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There’s just something special about sleeping in a hotel. Be it a 5 star hotel or a bed & breakfast tucked away in the countryside, there’s something about sleeping in a bed other than your own that gives it a special kind of sparkle. But what is it really? The excitement of uncharted territory, a momentous occasion celebrated or even just the momentary respite of a short staycation – these all lend a shimmer of delight to your trip that leads to probably the greatest sleep of your life. But have you ever stopped to think that it could also be the mattress?
What type of mattress do hotels use?
The mattresses found in hotels are some of the best mattresses in the world. High end hotels, in particular, can oftentimes have an agreement with mattress companies that allow them to customize their mattresses or even have their very own brand such as the Marriott mattress. The same goes for a major mid-range hotel chain like the Hilton hotels, who value consistency over everything else, they usually have their own mattresses especially made. In the United Kingdom, hotels like The Langham and the Ritz Carlton prefer Hypnos beds which even comes with a Royal Warrant from the times of King George V. But it’s not just the mattress.
Hotels invest heavily in replacing their mattresses and bedding. Someone once told me, “a hotel is only as good as their mattress”, and now, having travelled around a little bit more, I can definitely see the truth in that. Most hotels opt to go for hybrid mattresses that feature a pillow top and are of a medium to medium firm feel since this suits most types of sleeping positions. To up the plush factor, a good number of hotels also use a mattress topper, which is excellent for those who sleep exclusively on their sides. Some hotels offer guests an option to choose memory foam mattresses such as a Tempur-Pedic and if you’re someone who prefers or needs a memory foam mattress, then it’s best to check and call the hotel you intend to stay at before making any reservations.
And yet there are so many layers to a hotel’s environment, ambience and overall feel – this is, after all, their bread and butter and the very reason they exist. It’s not just the bed, it’s the lighting. It’s not just the lighting, it’s the scent. It’s everything – from the pillow selection to how the sheets are tucked down to the color scheme. A hotel room is a play on all the senses. This is what’s known as the hotel halo effect.
What is the hotel halo effect?
In marketing, the halo effect is defined as a term for the consumer’s favoritism toward a line of products due to positive experiences with other products by this maker. When it comes to hotel beds and hotel rooms, the halo effect becomes more nuanced and everything just comes together to make hotel beds – and rooms overall – so comfortable.
Hotels take great care (and spend big bucks) in putting together a concept to make their guests feel at home – or at the very least, an idealized version of home. In the case of high end hotels such as the chain of luxe Fairmont hotels dotting the globe, rooms where delicious dreams are realized.
The full hotel bed sleep experience often includes:
- A plush environment – this includes the flooring which for most hotels are thickly carpeted, comfortable sofas and walls painted in relaxing hues. The color themes are mostly muted, neutral and warm. Little splashes of color are set by a vase of flowers or perhaps a few art pieces hung about.
- Crisp white sheets – usually made from high quality Egyptian cotton, the higher thread count the softer the sheet. Good quality cotton usually has a thread count of 300 – 800 although occasionally you will see 1000 thread count sheets, which is, in my honest opinion, excessive and pointless. Ever get the most delicious feeling from sleeping on a freshly made bed? The best hotels have this trick down pat – freshly made beds are like chicken soup for the sleep deprived.
- Soft, warm lighting – low, warm light is conducive to a better sleep environment. No one wants a bedroom with harsh, bright lights (those are best reserved for hospital rooms and prison cells). Soft, low lights make your body think that it is time to relax, melatonin production kicks in and it’s time to hit the sack.
- Scents – Scent is such an integral part of the full hotel experience. We associate so many good and bad memories with particular scents. Not so long ago, I was a fragrance specialist for a certain world-famous French perfumery and I got to see firsthand how scents can so easily affect human emotions and brands know this. Perfume has always spelt big business and not just in the realm of toiletries and bath products – the scent of a room, or a home draws you in, wraps you up and cuddles you. Ever thought about why realtors always have cookies baking in the oven as they show off a house for sale? This is why. And hotels have studied this phenomenon at length. The scents wafting through hotels not only tell you that it’s time to dream but it’s time to dream big. Each hotel has their own particular scent to it – as an example, the Park Hyatt hotels in Italy and Dubai have their scents (both ambient and bath) made exclusively by Turin, Italy based Linda Tonatto, whose perfumes cost an upwards of $200. Once you’re home and back in reality, one whiff of your holiday/getaway scent and you’re yearning to go back.
- Temperature control – the ideal temperature for sleeping is around 65 degrees F (18.3 degrees C), give or take a few degrees. No one wants to sleep in a hot room, neither does anyone can comfortably rest in too cold of a room. That said, hotels opt to keep the temperature of their rooms in the cooler end of the spectrum, this makes their guests want to immediately get under the covers and cuddle.
- Comfortable beds – and by this I mean the best mattresses from mattress brands such as Serta Simmons (note: most hotels keep mum about their mattress sources but we know for a fact that most major hotels in the United States use Serta mattresses, Sealy or Serenity Bed), a king sized bed, plush pillows, high thread count sheets and fluffy duvets, maybe even a throw pillow or two. Take for instance, the Marriott bed. So many guests have raved and asked about their beds that they have now taken to selling the full Marriott bed experience – replete with box springs, mattress toppers, matching bedding and even a room spray.
All these things come together to give you the full luxury hotel experience – or cozy bed & breakfast if you are so inclined. Hotels are not just places to stay in, they should feel like your home away from home.
How to create your own hotel room experience
Thankfully, high quality mattresses are not only for hotels; us common folk can have our very own hotel bed experience right in the comfort of our own bedroom and the best part is, there’s no checkout time.
Even if you can’t spring for a new mattress just yet, you can certainly recreate your very own comfortable hotel mattress at home with the same mattress you currently have. What makes hotel beds so comfortable are the sum of its parts and here are some tips to help you get the ultimate sleep experience.
- Take a second to think about this, every hotel bed you’ve ever slept on has never been hard. Most hotel beds feel quite soft and sumptuous. If you are a strict back or stomach sleeper, a firm mattress is what’s best for you and what you probably already have. In this case, you can compromise with fluffier bedding such as a plush pillow or two. If you’re a side or combination sleeper, then go to town. Invest in a mattress topper if you feel as though your own mattress may be too firm. In any case, make sure what you have is a comfortable mattress before buying anything else to dress it up.
- If you prefer to go all out and splurge on an entirely new bedroom set, the first thing you have to take into consideration is your preferred sleeping position as well as whether you share a bed or not. Most people opt for medium-firm mattresses – not too hard and not too soft. These types of beds are the perfect comfortable bed for couples with different sleeping positions.
- Hotels use the full shebang – fitted sheet, flat sheet, duvet or comforter, duvet cover, throw blanket, different sized pillows, perhaps a ruffled bed skirt if the aesthetic is French Rococco. No matter what your style or theme may be, a full bedding set is imperative to get the luxury hotel bed look and feel. A hotel pillow is usually filled with down or a down alternative. These pillows are the ultimate in sleep luxury and thankfully, readily available.
- The way you make your bed does make a difference. Hotels use the hospital corners technique. This ensures a clean, even surface that not only feels nice but also looks nice. Tutorials are readily available online.
- Invest in a room spray, reed diffuser, scented candles or oil burner (or all if you’re a little bit extra). Most hotel chains – stingy though they may be with their trade secrets and rightfully so – have at least shared which scents they use to perfume their rooms. All you need is a little internet sleuthing. If you prefer to create your own, companies such as Neal’s Yard Remedies sell premium quality essential oils and diffusers. My favorites are a blend of rose, white musk and amber – I adore warm, sensual scents. For a more relaxing atmosphere, try a blend of lavender and the tiniest drop of neroli. A secret trick that some bed & breakfasts do which I found out when I stayed in a 14th century cottage turned hotel somewhere in the English countryside is applying the tiniest bit of essential oil to the light bulbs (unlit for some time please – we don’t want you to burn yourself) in your room. Once on, the heat from bulb diffuses the scent into the room. It is important to take note that this works best with oil based scents as opposed to alcohol based ones.
- Lighting is key. If your bedroom is naturally brightly lit, you could look into getting some blackout curtains. If your room’s lighting has no dimmer function, lamps now come in a variety of shapes and styles and you are sure to find one that would suit the look you are going for. Bonus: soft, warm light induces sleepiness and can give a good night’s sleep.
- Set up some bedroom playlists. Music sets the mood no matter where you are and in the bedroom, your favorite slow and easy playlist could add that certain somethin’ somethin’.
- Art could be the icing on the cake. So, you’ve gotten and done everything on the checklist but there still seems to be something missing. Hotels add character to their rooms through color and some of the best ways to do this is through art. A simple vase of your favorite flowers could also do the trick. Some of your favorite books on the nightstand could infuse your personality into the room as well. You don’t have to recreate the Hilton bed piece by piece, make it your own.
- Reduce clutter. I believe part of the reason why hotel rooms hold so much allure is that they are devoid of the clutter of our everyday lives. Try to keep your bedroom as clutter free as possible. If you are short on space, you could invest in some pretty looking drawers and organizers. For instance, I use whitewashed wicker baskets to store all the knickknacks that I have scattered about.
- Keep electronics away. Ok, ok, we know that hotels usually come with a TV but devices can keep you up longer than you should be. A device free night can just be the key to achieving sweet dreams. Try it one time.
Some of my personal favorites
- Waldorf Astoria, The Palm Jumeirah Dubai – White and turquoise themed throughout with Arabic wood carvings, their mattresses look 30 inches thick and feel as though you are laying on a cloud. If Zeus had a bed, it would probably be this, a heavenly bed.
- The Aberdeen Lodge, Dublin, Ireland – A 4 star Edwardian era manor turned bed & breakfast in Ballsbridge, theirs are some of the softest mattresses I have tried.
- Banyan Tree Ras al Khaimah – Set on its own little island, the beds at the Banyan Tree RAK are made to look like tents you would see on safari complete with mosquito netting albeit the luxury version.
- Park Cottage, Warwick – Right on the doorstep of Warwick Castle in the West Midlands of the UK is a gem of a bed & breakfast that dates back to the 14th century. Each room is decorated differently and their beds are some of the coziest, princess-y beds I have ever laid my head on.
- Premier Inn – I have been to quite a few Premier Inns in my time and I have to say that they would have to be the best budget friendly hotels with some of the most comfortable beds I’ve slept on.
Michelline loves nothing more than a cozy bed, with a stack of books at her side. She loves getting lost when she travels, can bake an entire British afternoon tea from scratch, is obsessed with all things analogue and does calligraphy on the side. She currently suffers from mild insomnia and is more than happy to be your guinea pig, so you won’t have to go through all the trouble of finding out what works best for you.
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