How long until the room is ready?
MAN-ca — stress on the first syllable. 'Mancare' here means 'to be missing' or 'left to go'.
Ask when your room is not ready at check-in time and you want an estimate of how long to wait.
'Quanto tempo manca' (how long is left/remaining) uses 'mancare' in an impersonal construction. 'Prima che' (before) triggers the subjunctive 'sia' (be), from 'essere'. The subjunctive after 'prima che' is mandatory in standard Italian.
La camera è quasi pronta?
Is the room almost ready?
A gentler way to check on progress
Posso aspettare qui in lobby?
Can I wait here in the lobby?
Confirm you are welcome to wait in the common area
Mi avvisa quando è pronta?
Will you let me know when it is ready?
Ask to be notified so you can go out and return at the right time
Check-in delays are common in Italy, especially at smaller family-run hotels where housekeeping is done by a small team. The staff will genuinely apologise and usually offer something — a coffee, a cold drink — while you wait. Accept graciously.