To be retained
- First translate arrival, codes, Wi-Fi, security and departure.
- Keep street names, marks and buttons as they appear on site.
- Reread critical instructions and use short sentences.
Start with times when an error is expensive
The priority is the arrival route: address, parking, entrance, floor, key box and contact. Next comes Wi-Fi, safety rules, equipment that can cause a breakdown and departure instructions. The tourist texts and recommendations can be translated in a second stage.
This hierarchy avoids having a nice local guide in English while the essential instruction to open the portal remains only in French.
Write an easy-to-translate French
Use one idea per sentence, action verbs and numbered steps. Avoid local expressions, ambiguous humour and long subordinates. Write "Press the red button for three seconds" instead of "It's normally enough to hold the button a little bit".
Keep the visible words on the equipment between quotes: "Step" button, "House-Guests" network, stop "Hôtel de Ville". The guest can thus make the link between the translation and what he really sees.
Pictograms, photos and translation complement each other
A photo of the right entry or an arrow on the case reduces the need for explanation. The pictograms help to navigate the guide, but must not replace a safety instruction. Associate image and text when the step can block the stay.
WelloGuest allows you to choose the languages of the booklet and store the content in coherent modules. The guest finds the same structure, regardless of the language consulted.
Multilingual checklist
- Schedules use an unambiguous format.
- Telephone numbers include international code.
- Proper names and passwords have not been translated.
- Units and temperatures are understandable.
- Map links open the right location.
- One person rereads access and security instructions.
Finally, test the booklet on a phone set in another language without using your admin account.
Frequently asked questions
Which languages should be chosen as a priority?
Based on the real origin of your travelers. French and English often cover a first need, then add the languages most present in your reservations.
Is a machine translation enough?
It can speed up the first jet, but access, safety and equipment instructions must be read and tested.
Should street names and passwords be translated?
No. Keep proper names, Wi-Fi networks, codes and labels visible as they are to avoid errors.