right on the main street, and the traffic kept us up half the night. The hotel is only a 5 minute walk to Red Square, which is a plus, but it was a very dark and dangerous area of the city. The staff was unfriendly and unhelpful. Avoid this hell-hole!
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“Delightful”
I recently stayed at this superb hotel in the center of Moscow. The hotel exceeded our expectations and certainly lived up to its excellent ratings on Tripadvisor. If you're looking for somewhere clean, comfortable, safe, and very close to Red Square....this is it. The room was very spacious, with lots of light and a big comfortable bed. In terms of cleanliness, it was impeccable. The only downside was the window (kind of small). The location is great and within walking distance of everything we wanted to see. Continental breakfast was included, but not very good. The staff was top-notch and very accommodating. They go out of their way to make dinner reservations, recommend local attractions, and make you feel welcome. We would definitely stay there again. Really, in terms of location, you can't beat this hotel.
HOTELS: Discussion
1. Have you ever stayed in a hotel that you would call a “dump”?
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3. How would you handle the following situations?
a) your hotel pillow has a dark stain on itb) the people in the room next door are
making love (loudly)c) you find something floating in your toilet
4. Which would you prefer, and why?a) a large but dingy hotel room b) a cramped room but with new furniture
5. What are you main criteria when selecting a hotel? a) Price b) Location c) Good review d) Swimming
pool e) other...
6. What's the worst hotel you've ever stayed at? The best?
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7. What aspects of staying in hotels do you like/dislike?
8. Do you like staying at Bed & Breakfasts?
9. What are some of the downsides of staying in a youth
hostel?
10. Have you ever tried something like couch-surfing or
a home-exchange?
11. Have you ever ordered room service?
12. Do you ever eat anything from the minibar? Why or
why not?
13. Have you ever had bed-bugs, either at home or in a
hotel?
14. Have you ever stolen anything from a hotel?
15. How do you choose your hotel? (Travel agency,
internet...?)
16. What are your favorite web sites for finding hotels
and reading reviews?
17. Do you trust the reviews you read? Or must you
take them with a grain of salt?
18. Have you ever written a hotel review? If not, why
not?
19. What kind of people do you think actually take the
time to write online reviews?
20. Do you think a Spanish person and an American
would have the same opinion of a hotel in Paris (for
example)? If not, why not?
Sentence Examples
overpriced
(set too high a cost on) sobrevaluar⇒ vtr
AmL valuar a sobreprecio loc verb
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Overprice Sentence Examples That would lower the demand for ridiculously overpriced old houses.
I believe that you have one problem, the £ 9.99 charge for the channel is a little overpriced; I believe.
Dump
(trash) vertedero nm
basurero nm
AmS basural nm
Dump Sentence Examples
A local resident says a local beauty spot has become more like a rubbish dump than a nature reserve.
Dumped rubbish in my bin. (verb)
Dingy
dingy adj (dark, dirty) sucio adj
deslucido adj
lóbrego adj
sórdido adj
dingy adj (shabby) gastado adj
desastrado adj
raído adj
decolorado adj
Dingy Sentence Examples Always wash colored items separately to whites, otherwise, even if the color
does not run the light articles will look dingy.
I met John in a rather dingy pub in Waterloo, London five years ago.
A dingy basement, with the lights off.
Lighting was originally by oil lamp, very dingy.
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Cramped
cramped adj (muscle) contraído adj
habitación estrecho adj
escritura apretada adj
be cramped for room vtr (have little space available) no caber un alfiler loc verb
Our house is so full of junk that we are cramped for room.
Cramped Sentence Examples This stock was located in a somewhat cramped spot in the basement.
Cramped for space.
This can make the room cramped in many cases.
The pub had four separate rooms, several of which were rather cramped.
Cozy
cozy, UK:cosy adj US ( = cosy) cómodo adj
acogedor adj
confortable adj inv m/f
cozy, UK: cosy adj US (chat: intimate) íntimo adj
amigable adj
cozy, UK: cosy adj US (clothing: snug, warm) coloquial calentito adj
Cozy Sentence Examples
Cozy, candle-lit italian restaurant with great ambiance and really delicious food.
Darker colors will make the room feel more cozy.
Cozy booth in the bar.
Cozy fireplace.
Cozy atmosphere at the ball contributes to a relaxed, yet fun evening.
Stains
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stain n (on clothing, etc.) mancha nf
stain n figurative (on reputation) reputación mancha nf
mácula nf
stain n (colouring agent) colorante nm
pintura nf
stain vtr (clothing, etc.) manchar⇒ vtr
ensuciar⇒ vtr
embarrar⇒ vtr
stain vtr (add colour to wood, etc.) pintar⇒ vtr
madera aplicar mancha loc verb
teñir⇒ vtr
Stain Sentence Examples Stained glass in York Minster dates back to the twelfth century.
Stain remover. Stain resistant.
This cleaning product is suitable for smaller jobs in toilets, kitchens, stubborn dirt, grease stains, extractor fans and working surfaces, even walls.
Are they blood stains, or mud stains, or rust stains, or fruit stains, or what are they?
I vividly remember seeing oily black stains on snow.
Filthy
filthy adj (very dirty) sucio adj
asqueroso adj
filthy adj (obscene e.g. words) palabra obscena adj
indecente adj
filthy adj slang (very bad) persona deleznable adj
persona asqueroso adj
Filthy Sentence Examples
They are, apart from a health hazard, absolutely filthy.
My car also came back filthy, so i am not sure where it was parked when i went away!
Filthy habits.
At first his wife cried because the house was so filthy, with drawings on the walls and bacon fat all over.
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Nasty
nasty adj (smell, odour: unpleasant) repugnante adj
asqueroso adj
desagradable adj
nasty adj (person: spiteful, cruel) canalla adj
ruin adj
despreciable adj
nasty adj (comment, etc.: spiteful ) desagradable adj
molesto adj
despreciable ad
Nasty Sentence Examples She is nasty to those who disagree with her opinions.
Nasty surprise.
Nasty shock from your phone bill.
It tastes very nasty.
All I needed was some something to relieve the pain from some rather nasty mosquito bites I have acquired.
My only criticism is that the artwork looks a bit nasty.
Nasty habits like biting your nails or picking your nose.
Lumpy
lumpy adj (full of lumps) grumoso adj
lleno de grumos loc adj
lumpy adj (not smooth, bumpy) con bultos loc adj
con baches loc adj
Lumpy Sentence Examples
However, if it feels lumpy, then there may be cause for concern and this will require further tests.
Lumpy old mattress.
Make sure you mix constantly to prevent the mixture getting lumpy.
Gradually add water, stirring continuously to prevent it from turning lumpy.
Bedbugs
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bed bugn (bloodsucking insect) Zool chinche, chinche de las camas nf
Bedbug Sentence Examples The common bedbug does not have specific areas in which to lay her eggs
hence they can be found all around the home.
Bedbugs bite.
The female common bedbugs generally produce around 2 or 3 eggs per day.
Steam cleaners can be used to eradicate bedbugs from mattresses.
Stuffy
stuffy adj (atmosphere: too warm) sofocante adj inv m/f
Stuffy Sentence ExamplesStuffy in summer.
Stuffy, runny nose that accompanies a cold.
It's pretty hot and the city can get pretty stuffy.
Stuffy indoor atmosphere.
You need air don't you - i suppose too stuffy a room is not going to suit certain plants?
Stuffy room.
A stuffy office with no air-conditioning all summer
hell hole
hell hole n slang (miserable or repellent place) fam antro de mala muerte nm
Norman, how can you live in this hell hole?
lived up
live up to sb's expectationv
(be as good as anticipated)
colmar las expectativas de loc verb
Live up Sentence Examples A new technology that did not live up to our expectations.
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It is very clear that our governments are failing to live up to their
obligations.
Her performance didn’t live up to my expectations.
Spacious
spacious adj (indoors: large, roomy) espacioso adj
spacious adj (outdoors: wide, expansive) grande adj
extenso adj
amplio adj
Spacious Sentence Examples
Spacious enough to easily accommodate 6 adults.
A spacious lounge in which to relax.
A spacious double bedroom is ideal for parents with small children.
I've got a lounge, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and there's a hall so it feels spacious.
For a cottage, the house is surprisingly spacious.
Cleanliness
cleanliness n (attention to hygiene) higiene nf
Cleanliness Sentence Examples
Cleanliness is as important as good taste, as all good cooks know .
Cleanliness, privacy and food at Warrington Hospital have been rated highly by our patients.
Poor cleanliness in the Blue Area damages its beauty.
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Downside
(disadvantage) inconveniente nm
desventaja nf
lado negativo loc nom m
aspecto negativo loc nom m
Downside Sentence Examples Take chances as long as the downside isn’t large.
The downside of globalization includes these new global threats.
The only downside was the twenty minute queues at both bars.
The downside of this approach is how difficult it is to do it correctly without much practice.
The only real downside is a lack of good public transport.
Top-notch
top-notch, top notch adj (very best, highest quality) coloq de primera loc adj
Top-notch Sentence Examples Top-notch compatibility and performance for all applications.
Entropy restaurant serves top-notch, exciting, modern cuisine which entertains the eyes and mouth rather than simply fills the belly.
Direction, music and cinematography are all top-notch and the effects are as good as anything you'll see come out of Hollywood.
Top-notch translation in the quickest possible time.
The choir's performance was absolutely top-notch; they have never sung better.
They are hiring a top-notch cast to bring this novel to life.
Accommodating
accommodating adj (obliging) complaciente adj
willing to do what someone else wants or requests cortés adj
helpful servicial adj
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condescendiente adj
Accommodating Sentence Examples
He made a special effort to be accommodating.
She seems less accommodating to the demands of her boss than she used to be.
An accommodating waiter who honored our request to make substitutions in our order.
Go out of their way
To try very hard to help other people or make them comfortable.
Go out of their way Sentence Examples
Our hosts went out of their way to make us feel welcome.
Many teachers really go out of their way to help their students.
They really went out of their way to make us feel welcome by giving us
the best room in the house.
Beat
beat vtr (defeat) vencer⇒ vtr
The championship team beat the challengers.
beat vtr (strike repeatedly) golpear⇒ vtr
That man beat my brother and hurt him badly.
beat n (rhythm) ritmo nm
The dancers moved to the beat of the music.
Beat Sentence Examples This can lead to irregular beats of the heart and weakness of some
groups of muscles.
Beats per minute or more.
He beat strong competition to win the prestigious award.
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Beat the egg yolks with the remaining sugar and salt.
CynGrin – English Coach 4521.2373 – [email protected]
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