French Phrases for Airbnb Check-In, Messages, and House Rules
If you’re staying at an Airbnb or short-term rental in France, a few simple French phrases can make arrival much easier.
This guide focuses on the messages and small conversations travellers actually need: confirming your arrival time, asking about keys, getting the Wi-Fi password, understanding house rules, and reporting small problems politely.
For broader travel backup, you may also like French Phrases for Everyday Survival. This guide stays focused on Airbnb and short-term rental situations.
If you want more everyday travel phrases too, you may also like this guide to French Phrases for Everyday Survival (With Audio)
Before you arrive: messaging the host
A short message before you arrive can make check-in smoother, especially if your arrival time changes. These phrases work well when you are confirming a time, asking to arrive early, or letting the host know you are running late.
| French | English |
| Bonjour, j’arriverai vers 18 h. | Hello, I’ll arrive around 6 p.m. |
| Je serai là vers 18 h. | I’ll be there around 6 p.m. |
| Est-ce que je peux arriver un peu plus tôt ? | Can I arrive a little earlier? |
| Je suis en retard de 15 minutes. | I’m 15 minutes late. |
| Merci, à tout à l’heure. | Thanks, see you soon. |
Vers means “around.” It is very useful for arrival times.
- Bonjour, j’arriverai vers 18 h. — Hello, I’ll arrive around 6 p.m.
- Bonjour, j’arriverai vers 20 h. — Hello, I’ll arrive around 8 p.m.
Keys, codes, and getting in
For many short-term rentals, you may not meet the host in person. The keys might be in a key box, the building might have a door code, or the host might send instructions through the app. These phrases help you ask for the exact details you need before you arrive.
| French | English |
| Où est-ce que je récupère les clés ? | Where do I pick up the keys? |
| Comment accéder au logement ? | How do I access the accommodation? |
| Pouvez-vous m’envoyer les instructions d’arrivée ? | Could you send me the check-in instructions? |
| Y a-t-il une boîte à clés ? | Is there a key box? |
| Quel est le code de la porte ? | What is the door code? |
| Quel est le code de la boîte à clés ? | What is the key box code? |
| À partir de quelle heure puis-je arriver ? | From what time can I arrive? |
| Est-ce que je peux laisser mes bagages avant l’heure d’arrivée ? | Can I leave my bags before the arrival time? |
In Airbnb-style messages, logement is a useful word to recognise. It means the accommodation, rental, or place you are staying.
Instructions d’arrivée means check-in instructions or arrival instructions.
If you meet the host or concierge
These phrases help with Wi-Fi, rules, and small problems.
Sometimes you will meet the host, a cleaner, a concierge, or someone who manages the building. In that moment, you do not need long French sentences. A simple greeting, your name, and the reason you are there will usually be enough.
| French | English |
| Bonjour, je suis [nom]. | Hello, I’m [name]. |
| J’ai une réservation au nom de [nom]. | I have a reservation under the name [name]. |
| Je viens récupérer les clés pour l’appartement. | I’m here to pick up the keys for the apartment. |
| Où est l’entrée ? | Where is the entrance? |
| C’est à quel étage ? | Which floor is it on? |
| Merci, bonne journée. | Thanks, have a good day. |
In France, le rez-de-chaussée is the ground floor. Le premier étage is usually the floor above the ground floor.
Wi-Fi, towels, heating, and house rules
Once you are inside, most questions are practical: Wi-Fi, towels, heating, air conditioning, or how to use the space. These phrases are polite enough for a host message, but still short enough to remember. They are also useful if the information is missing from the listing or house manual.
| French | English |
| Quel est le mot de passe du Wi-Fi ? | What’s the Wi-Fi password? |
| Le Wi-Fi ne marche pas. | The Wi-Fi isn’t working. |
| Où puis-je trouver les serviettes ? | Where can I find the towels? |
| Est-ce que je peux utiliser la cuisine ? | Can I use the kitchen? |
| Comment fonctionne le chauffage ? | How does the heating work? |
| Comment fonctionne la climatisation ? | How does the air conditioning work? |
| Y a-t-il des consignes particulières pour le logement ? | Are there any special instructions for the accommodation? |
Consignes means instructions or rules. It is useful for house rules, rubbish, heating, keys, and checkout details.
Checkout and leaving the rental
Checkout instructions can vary a lot from one rental to another. Some hosts ask you to leave the keys on the table, take out the rubbish, or lock the door a certain way. These phrases help you avoid guessing what to do before you leave.
| French | English |
| À quelle heure dois-je partir ? | What time do I need to leave? |
| Où dois-je laisser les clés ? | Where should I leave the keys? |
| Dois-je sortir les poubelles ? | Should I take out the rubbish/trash? |
| Y a-t-il quelque chose à faire avant de partir ? | Is there anything I need to do before leaving? |
| Puis-je laisser mes bagages après le départ ? | Can I leave my bags after checkout? |
For checkout, French hosts may use départ, which means departure or checkout.
Le départ se fait avant 11 h. — Checkout is before 11 a.m.
If something is not working
Small problems happen in rentals: a door sticks, the Wi-Fi drops out, or there is no hot water. The key is to describe the problem calmly and clearly. These phrases help you explain what is wrong without sounding angry or dramatic.
| French | English |
| Il y a un problème avec la porte. | There’s a problem with the door. |
| Je n’arrive pas à ouvrir. | I can’t get it open. |
| Il n’y a pas d’eau chaude. | There’s no hot water. |
| Le Wi-Fi ne marche pas. | The Wi-Fi isn’t working. |
| Il manque une serviette. | A towel is missing. |
| Pouvez-vous m’aider, s’il vous plaît ? | Can you help me, please? |
| Ce n’est pas urgent. | It’s not urgent. |
Ce n’est pas urgent is useful when the problem is minor. It tells the host you need help, but not immediately.
French messages you may receive from the host
Airbnb communication is often written, so it helps to recognize common host replies. You may see short instructions about keys, codes, checkout, rubbish, or where to leave things. You do not need to understand every word if you can recognize the main instruction.
| French you may see | English meaning |
| Les clés sont dans la boîte à clés. | The keys are in the key box. |
| Le code est 2486. | The code is 2486. |
| Le logement est au deuxième étage. | The accommodation is on the second floor in French numbering. |
| Vous pouvez arriver à partir de 15 h. | You can arrive from 3 p.m. |
| Le départ se fait avant 11 h. | Checkout is before 11 a.m. |
| Merci de laisser les clés sur la table. | Please leave the keys on the table. |
| Merci de sortir les poubelles. | Please take out the rubbish/trash. |
| N’hésitez pas si vous avez des questions. | Feel free to ask if you have any questions. |
Simple message template for your host
This template is useful if you want to send one clear message before arrival. It gives your name, your arrival time, and the two most important questions: how to arrive and where to get the keys. You can copy it as it is, then change the name and time.
Bonjour, Je m’appelle [votre nom]. J’arriverai vers 18 h. Pouvez-vous m’envoyer les instructions d’arrivée ? Où est-ce que je récupère les clés ? Merci beaucoup.
Hello,
My name is [your name]. I’ll arrive around 6 p.m. Could you send me the check-in instructions? Where do I pick up the keys?Thank you very much.
You can add one more question if you need it:
- Quel est le mot de passe du Wi-Fi ? — What’s the Wi-Fi password?
- Où puis-je me garer ? — Where can I park?
- Est-ce que je peux laisser mes bagages avant l’heure d’arrivée ? — Can I leave my bags before the arrival time?
Mini cheat sheet for Airbnb stays
These are the best phrases to learn first if you only have a few minutes. They cover the most common short-term rental needs: arrival time, keys, access, Wi-Fi, checkout, and help. Practice them out loud once or twice so they feel easier to use when you arrive.
| French | English |
| J’arriverai vers 18 h. | I’ll arrive around 6 p.m. |
| Où est-ce que je récupère les clés ? | Where do I pick up the keys? |
| Comment accéder au logement ? | How do I access the accommodation? |
| Quel est le mot de passe du Wi-Fi ? | What’s the Wi-Fi password? |
| Où dois-je laisser les clés ? | Where should I leave the keys? |
| Pouvez-vous m’aider, s’il vous plaît ? | Can you help me, please? |
One last tip
For Airbnb messages in French, short and polite is enough. Start with Bonjour, say what you need clearly, and end with merci.
You do not need perfect French to handle check-in well. Practice a few phrases out loud before your trip, especially the ones for arrival time, keys, Wi-Fi, and checkout.
