[337] How to Complain Politely in English (At a Restaurant or Hotel)
In this episode, I teach you how to complain politely in English – whether you’re at a restaurant or staying in a hotel. I also share the story of the time I found a huge wolf spider in my hotel bathroom. I’ll describe what they look like (yes, eight eyes!) and explain how Australians usually deal with them – without killing them. By the end, you’ll have useful phrases to handle tricky situations politely and confidently.
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Full Transcript (How to Complain Politely)
Hola amigos y amigas! You’re listening to the English Made Simple Show!
This is episode number 337 (three-three-seven), number three hundred and thirty-seven, número trescientos treinta y siete.
Welcome back, amigos y amigas! It’s your host, Milena from englishmadesimple.net, here with another episode of the English Made Simple Show.
I hope you enjoyed our last episode – Episode 336 – where I shared 10 Travel Phrases to Survive an Airport. That one was inspired by my mother-in-law’s upcoming trip from Chile to Australia. If you haven’t heard it yet, go back and have a listen — it’s packed with phrases for check-in, boarding, and baggage claim.
Today we’re moving from the airport to your next destination – the restaurant or the hotel. And we’re talking about something that can be a little tricky for non-native speakers… how to complain politely in English.
This is especially useful when you need to report a problem, like your food being cold, your room being noisy, or… in my case… finding a giant spider in your bathroom.
My Real-Life Spider Story
Let me tell you about my experience with a wolf spider.
A wolf spider is one of Australia’s many famous spiders. They’re big. They have long, hairy legs — eight of them — and eight eyes. Yes, amigos, eight eyes. They can be anywhere from 1 to 8 centimetres in size — and when you see one in your bathroom unexpectedly, you will jump a little.
Now, here’s the thing — wolf spiders are generally harmless to humans. They’re more scared of you than you are of them. But that doesn’t make them any less… intimidating.
One evening, I was staying in a lovely little hotel. I went to the bathroom, and there it was, sitting in the corner like it owned the place. A big, brown, hairy wolf spider, just watching me with all eight eyes.
In Australia, we don’t usually squash spiders. Many people will capture them using a container or a glass, and then release them safely outside in the garden. Some Aussies are not afraid at all — they’ll just scoop it up and carry it outside like it’s a pet!
I… am not one of those people. So I called reception and said:
Me: “Hi, I’m sorry to bother you, but there’s a rather large spider in my bathroom. Would it be possible for someone to remove it?”
Within five minutes, someone came with a plastic container, gently trapped the spider, and released it outside. Problem solved — politely, and without harming the spider.
Phrases for Complaining Politely
At a Restaurant
- “Excuse me, I’m sorry, but this isn’t what I ordered.”
- “Would it be possible to have this cooked a little more, please?”
- “I’m sorry, but this soup is cold — could it be reheated?”
At a Hotel
- “Hi, I’m sorry to bother you, but there seems to be a problem with the air conditioning.”
- “Would it be possible to change rooms?”
- “Could someone take a look at the shower? It’s not working properly.”
Cheeky Tip
If you don’t stay calm, it’s easy to sound rude – even if you don’t mean to.
Shouting or using very direct language like “This is terrible!” will make the other person defensive. Polite complaining works better – you’ll get help faster and you might even get a smile.
Repeat After Me
Alright amigos y amigas, let’s practise three useful phrases. I’ll say them slowly and you can repeat after me:
- “Excuse me, I’m sorry, but this isn’t what I ordered.”
- “Would it be possible to change rooms?”
- “Could it be reheated, please?”
Nice work!
If you want to sound confident in English while travelling, eating out, or staying in hotels, I can help you. Visit englishmadesimple.net/learn-with-me and let’s practise together.
You’ve been jamming with Milena, keep practising, amigos y amigas, stay cool, and keep in touch. Until next time, hasta la próxima!
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Milena Vujnic
Podcast Host
Milena is the host of the English Made Simple Podcast and is passionate about helping motivated English learners break their fear of speaking English so they can confidently make conversation and be understood by other English-speakers.
Milena lives in Australia with her Chileno husband and loves anything podcasting and online coaching and is honoured to be supporting and guiding immigrants from all over the world with her products, programs and coaching services.
Click here to learn more about how you can work with Milena.