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As happens in strange and new places, people get disoriented and may need help finding their way, so guests may frequently ask you for directions. They may ask directions to a restaurant in the hotel complex, the nearest restroom, or a nearby historical site. There are a multitude of expressions that are used when asking for and giving directions. Look at the examples below.   

        Asking for directions

            Could you tell me how to get to (… the pool)?

            How do I find (…Star Bucks Coffee Shop)?

            Pardon me, I'm lost, how do I get to the (…the main lobby)?

            Which is the best route to (…Phuket Town)?

            Could you direct me to (…the beach)?

            Which way do I go to get to (…the hospital)?

        Giving directions

            Take this passage way                                  Go up/down the steps

            On your right/left                                              Turn right/left

            Take the elevator                                             It's on the third floor    

             Follow this path                                              Turn right/left at the corridor

            It’s about 50 meters                                        Go above 3 kilometers

            Cross the street                                               It’s on your right/left

            It’s in the middle of the block                          It’s on the corner

            Drive south on 4233                                            

            It’s next to/ across from/between/in front of        

            Drive to Jackson street and turn left/right

Prepositions of location used when giving directions

          go straight           go to                    right                    left        

          cross                   on your right        on your left          beside

          next to                  behind                 across from        in front of  

         on the corner of (to be very specific NE, SE, NW, SW corners)

     Point to Remember (Suggestions for giving directions) 

         Giving street directions is really very easy when you remember

          to follow these points. When giving directions you are actually

          giving two sets of instructions.

          In the first set- "Go To" - you are telling the listener what street

                                       to go to or how far to go.  

          In the second set- "Then"- you are telling the listener what to do

                                             when they get there. (turn right/left, go straight,

                                            on the left, etc.)  

         Giving even very complicated directions is just a repetition of these

         two basic steps.  Another good idea is to use easily identifiable

         landmarks; instead of the amount of time to get someplace (time

         is relative, after all). Easily identifiable landmarks are street lights,

         stop signs, parks, tall building standing alone, etc.

Additional Vocabulary

sidewalk              footpath               no through way (road)

pedestrian           main road            street

avenue                 boulevard            round about

dead end             cul de sac            pavement

Land marks

art gallery             bridge                  castle                  temple

cathedral             cinema                 zoo                      department store

 museum             opera                   post office            police station 

fire station           railway                  bus station          train station

traffic light            stop light              stop sign             T junction

Dialogue

Guest: Could you tell me how to get to the Spa?

Staff: Take this passage-way and go down the steps on your right. At the

            bottom of the steps there is a wooden bridge. Go over the bridge and

            turn right. Follow the path until you get to the Spa. It’s about 40 meters

            from the bridge.

Guest: How do I find the Thai Thai restaurant?

Staff: Just follow the pathway to the left of the reception desk in the Andaman

            lobby. The walk-way will take you directly to the Thai Thai Restaurant.

Guest: Which way do I go to get to the beach?

Staff: From the Bell Desk in the Andaman Lobby, turn left and follow the path

           on the right and go past the pond and up the steps. From there, walk

           straight across the beach road, the beach will be right in front of you.

Guest: Pardon me, I'm lost, how do I get to the gym?

Staff: From the main lobby, walk away from the beach and take the first stair

           case on your right down. The stair case is next to the portrait center.

           The gym is on your right at the bottom of the stairs.

Guest: Which is the best route to the Phuket City?

Staff: Get on the road to Patong and drive north on the 4233. At the end of

           the beach road in Patong, turn right on the 4029 and drive east. Take

           the 4029 about 4 kilometers and turn right on the 4020. That road will

           take you into Phuket city.

Practice

Practice using the above expressions by having a dialogue similar to the ones above with a partner, one partner taking the role of the guest and the other the role of the staff. For additional practice, switch roles. Practice the dialogue several times, trying to use all of the expressions noted above.

More Practice

Using the map below, work with a partner and ask for directions to places on the map.

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