While it’s true that there’s no place like home, yet there’s something about a hotel room that kind of makes us want to crave for a longer vacation. Hey, AirBnbs are nice, but they can they really beat room service? And clean towels every day? And hotel beds… let’s just take a moment and talk about hotel beds!
Where Do Hotel Beds Come From?
If you’ve ever slept on a hotel bed and it felt like Heaven, you’ve probably wondered at least once where they get these beds from. Most of the world’s fanciest hotels have beds and mattresses made specifically for them.
Some mattress manufacturers that supply hotels with their beds will also sell these products to the average consumer. But others create mattresses exclusively for the hotels they work with, so not every mattress you sleep on during your vacation can actually be bought. Rest assured; you’ll most likely find one that comes close.
The Mattress
Think of it this way: if you were a hotel owner with a mission to create the perfect room for your guests, what would be the item you’d spend the most money on? It’s safe to assume that people who book a hotel room do so with the main interest of sleeping. If you’re on vacation, you want to get as much sightseeing or a tan line, and then jump on top the comfiest bed in the world.
And what makes a bed divine if not the mattress that lies on top of it? It is no secret that hotels invest a lot of money in their mattresses. When you’re staying at the DoubleTree, you probably won’t sleep on a $500 all-foam mattress.
Hotels will usually go for a hybrid mattress or a combination of latex and memory foam.
Large hotel chains focused on customer feedback have heard the voice of their guests saying that the most important thing in a hotel is to take a good night’s sleep.
Oh, and here’s a quick peek at what mattresses some of the world’s most famous hotel use:
- Fairmont Hotels & Resorts – Sealy Posturepedic
- Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts – Simmons Bedding Company
- The Ritz-Carlton – signature Ritz-Carlton bed
- Marriott Hotels and Resorts – Marriott Signature Bedding Set
- Hilton Hotels and Resorts – Hilton to Home
- Westin Hotels & Resorts – Heavenly Bed
- W Hotels – Simmons Bedding Company
As you’ll notice, some huge brands in the hospitality industry have created their very own beds, which are now available for their on their online boutiques and shops. It may seem like they’re doing you a favor, but not to worry, the price of these mattresses match the reputation of the brand.
The Sheets
Make no mistake; the best hotels in the world don’t use cheap sheets, and certainly not ones made with some shady synthetic blend that scratches the skin or is torn apart after the first few washes.
Most hotels opt for cotton sheets with a thread count of at least 250. You can also safely assume that their sheets are made with a percale weave and long-staple cotton.
The Comforters
You may have noticed that even comforters seem luxurious when you’re using them in a hotel room. That’s mostly because hotels opt for comforters rich with down fill, or down alternative that’s super poofy and feels extremely comfortable.
One of their secrets is that they buy comforters are a bit wider and longer compared to the ones that you use at home.
The Setup
If you ever thought that making the bed isn’t rocket science, hotels are here to prove you wrong. By creating hospital corners, hotels always manage to make the sheets looks crisp and perfect. They don’t even use fitted sheet: it’s just a flat sheet that’s perfectly tucked underneath the mattress and stretched to create a perfect fit.
Can It Be Done?
By now, you’ve probably given up on the idea of trying to recreate that hotel comfort in your own bedroom, but it really CAN be done. Here are the things you need to pay close attention to:
- While hotels invest a lot of money in mattresses, the odds aren’t always in your favor, firmness-wise. If you’re a side sleeper resting on a firm hotel mattress, you’ll most likely end up with sore shoulders. Thankfully, when you buy a mattress at home, not only can you opt for a model that replicated hotel luxury, but you can also choose one that comes in the right firmness for YOU.
- If you don’t have the money to invest in a new mattress right now (although there are a lot of financing options available with most mattress manufacturers), how about buying a mattress topper? It only costs a few hundred bucks, and there are literally dozens of models and configurations to choose from. Keep in mind, though, that you will eventually have to replace your mattress at some point.
- Sheets are a great part of the comfort deal. Look for quality cotton sheets, with long-staple thread, and a thread count of at least 250.
- The type of pillow that you sleep on is also super-important. Hotels generally pileup on huge fluffy pillows, but also provide a couple of firmer ones as well. Consider opting for two combos, with soft and firm pillows. If you want only what’s best, consider buying pillows that are filled with natural down.
Conclusion
There are several reasons why hotel beds are a God-sent gift. It could be that you’re already in that vacation-mood state of mind where you feel that everything is all peachy with the world. The quality of the mattress you’re sleeping on is definitely a game-changer. It could also be those quality white sheets that hotels seem to nail every time.
But the best part of it all is that getting a hotel-quality night’s rest is no longer out of reach: not with what mattress manufacturers and bedding-item companies now have to offer.