Calling the Hotel or Host

Ало, здравейте!

Alo, zdraveyte!

Hello!

How you open a phone call in Bulgarian — 'Ало' is the phone-specific hello.

Обаждам се за резервацията си.

Obazhdam se za rezervatsiyata si.

I'm calling about my reservation.

Say why you're calling in the first breath so the host knows how to help.

Казвам се Джон Смит.

Kazvam se Dzhon Smit.

My name is John Smith.

Give your name so they can find your booking; be ready to spell it.

Имам резервация при вас.

Imam rezervatsiya pri vas.

I have a booking with you.

Signals you're an existing guest, not a new inquiry.

Резервацията е от петнайсети до двайсети.

Rezervatsiyata e ot petnayseti do dvayseti.

The reservation is from the 15th to the 20th.

State your dates plainly — numbers are what hosts most need to hear clearly.

За две нощувки.

Za dve noshtuvki.

For two nights.

A quick way to confirm length of stay if they ask.

Резервацията е на името на Смит.

Rezervatsiyata e na imeto na Smit.

The reservation is under the name Smith.

Use when the booking is under a family or different name.

Потвърдена ли е резервацията?

Potvardena li e rezervatsiyata?

Is the reservation confirmed?

The reassurance question — make sure you're actually booked before you fly.

Ще пристигна вечерта.

Shte pristigna vecherta.

I will arrive in the evening.

Tell them roughly when you'll show up so check-in is staffed.

Ще дойда около осем часа.

Shte doyda okolo osem chasa.

I'll come around eight o'clock.

A more precise arrival time — swap the number for your own.

Възможно ли е късно настаняване?

Vazmozhno li e kasno nastanyavane?

Is late check-in possible?

Ask this if your flight lands at night — reception may close.

Откъде да взема ключа?

Otkade da vzema klyucha?

Where do I pick up the key?

For apartments and guesthouses where no one waits at a desk.

Не ви чувам добре.

Ne vi chuvam dobre.

I can't hear you well.

Phone lines drop — this buys you a repeat without switching to English.

Моля, повторете.

Molya, povtorete.

Please repeat.

Universal polite 'say that again'.

По-бавно, моля.

Po-bavno, molya.

Slower, please.

You caught some of it — keep them in Bulgarian but slower.

Може ли да го кажете буква по буква?

Mozhe li da go kazhete bukva po bukva?

Can you spell it letter by letter?

For an address or name you must get exactly right.

Благодаря ви много!

Blagodarya vi mnogo!

Thank you very much!

Warm close; 'ви' keeps it polite with someone you don't know.

До скоро!

Do skoro!

See you soon!

Casual, friendly 'see you soon' when arrival is imminent.

Дочуване!

Dochuvane!

Goodbye!

The phone goodbye — literally 'until we hear each other again'.

Извинете, това рецепцията ли е?

Izvinete, tova retseptsiyata li e?

Excuse me, is this reception?

Whoever picked up just said 'Ало' and nothing else — you need to know you've reached the front desk and not the restaurant or the owner's cousin.

Може ли да говоря с рецепцията?

Mozhe li da govorya s retseptsiyata?

Can I speak to reception?

A switchboard or a mobile answered — this asks to be put through to the desk that actually holds the bookings.

С кого разговарям?

S kogo razgovaryam?

Who am I speaking with?

You want a name to quote when you call back about the same booking tomorrow.

Момент, моля.

Moment, molya.

One moment, please.

You HEAR this the second you finish your sentence — it means stay on the line while they check. Don't start talking again.

Ще ви прехвърля.

Shte vi prehvarlya.

I'll transfer you.

Something you HEAR — the line goes quiet or rings a second time. You're being passed on, not cut off.

Имате ли резервация при нас?

Imate li rezervatsiya pri nas?

Do you have a booking with us?

The desk's first question back at you — HEAR it and answer 'Да, имам' or say you're calling to make one.

Имате ли свободни стаи?

Imate li svobodni stai?

Do you have any rooms free?

Your opening ask when you haven't booked yet — typical for a small guesthouse that isn't listed on the booking sites.

Имате ли свободна стая от петък до неделя?

Imate li svobodna staya ot petak do nedelya?

Do you have a room free from Friday to Sunday?

Naming the two days up front saves a whole round of questions — swap in your own days.

Търся стая за три нощувки.

Tarsya staya za tri noshtuvki.

I'm looking for a room for three nights.

Opening line when the length of stay matters more than the exact dates — they'll ask for the dates next.

Става дума за следващия уикенд.

Stava duma za sledvashtiya uikend.

It's about next weekend.

Narrowing it down after they ask when — 'става дума за' is how you say 'it's about' in an ordinary phone call.

За кои дати?

Za koi dati?

For which dates?

You HEAR this the moment you ask about a room — they want the dates before anything else, so have them ready.

За съжаление нямаме свободни стаи.

Za sazhalenie nyamame svobodni stai.

Unfortunately we have no rooms free.

The 'no' you HEAR — 'за съжаление' at the front tells you the answer is negative before you've parsed the rest.

Може ли двойна стая?

Mozhe li dvoyna staya?

Could I have a double room?

Asking for a room for two — 'двойна стая' is the phrase on every Bulgarian booking form and at every desk.

Имате ли единична стая?

Imate li edinichna staya?

Do you have a single room?

Travelling alone and you don't want to be charged the double rate for a bed you won't use.

Има ли две отделни легла?

Ima li dve otdelni legla?

Are there two separate beds?

Checking before you arrive with a friend or a sibling and find one big bed waiting.

Търся стая с двойно легло.

Tarsya staya s dvoyno leglo.

I'm looking for a room with a double bed.

The opposite check — a couple who wants one bed, not two singles shoved together.

Двама възрастни и едно дете.

Dvama vazrastni i edno dete.

Two adults and one child.

Your answer when they ask how many of you there are — the child changes both the room and the price.

За колко човека?

Za kolko choveka?

For how many people?

HEARD right after you ask about a room — answer with the number of people, not the number of beds.

Каква е цената за нощувка?

Kakva e tsenata za noshtuvka?

What is the price per night?

The price question — 'нощувка' is one night's stay, which is how Bulgarian hotels quote everything.

Колко ще излезе общо?

Kolko shte izleze obshto?

How much will it come to altogether?

You've agreed the nights — this asks for the whole sum so there's no surprise at the desk.

Какво е включено в цената?

Kakvo e vklyucheno v tsenata?

What is included in the price?

Before you say yes — breakfast, tourist tax and parking are often quoted separately here.

Туристическата такса включена ли е?

Turisticheskata taksa vklyuchena li e?

Is the tourist tax included?

Bulgarian municipalities charge a small per-night tourist tax, and hotels sometimes add it at check-in instead of quoting it.

Цената е седемдесет евро за нощувка.

Tsenata e sedemdeset evro za noshtuvka.

The price is seventy euro per night.

The figure you HEAR back — if you catch only the number, say it out loud again to confirm you got it right.

Закуската включена ли е в цената?

Zakuskata vklyuchena li e v tsenata?

Is breakfast included in the price?

Asked on almost every hotel call — 'със закуска' and 'без закуска' are two different rates.

От колко часа е закуската?

Ot kolko chasa e zakuskata?

From what time is breakfast?

You have an early bus or flight and need to know whether you'll be fed before you leave.

Може ли да добавите закуска към резервацията?

Mozhe li da dobavite zakuska kam rezervatsiyata?

Could you add breakfast to the booking?

You booked room-only online and want breakfast added before you arrive rather than paying at the table.

Закуската е от седем до десет.

Zakuskata e ot sedem do deset.

Breakfast is from seven to ten.

The answer you HEAR — two numbers in a row, so listen for 'от' (from) and 'до' (until) to tell them apart.

Трябва ли депозит?

Tryabva li depozit?

Is a deposit needed?

Small guesthouses often want money up front to hold the room — settle it before you hang up.

Може ли да платя с карта по телефона?

Mozhe li da platya s karta po telefona?

Can I pay by card over the phone?

You'd rather not wire money to a stranger's account — offer the card instead.

Може ли да платя в брой при настаняването?

Mozhe li da platya v broy pri nastanyavaneto?

Can I pay in cash at check-in?

Cash on arrival is still completely normal at family-run places in Bulgaria — this checks that it's fine here.

Ще ми трябва фактура на фирма.

Shte mi tryabva faktura na firma.

I'll need a company invoice.

You're travelling for work and accounting needs a proper company invoice, not just the till receipt.

Ще ни трябва номер на карта за гаранция.

Shte ni tryabva nomer na karta za garantsiya.

We'll need a card number as a guarantee.

HEARD when they hold the room without charging it — the card is security against a no-show, not a payment.

До кога мога да откажа безплатно?

Do koga moga da otkazha bezplatno?

Until when can I cancel free of charge?

Booking now while your plans might still move — pin down the free-cancellation deadline while you have them on the line.

Искам да откажа резервацията си.

Iskam da otkazha rezervatsiyata si.

I want to cancel my reservation.

The trip is off — say this early in the call, then be ready with the name and the dates.

Може ли да променя датите?

Mozhe li da promenya datite?

Can I change the dates?

Your flight moved — asking to shift the same booking rather than cancel it and start again.

Резервацията не подлежи на анулиране.

Rezervatsiyata ne podlezhi na anulirane.

The reservation can't be cancelled.

The bad news you HEAR — the rate you took is non-refundable, so pushing further won't help.

Може ли по-тиха стая?

Mozhe li po-tiha staya?

Could I have a quieter room?

You've slept over a boulevard before — ask for a room off the street while they still have a choice of rooms.

Може ли детско легло в стаята?

Mozhe li detsko leglo v stayata?

Could we have a cot in the room?

Travelling with a baby — cots are usually free but they have to be asked for in advance.

Възможно ли е късно напускане?

Vazmozhno li e kasno napuskane?

Is late check-out possible?

Your flight is in the evening and you don't want to be out on the pavement at eleven in the morning.

Може ли да се настаня по-рано?

Mozhe li da se nastanya po-rano?

Can I check in earlier?

You land at seven in the morning — asking whether the room can be ready before the usual hour.

Може ли да оставя багажа си след напускане?

Mozhe li da ostavya bagazha si sled napuskane?

Can I leave my luggage after check-out?

Checked out but your bus isn't until the evening — most desks will keep the bags behind reception.

Ще се постараем, но не мога да обещая.

Shte se postaraem, no ne moga da obeshtaya.

We'll try, but I can't promise.

The honest maybe you HEAR — it isn't a yes, so confirm the request again on the day you arrive.

Имате ли паркинг?

Imate li parking?

Do you have parking?

You're driving in — parking in Sofia and in the coastal towns is the first thing to settle.

Паркингът безплатен ли е?

Parkingat bezplaten li e?

Is the parking free?

Plenty of hotels charge per night for the space — ask rather than assume it comes with the room.

Организирате ли транспорт от летището?

Organizirate li transport ot letishteto?

Do you arrange transport from the airport?

Landing late with luggage — some hotels run a car for a fixed price, which beats haggling outside arrivals.

Може ли да ми поръчате такси за утре сутрин?

Mozhe li da mi porachate taksi za utre sutrin?

Could you order me a taxi for tomorrow morning?

Asking the desk to book it — safer and cheaper than flagging down whatever is idling outside the hotel.

Какъв е точният ви адрес?

Kakav e tochniyat vi adres?

What is your exact address?

You'll be reading this out to a taxi driver, so get the street and the number exactly right.

Как да стигна до вас от центъра?

Kak da stigna do vas ot tsentara?

How do I get to you from the centre?

Working out whether it's a walk, a metro ride or a taxi before you're standing there with bags.

Има ли метростанция наблизо?

Ima li metrostantsiya nablizo?

Is there a metro station nearby?

Sofia's metro runs to the airport, so this can save you the price of a car.

На пет минути пеша от метрото сме.

Na pet minuti pesha ot metroto sme.

We're five minutes' walk from the metro.

HEARD as the answer — Bulgarians give distance in walking minutes ('на пет минути пеша'), not in metres.

Може ли да ми изпратите потвърждение по имейл?

Mozhe li da mi izpratite potvarzhdenie po imeyl?

Could you send me a confirmation by email?

Nothing is real until it's in writing — ask for the confirmation before you end the call.

Ще ви продиктувам имейла си.

Shte vi prodiktuvam imeyla si.

I'll dictate my email address to you.

Setting up the slow part of the call — you're about to read your address out piece by piece.

Не получих потвърждението по имейл.

Ne poluchih potvarzhdenieto po imeyl.

I didn't receive the email confirmation.

The reason for your second call, a day later, when nothing has arrived in your inbox.

Проверете и в спам папката.

Proverete i v spam papkata.

Check your spam folder too.

HEARD when they insist they already sent it — they're telling you to look in your junk folder.

Ще ви кажа фамилията си буква по буква.

Shte vi kazha familiyata si bukva po bukva.

I'll spell my surname letter by letter.

A foreign surname won't survive being said once at phone speed — announce that you're going to spell it.

С като София, М като Мария, И като Иван, Т като Татяна.

S kato Sofiya, M kato Mariya, I kato Ivan, T kato Tatyana.

S as in Sofia, M as in Maria, I as in Ivan, T as in Tatyana.

How people here actually spell on the phone — a letter, then a first name or a city that starts with it.

Ще ви дам телефон за връзка.

Shte vi dam telefon za vrazka.

I'll give you a contact phone number.

Offering a number they can ring if the room changes or you don't turn up when you said.

Как се пише фамилията ви?

Kak se pishe familiyata vi?

How is your surname spelled?

HEARD as soon as you give a non-Bulgarian name — they want it letter by letter, so slow right down.

Ще ни трябват данните от паспорта ви.

Shte ni tryabvat dannite ot pasporta vi.

We'll need your passport details.

HEARD because hotels here must register every guest — they may want the passport number before you arrive.

Ще ви кажа номера на резервацията.

Shte vi kazha nomera na rezervatsiyata.

I'll give you the reservation number.

Cueing them to pick up a pen before you start reading out digits.

Може ли да кажете цифрите една по една?

Mozhe li da kazhete tsifrite edna po edna?

Could you say the digits one by one?

The price or the booking number came out as one long blur — this asks for it digit by digit instead.

Значи от петнайсети до двайсети, нали?

Znachi ot petnayseti do dvayseti, nali?

So from the 15th to the 20th, right?

Reading the dates back at them so a mistake surfaces now and not when you're standing at the desk.

Записах ви от петнайсети до двайсети.

Zapisah vi ot petnayseti do dvayseti.

I've put you down from the 15th to the 20th.

HEARD as their read-back — 'записах ви' means you're in the book; check both numbers match what you asked for.

Връзката е много лоша.

Vrazkata e mnogo losha.

The connection is very bad.

Crackle and drop-outs — this names the line as the problem rather than your Bulgarian, and buys you a repeat.

Чувате ли ме?

Chuvate li me?

Can you hear me?

You've been talking into silence for a few seconds and don't know whether they're still on the line.

Ще ви звънна пак след малко.

Shte vi zvanna pak sled malko.

I'll call you back in a moment.

Bailing out of a call that isn't working, without just hanging up on them.

Извинете, не разбрах.

Izvinete, ne razbrah.

Sorry, I didn't catch that.

The single most useful sentence on this call — it keeps everything in Bulgarian and asks for one more pass.

Не ви чувам, обадете се пак.

Ne vi chuvam, obadete se pak.

I can't hear you, call again.

HEARD when the line is bad at their end — they're asking you to hang up and dial again, not being rude.

Извинявайте, още уча български. Ако ви е по-лесно, може и на английски.

Izvinyavayte, oshte ucha balgarski. Ako vi e po-lesno, mozhe i na angliyski.

Sorry, I'm still learning Bulgarian. If it's easier for you, English is fine too.

Only after you've genuinely tried in Bulgarian and the call has stalled. Opening with 'do you speak English?' lands badly here; apologising first and framing English as their convenience does not.

Ще се видим на петнайсети.

Shte se vidim na petnayseti.

See you on the 15th.

Signing off with the date so you both leave the call agreeing on the same day.

Благодаря за съдействието!

Blagodarya za sadeystvieto!

Thank you for your help!

A notch more formal than plain 'благодаря' — right for someone who just did paperwork on your behalf.

Приятен път и очакваме ви!

Priyaten pat i ochakvame vi!

Have a good trip, we're expecting you!

HEARD at the very end — 'очакваме ви' means you're in the book and they're expecting you, which is your confirmation.