IELTS General Training Writing Task 1: "You recently stayed at a hotel and were dissatisfied with your experience. Write a letter to the hotel manager, outlining the problems you encountered and requesting a refund. Include the following information: Your booking details (date, room number). Specific issues you experienced (e.g., cleanliness, noise, staff behavior). Why these issues were unsatisfactory. Your request for a refund."

 

"Dear Hotel Manager,

I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with my recent stay at your hotel. I stayed at your property from October 10th to October 12th, 2024, in Room 203. Unfortunately, my experience was far from satisfactory due to several issues, and I am requesting a full refund for my stay.

To begin with, the cleanliness of the room was not up to standard. Upon arrival, I noticed stains on the bed linens and a persistent odor in the room. Additionally, the bathroom had not been cleaned properly, with visible dirt and mildew in the shower area. Despite contacting the front desk on multiple occasions, these issues were not resolved during my stay.

Furthermore, the noise level in the hotel was unbearable. I was constantly disturbed by loud guests in the neighboring rooms and hallways, particularly during the night. Although I understand that some noise is expected in a hotel, the situation was excessive and prevented me from getting any rest.

Lastly, I was disappointed with the behavior of the staff. When I approached the front desk to address these concerns, the staff was unhelpful and dismissive, offering no meaningful solutions. This lack of professionalism greatly added to my frustration and further diminished my overall experience.

Given these circumstances, I believe a full refund for my stay is warranted. I trusted that your hotel would provide a comfortable and enjoyable experience, but this was not the case. I hope you will take this feedback seriously and take steps to improve your services.

Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I look forward to your prompt response.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]"

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Structure Breakdown & Analysis:

1. Opening Greeting:

• "Dear Hotel Manager,"
• Analysis: The letter opens formally, addressing the recipient in a respectful and appropriate manner for a complaint letter.

2. Introduction and Purpose:

• "I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with my recent stay at your hotel. I stayed at your property from October 10th to October 12th, 2024, in Room 203."
• Analysis: This section immediately identifies the purpose of the letter (expressing dissatisfaction) and provides essential booking details (dates and room number) to establish the context.

3. Description of the Issues:

• Cleanliness: "The cleanliness of the room was not up to standard... the bathroom had not been cleaned properly."
• Noise: "The noise level in the hotel was unbearable... excessive and prevented me from getting any rest."
• Staff Behavior: "I was disappointed with the behavior of the staff... unhelpful and dismissive."
• Analysis: The issues are presented clearly, one after the other, with specific examples to substantiate the complaints. This organization makes it easy for the manager to understand the problems.

4. Explanation of Why the Issues Were Unsatisfactory:

• "Despite contacting the front desk on multiple occasions, these issues were not resolved during my stay."
• "This lack of professionalism greatly added to my frustration."
• Analysis: The writer explains why the issues were problematic, emphasizing the lack of response from hotel staff and the resulting dissatisfaction.

5. Request for Action:

• "Given these circumstances, I believe a full refund for my stay is warranted."
• Analysis: The request for a refund is made clearly and respectfully, providing a reasonable justification based on the outlined problems.

6. Closing Remarks:

• "Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I look forward to your prompt response."
• Analysis: The letter ends politely, maintaining a formal tone while encouraging the recipient to take immediate action.

7. Signature:

• "Sincerely, [Your Name]"
• Analysis: The formal closing complements the respectful and professional tone throughout the letter.

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Key Takeaways:

• Formal Tone: The letter maintains a polite, formal tone throughout, which is essential for a letter of complaint.
• Clear Structure: Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect: introduction, details of the issues, why they were problematic, and the request for a refund.
• Specific Examples: The letter uses concrete examples (dates, room number, specific issues) to strengthen the writer's case, which is important for clarity and persuasion in IELTS writing tasks.
• Polite Request: Even though the letter outlines multiple problems, the request for a refund is made courteously.