Bed types in Italy
 

I am looking at 2-bedroom suites in Florence for our family of four (daughters 18 and 22). One choice has 2 bedrooms, both with "letto matrimoniale", translated as "double beds" in English. The other has one bedroom with "letto matrimoniale" and one bedroom with "letto alla francese" (French bed).

What is the difference? I thought "letto matrimoniale" was one large bed, as distinguished from 2 smaller ones pushed together (like most beds in Switzerland). But I also thought a French bed was one large bed as well, but maybe I'm wrong?

The girls would share a large bed if necessary, but would prefer not to, so if the bed type is two pushed together that would work OK.

Thanks for your help.

"Matrimoniale" doesn't necessarily mean that it's not two beds pushed together. It very well might be just that. The hotel should be able to tell you whether it's that or one double bed.

I believe "french" bed is wider than a twin, though not as wide as a standard double bed.

"Matrimoniale" usually means one large bed for two.

Hello enzian :)

I have generally had good luck asking the hotel for the measurements of the beds. When you get the numbers in metric, it is easy to do the conversion. This way, it takes out the guesswork.

And IMO, I have always found French beds shorter than what I'm used to. I know this because my feet usually stick out the bottom.

Oh, and I meant to say that it's good seeing you around here again. I've missed you!

It's true - ask for the measurements, but generally speaking a matrimoniale is a large two-person bed, about queen size. It's possible it could be two French beds put together, but it will be made up as one IME.

A French bed is slightly longer and wider than a twin.

A French bed is an odd size - about 3/4 the size of a real double bed - and not large enough for 2 people (except a couple of little kids). A "matrimonial" just means the size of a regular double bed - not if it's one or 2 pushed together. In any case, unless it's a quite small hotel and you have booked the only room they have in a specific category - exactly what you get will depend on what's free when you get there.

All of my exeriences has been that Matrimonial means either a bed like our double bed or two bed pushed together and in some cases (if one is lucky) a queen or king but that does not often happen.

OK, so now I'm more confused than ever. I found another site with an apartment that has one bedroom with "matrimonilale" bed but says "or two twins" so that suggests they can be split.

We don't care so much about the size of the bed but wonder if it can be separated into two for he two girls. DH and I are fine in one bed of whatever size!

In Italian hotels and apartments, double/matrimoniale beds are often actually two twins that have been pushed together and made up with mattress pads and sheets going across the two beds. This way the room can be made up whichever way is needed by the current guests, together as one bed or separated as two.

If the site states "matrimoniale or two twins" you will have the option to specify which way you want the beds to bed prepared. However, if the room is small, even two beds made up as twins might be pushed right next to one another for space--they just wouldn't share the sheets and balnkets.

A "letto francese" is known in England as a Scottish bed. It is 4 ft wide, versus the standard double which is 4ft 6ins. Queen and King size beds are becoming more common now but they were the standard sizes in the past. A single bed can be from 2ft 6ins, 3ft and 3ft 6ins.

It is not clear if the "letto matrimoniale" can also be configured as twin beds but highly improbable for the "francese".

Thanks everyone! I think we'll go wit the one that says the bed can be double "or twins" and ask them to set it up that way. It is the larger room, so the girls should be OK with that.