We are booking a hotel in Canada and are in the process of choosing a room. But why should it be so complicated? King, queen, twin, double ... what do all these names for beds really mean? Are all these types of beds for two? Is something very luxurious and something simple...?
Not easy to find the right hotel bed
Hotel beds seem to be a jungle. We are completely confused (we are used to having the bed with us in the motorhome). We have tried to google around a bit and have come up with the following, if it is true? What are your experiences? What do you usually choose?
- King bed - Bed at least 180 cm wide
- Queen bed - Bed that is 140 - 160 cm wide
- Twin bed - Two separate beds
- Double bed - Bed with space for two people
Anonymous says:
Yes, beds are a tricky thing. The dimensions are also different in different countries. I was in the US last year and my bed (can't remember if it was king or queen) had five pillows and was about 180 cm wide... The same size as our bed here at home. At a conference in Puerto Rico I shared a room with a former colleague and we each had a large bed (at least 160 cm wide) with four pillows, it felt almost desolate. It felt like you as a couple would manage with any type of bed. Twin usually means that there are two separate beds instead of a double bed, so it is perhaps the only thing you should avoid if you want to share a bed.
08 February 2012 - 23:30
Johanna in Skåne says:
Hm, don't know if you got my comment I just sent. Or if it was sent without a name...
08 February 2012 - 23:31
Johanna in Skåne says:
Beds are tricky. For example, the measurements are not the same in different countries, even though they are called king, for example. In the US last year, I had a bed (king or queen) that had five pillows and was 180 cm wide... The same size as our bed here at home. At a conference in Puerto Rico I shared a room with a former colleague and we each had four pillows and a bed at least 160 cm wide. Almost a bit desolate. Feels like you as a couple can fit in any bed type. Twin usually means two separate beds instead of a double bed so it is probably the only thing you should avoid if you want to share a bed.
08 February 2012 - 23:35
Johanna in Skåne says:
...and now the first comment appeared, sorry for spamming...
08 February 2012 - 23:37
admin says:
Johanna in Skåne, thanks for the comment! Yes, it was sent anonymously first, and then I have to approve before it is published... It's good to hear about your experiences! It sounds pretty reassuring! It's really confusing when there are so many choices... we mostly want to know that it's a bed for two... but, it shouldn't be that easy....
😉
08 February 2012 - 23:38
Joanna says:
What a wonderful blog!
God, I remember the mecca of booking a hotel/hostel room when we were in the US. Didn't understand anything. In Las Vegas we got a room with TWO double beds, what the hell? But the room only cost 200 SEK/night. No idea what I clicked in to make it so, so I'm the wrong person to give advice here ðŸ™'
09 February 2012 - 0:11
Maria says:
hello
From someone who has lived in England for many years, I guess the bedding is the same as in Canada.
Twin is two single beds
Double is 1.40 cm
Kingsize 1.60 cm
Queen size 1.80 cm
Hope this helps and thank you for an incredibly inspiring blog!!!!
09 February 2012 - 8:42
admin says:
Johanna, thank you so much! Haha, it sounded like a pretty ok surprise! It's worse if it goes the other way... only one bed if you need two....
😉
Maria, THANK YOU so much! Very good and useful information for us!
Katarina in Malaysia, well that's the thing about different measurements that also messes up everything... We're not going until July, but there's a big conference I'm going to with work (although Peter is also travelling with me) and there are several Swedes who are going to try to stay in the same hotel, so we think we need to be out in good time...
09 February 2012 - 12:31
Johanna in Skåne says:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bed_size might clarify a bit, but is quite confusing...
09 February 2012 - 12:40
Katarina in Malaysia says:
In Asia and the USA, there are different measurements of the mentioned bed sizes. We ourselves usually book Queen size which usually takes up the whole room and then there is usually little space to stow the bags, even worse to open them. If you are travelling with large bags ....
When are you leaving?
09 February 2012 - 12:14
Seniors Speculate says:
Hi! As previously mentioned, it is not always easy to get the right type of room, over there. But our experience from both the US and Canada is that King Size is a very large bed, Queen is slightly smaller but also a bed, twin is two separate but depending on the class of the hotel can be quite wide as well. Double is usually two beds and is otherwise adapted for two people. We usually always order queen, because we are used to it from home and in the motorhome. In the US and the places we have been to in Canada are usually equipped with large beds. This is always the case in the US, even in private homes. The USA has been a bit of our second home country for a very long time and we have visited 38 of the 50 states. We have stayed a lot at B&Bs, which is very nice, and in the US we usually rent houses or apartments. Will usually be cheaper than hotels too. Good luck and hope you have a wonderful experience. It is incredibly beautiful in Canada and people are very hospitable and nice, we think.
Marianne
09 February 2012 - 13:15
Annika says:
King size is the biggest bed, even bigger is the California King.
In a king size cover you are far apart from each other.
Peter and I have a Queen Size at home. It's just below the King, maybe 160 wide?
Fullsize is a smaller double bed, perhaps 130.
Twin is a single bed, approximately 90.
Take a room with a king or queen and it will be great!
Hugs!
09 February 2012 - 16:29
admin says:
Johanna in Skåne, I´m still confused, but at a higher level, so to speak...
😉
Senior Speculators, thank you for your answer! There are a few different bids here, but I'm beginning to suspect that both king and queen will work just fine, although there may be some differences between countries...
Annika, thank you! Exactly what I have started to realise! King or queen probably works great!
09 February 2012 - 21:54
Doris says:
Hi!!! Does anyone have experience about beds/sizes in the hotels in Varadero/Cuba ?
29 August 2017 - 18:18