Where is the lift?
'Ascensore' — stress the third syllable: 'a-scen-SO-re'. The SC before E makes a 'sh' sound.
Use immediately upon arriving at the hotel when you need to reach your floor with luggage. Very simple and useful phrase.
'Dov'è' = 'dove è' = 'where is'. 'L'ascensore' = 'the lift/elevator'. This is a fundamental question of location using 'essere'. 'Ascensore' comes from 'ascendere' (to ascend).
L'ascensore è fuori servizio?
Is the lift out of service?
'Fuori servizio' = out of service
Quale piano è la mia camera?
Which floor is my room on?
Follow-up to find the right floor
C'è solo un piano — devo usare le scale?
There is only one floor — do I need to use the stairs?
When the lift is not available
Italian lifts (ascensori) in historic hotels and buildings are often very small — sometimes only large enough for one person and a suitcase. Old Italian lifts (montacarichi) may have manual doors (porte a fisarmonica) that must be closed before the lift will move.