rach

I am travelling with a same-sex colleague, whom I barely know in a few weeks. We will be staying in B&B's to keep costs down. I had a near-impossible time finding two twin beds (that are not together in a single king-size bed frame). While I can sleep anywhere, I sensed being so close to one you do not know kind of threw off this colleague.
Got me thinking, do European acquaintances generally share this kind of side-by-side, but separate mattresses accomodation routinely?

RufusTFirefly

Many B&Bs and pensions are inexpensive enough that most people could get their own rooms if need be. How much can you afford to spend each night, per person?

P_M

Rach, just curious, why are you going on a trip like this with someone you barely know? I tend to be very selective about whom I travel with because it can ruin your trip to be with someone who is really incompatible with you. Therefore I usually travel alone unless I know that person very well. I do not mean to be critical, but please help us to understand the situation. In any case, I don't think it will be that hard to find seperate beds if you specifically ask for that.

m_kingdom2

Recently it was reported that a same sex couple were turned away from a B&B.

Whilst you are not a couple, well not yet, the owners may think otherwise. Book two single rooms, and just accept that the extra cost is for comfort.

Most people who make business trips book separate rooms, usually in deluxe properties, so this is never the norm. I'm curious as to what business you are in? Or perhaps it's not a business trip, most queer set of circumstances eitherway.

kappa

> I had a near-impossible time finding two twin beds.

I don't know why it's so dificult for you. Not, in my experience and I live in Switzerland. Maybe at the particular hotels you tried to book but not at many others. Perhaps you shoud keep trying.

walkinaround

There are two things here. First european B&Bs are usually very old and not "purpose built" as inns. Therefore the rooms are much smaller and often the bathroom is added later in a corner, taking up more space in the original room. So whether or not european aquaintances prefer to sleep together is not the issue as the room does not accomodate two beds as more modern american hotels/motels do.

Generally, europeans take a more liberal stance towards these sort of things and will not assume, care or even think about whether or not you are gay. There are some less progressive countries and areas where this is may not be the case. Young straight women in Europe (and Asia) often walk together holding hands without a hang-up of "feeling gay". Getting turned away from a B&B should be the last thing you are concerned about as this will not happen to you. Do what you and her feel comfortable with but i would be sure to discuss it with her first to avoid any awkwardness or surprises. if she is uneasy about it then be prepared to pay for two rooms in the very likely case that a room with two beds is not available.

kappa

I thought rather people sometimes have difficulty finding a big double bet for a couple > hotel gives them a bed which is actually two singel beds put together (which is what you are looking for.). What hotels have you tried in Switzerland?

P_M

When I first read this I didn't realize it was a business trip because when I travel on business, I am never expected to share a room with a colleague. Since I saw no mention that the trip is specifically for business, I thought it was a vacation. If that is the case, I think seperate rooms are best.

TopMan

M_Kingdom: what is it about "queer circumstances" that makes you so very nervous??????????????????????????

nytraveler

I'm still confused.

Is this a business trip? If so, you should never be expected to share a room. And why B&Bs? This is a corporate tax write-off - and you should be staying in a 4* hotel at minimum.

If a vacation - there are definite risks to going with someone you know so little - I mean having the vacation ruined by differing expectations, comflicts, difficult behaviour etc.

Either way I would rethink this - the vacation or the job!

P_M

Nytraveler, I'm so glad to see your post. I thought I was the only one that was confused about the reason for this trip.

Bottom line: If it's a business trip, you should have seperate rooms. It's a tax write-off anyway. If it's a vacation and you barely know this person, please reconsider. As I said in my first post, it's very important that your travelling companion s/b compatible with you, otherwise your trip could be a waste.

walkinaround

she never said it was a business trip and i don't think this matters much as it has nothing to do with her question.

even if it is business (which i suspect it is NOT) you don't need to assume she has a job like yours.

kappa

walkinaround, exactly what I was thinking.

Travelnut

Based on earlier posts, Rach is going on a leisure trip and perhaps has agreed to show a newbie traveler "the ropes" and seems glad/grateful to have a travel companion. Has already mentioned the desire to keep costs down, hence room-sharing.

We prefer twin rooms but couldn't always get them in Germany and Switzerland last year (at least not at the hotels we decided on for location/budget). The non-twin beds were very large, queen or king-equiv. but had separate top covers, ie. duvets. We were comfortable; however this still may not be comfortable in Rach's situation. I would prefer not to share with a non-close friend but that's my personality.

mikemo

Not a problem: I had the "similar" experience in my former life driving enduro race cars: we were "grouped, not groped" - the bed sheet and comforters are separate.
M

Kay2

As an academic on a limited travel budget, I sometimes share rooms at conferences [saving some of your tax dollars ] with other attendees, especially when someone is coming from a country whose profs are poorly paid, when exchange rates are bad, or when trying to help out a grad student. Usually not a problem to get two beds in an American or business hotel, but not always easy in budget hotels and B&Bs because of nonstandard furnishings. If going that route, you must be prepared for whatever you might get.

I've taken my nieces along on some of my business and leisure travels, staying in B&Bs and budget hotels. I specifically put in writing (email or fax) request for 2 twin beds and get written confirmation of reservation. Then when we show up sometimes we get two beds and sometimes we get the side-by-side in one frame but separate sheets and covers with the explanation that they are 2 twin beds. Of course, I know my nieces and they don't care--glad to just be on the trip.

If you and colleague aren't that comfortable with the possibilities, then go with 2 rooms in a B&B or 1 room in a business hotel where room furnishings are more standardized.

twoflower

If your desire is to keep costs down, I may have good news for you. I have travelled the countries you mention, once with my wife, sharing a double bed, and once with my son where we sometimes shared a room with twin beds (in hotels) and other times got separate single rooms (in B&Bs).

I was pleasantly surprised to find that the cost of 2 separate single rooms is only very slightly more than the cost of 1 double room. In fact, in some cases it was exactly the same. And what's more, I sometimes got a double bed anyway, because they had no single-bed rooms left.

phieaglefan

Rach,
I have to agree with twoflower. My husband and I just returned from a trip to Germany and Switzerland with my Uncle. I booked doubles for us and single rooms for my Uncle. We stayed in six different B&Bs and most times, his room was just a bit more than half of ours. I think two singles would be worth the expense from the standpoint of then also having 2 bathrooms. Good luck!
H

caroline_edinburgh

The recent case to which m_kingdom2 refers took place in Scotland, I'm sorry to say : a B&B owner in the Highlands refused to let a double-bedded room to a gay (male) couple, but was prepared to offer them a twin-bedded room. He also referred to the couple in offensive and archaic language. On the positive side, this caused a great deal of outraged comment in the Scottish press & the B&B owner has now been thrown out of the visitscotland scheme, I'm pleased to say.

rach

m_kingdom2:
Can you say "mean-spirited?"
what is "while you are not a couple, well not yet" and "a queer set of circumstances"...Do you find that titillating?
I am well-travelled in german-speaking countries, and am travelling on a leisure, not business trip. There is no tax write-off.
I abhor hotels, preferring to live among the locals in apartments and less often, B&Bs. I would rather spend my money on meals and sightseeing, than a place to lay my head at night.
As Travelnut correctly surmised, I am showing a first-time European newbie the ropes.
P_M: I am well-acquainted with the pitfalls of travelling with a noncompatible person. I am doing my own thing, have made my travel goals/style/priorities abundantly clear to this courteous and reasonable work colleague. She is aware that I will that I will 'abandon' her in a foreign country, with no language skills, if she whines.
And yes, Kappa, I called/wrote or e-mailed TEN places in Bullay on the Mosel seeking a twin bed room, with success only after the tenth try!