Has anyone ever called and asked the hotel they stayed at what type of mattress they used??? Do you think they use totally different types of mattresses in Europe than the USA??? Our mattress was so comfortable at a hotel we stayed in Taormina, and we need a new one one.

I've slept on some in Europe that I would have liked to pitch out their window. The hardest one ever was at the Agli Alboretti (sp?) in Venice. I finally drug it off the bed and onto the floor--although there was no improvement either way. M.

Dear Karen<BR><BR> I had a mattress in Berlin that had seen better days. I had to hang one leg over the side of the bed to keep from falling into the abyss. So far thats been the only bad experience. It would be interesting to see what kind of response you would receive by emailing your hotel choices with that question. The greatest lesson I have learned by far is to check your mattress when you check into your room. Sit on the bed and pull back the blankets to make sure the bed has been changed. If things are not up to your expectations then ask for another room. Happy vacationing and sleeping.<BR><BR> Peace, Robbie

It is interesting that you ask this question. We stayed at the Esperas on <BR>Santorini and I thought the mattress was the best I have ever slept on. Often I think I would like to write and ask them what kind it is. I think it was that very thick Swedish foam. I have seen adds for that type of mattress here. Try and find out. I am sure hotels get all kinds of questions and if they are too busy they will respond. It would be interesting and I do think there are different types of matresses in Europe and most of the time they are not great. Good luck.

The worst mattress tkht I ever tried to sleep on was in that exotic Central City Nebreaska

Yes! Marriott mattresses. They are a 7&quot; foam in the better hotels and are absolutely wonderful. <BR> I have shoulder problems and can't sleep on my side, plus my husband is overweight and he always pits the mattress, but on these mattresses it's as if all those problems disappear. They are made by Jameson and can only be purchased through them by getting the phone number off the website (for the Marriott mattress).<BR>I've got mine on order now! If you call the hotel to ask about the mattresses, it is usually the head of the housekeeping dept. that will know the brand name. <BR>Good luck!

Foam mattresses (high quality dense foam) are very common in Europe. There are several manufacturers of good ones, Beka, for example. <BR>Don't forget that European mattresses run in different sizes from American ones, i.e., twin sizes of 80 or 90 cm (or 120 cm for oversize twins) wide and 190, 200, or 210 cm long (200 is the most common length). Bigger (double and up) mattress widths are 140, 160, 180 cm, and rarely 200 cm. We had 160 cm (actually 2 80 cm mattresses) which is wider than an American queen but not quite as wide as an American king. The 180 cm is closer to an American king (but often sold in a 2 90 cm mattress configuration). The standard length is 200 cm, although more people are going for the extra 10 cm length (210 cm). <BR>Foam mattresses vary a great deal in price and hardness. We've seen prices for foam 160 cm mattresses range from $400 (much too soft and probably not high quality foam) up to over $2000.

There are many European manufacturers with many different types of mattresses. Usually price and quality go hand in hand. Next time you find a good one you could check. The manufacturers name is usually in one corner.<BR><BR>If the mattress is covered with blue/white or yellow/white checked cloth, it is a Swedish H&auml;stens. Super high quality, and only natural materials used (for example horse hair).

Time Magazine had an add for Serene Sleep mattress pads - www.serene-sleep.com. Anyone ever try this one? I have also seen an ad on tv for a &quot;space age material&quot; as well but cannot recall the name.

I called the hotel, and they did tell me the mattress brand - Permaflex. I looked it up on-line and wrote to them. They e-mailed me back that they only deal in Italy not USA.