dumb question of the day
 

Hi all...what is difference between a single and a double room?
my wife and i are planning a uk trip and are looking for at least a queen size bed in a london hotel...we don't want to get stuck with 2 single beds...will we have to step up to an executive room to get a larger bed?...thanks

A single room is for one person! A double is for 2..the bed size will depend on what the hotel considers a double, it most likely will be 1 regular size double bed..not queen , nor king ..possibly 2 singles pushed together. Your best bet is to call hotel direct and specify your needs.

A single usually has a 'single' twin sized bed, and although two persons are allowed, it is not really super comfortable for a couple. A double offers one larger bed or two twin beds. Check the hotel room descriptions on the hotel's web site.

Hi Dave,

A single room means one person, a double is for two and so on. If you want one bed you must request a double room with a double bed. I have not seen many queen size beds in the UK or Europe anywhere. Everything is much smaller there. I'm not even sure most people would understrand the term queen size. Your best bet would be an upscale hotel. Good luck.

Greg

thank you all for replies...i am looking for a pricier place i guess...oh well can't take it with you...besides, this trip is for wifes birthday present so have to suck it up

Be careful sometimes a "double" in Europe means 2 twin beds. What you may want is a "queen" or a "king".

A double in the UK means you get a room with either one queen or one king sized bed. A single room is just that - one single bed.

When I make hotel reservations anywhere I say exactly what I want:
I would like a room for two people with one large bed
or
I would like a room for two people with two beds

In the UK it is easier to figure out than some places on the continent:

single = one single (twin sized) bed
twin = two single beds
double = one large bed (this is sometimes 2 twins that zip together or apart - but that is usually clearly indicated)

Elaine, that is what I do, Spell It Out! I tell them I want One Big Bed for TWO people :)

and half the time we still get twin beds pushed together!

King size beds at the Holiday Inns in the UK are the same size as the American king size beds.
At least that's what the Holiday Inn told me and gave me the measurements.
Have a good trip and sleep soundly!!!

thanks john

If you want to give or ask metric measurements:

A 'normal'(small) double bed is 140 (width)centimeters by 190 or 200 (length) cm.

A queen is 160 x 200.

A king is 180 x 200.

A very small double can be 120 x 190 (in Dutch it's called a 'twijfelaar', or 'can't make up its mind').

Sometimes there are 'extra long' beds; these are 220 cm long.

I don't know if they use these standard metric measurements in the UK, but these are pretty standard on the continent.

The UK uses inches & feet. They call a Queen size US bed a king. In London you will generally find decent sized beds in double rooms. In the countryside they may be smaller (doubles).

A double bed overseas is slightly smaller than a US full-size bed. Ask for a king-size bed (which is just about the same size as a US queen size bed), if you want to be really comfortable.

Take a look at this website for more info:

http://www.oldfields.co.uk/uk-usa-hotelterms.htm

Strongly advise checking out Priceline, by reading everything at biddingfortravel. I got an extremely nice room in a nice hotel in London for $85/night in May. Berners Hotel, 4* by Priceline's system, big bed, big bathroom.

I called ahead with a special request and it was honored -- in my case, the request was for a room at about 9 am when I arrived.