Move Apart Twin Beds?
Oct 7th, 2021, 03:46 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,494
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Move Apart Twin Beds?
Hi, Fodorites.
Wanted to ask before I emailed the hotel (and perhaps risk their thinking I'm going to be a difficult guest), but I wonder if it's ever done to ask a European hotel if they can separate the twin beds in their "twin room/2X single bed" room? Going on a mother-daughter trip, the room pics show the twins pushed together, which I understand is common, but would be preferable to have a few inches of space between the mattresses so we don't feel each rolling around at night.
Reconsidering the hotel, though everything else about it seems wonderful. (Upgrading the room is an additional $250/night, so that's not happening.)
Can't find anything when I google, but I saw one comment that said it might be for fire safety reasons if the room is very small. Anyone ever ask?
Thank you!
Wanted to ask before I emailed the hotel (and perhaps risk their thinking I'm going to be a difficult guest), but I wonder if it's ever done to ask a European hotel if they can separate the twin beds in their "twin room/2X single bed" room? Going on a mother-daughter trip, the room pics show the twins pushed together, which I understand is common, but would be preferable to have a few inches of space between the mattresses so we don't feel each rolling around at night.
Reconsidering the hotel, though everything else about it seems wonderful. (Upgrading the room is an additional $250/night, so that's not happening.)
Can't find anything when I google, but I saw one comment that said it might be for fire safety reasons if the room is very small. Anyone ever ask?
Thank you!
Oct 7th, 2021, 05:08 PM
#2
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,145
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think you can probably ask this, it's quite reasonable. Many beds actually have a frame so if you use them pushed together, you cannot help but roll onto the frame and it can be uncomfortable. I have experienced this many times in Germany, where a normal (single mattress) double bed is called a 'French bed' and is not the norm.
Lavandula
Lavandula
Not trying to be a wise guy...
Oct 7th, 2021, 06:29 PM
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,494
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks, lavandula. Yeah, that sounds jarring.
I'm going to email the hotel, and will post back. Thinking the answer will be a 'no,' but I'll reconsider then. I'm kicking myself that i didn't book a "deluxe" room two days which had a pull out sofa, and now they're sold out. Will keep an eye out, but won't count on it. The next larger size is not worth the price.
I'm going to email the hotel, and will post back. Thinking the answer will be a 'no,' but I'll reconsider then. I'm kicking myself that i didn't book a "deluxe" room two days which had a pull out sofa, and now they're sold out. Will keep an eye out, but won't count on it. The next larger size is not worth the price.
Oct 8th, 2021, 12:24 AM
#6
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,014
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If they are two separate beds, why would you notice each other moving around? It isn't going to make any difference if they are separated by a short distance.
I certainly wouldn't pay more for another room just so the beds can be separated.
I certainly wouldn't pay more for another room just so the beds can be separated.
Oct 8th, 2021, 12:44 AM
#7
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 1,754
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you tell them beforehand the vast majority of hotels will have the maid setup the room with two beds. The advantage of this method is for you they move the beds apart. For the next guest they move them together. All it takes is the maid to put the right sheets on them.
Oct 8th, 2021, 06:25 AM
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,494
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hotel hasn't yet replied, but I am now holding another booking at the same hotel, so feel much better. (I had to book two consecutive stays to upgrade to the next levels up, rather than the too-big family room). The upgrade costs an additional $40/night, but seems to be worth it. I feel I made the mistake of booking the standard 'twin' room rather than a 'superior twin' and 'privilege room' which has more clearance so would make more sense to be able to pull the twins apart.
I saw 1 pic (out of hundreds) of the beds moved apart (below), but this may be in the 'superior twin' rather than the 'standard.' Also, I wonder if the hotel did this for them, or if the travelers just did it themselves without permission. I DO believe there's a reason why they can't in some situations, like a fire code/needing clearance around the beds.
For those booking in Paris, the twin bed rooms often are pushed together. I think when they put a king sheet over the mattresses, they make it into a "matrimonial bed," rather than 2 separate beds. Over on the tripadvisor forum, I'm hearing from Paris travelers that the hotel will do this, but I wonder about my particular room as it's small.
I saw 1 pic (out of hundreds) of the beds moved apart (below), but this may be in the 'superior twin' rather than the 'standard.' Also, I wonder if the hotel did this for them, or if the travelers just did it themselves without permission. I DO believe there's a reason why they can't in some situations, like a fire code/needing clearance around the beds.
For those booking in Paris, the twin bed rooms often are pushed together. I think when they put a king sheet over the mattresses, they make it into a "matrimonial bed," rather than 2 separate beds. Over on the tripadvisor forum, I'm hearing from Paris travelers that the hotel will do this, but I wonder about my particular room as it's small.
Oct 8th, 2021, 09:17 AM
#10
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 34,880
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't know what hotel you are talking about, it sounds like unnamed, but it is not true that you can ask for this in every hotel. In many hotels, it is impossible to do that. A picture of the room should be able to asnwer the question more or less. The hotel website should make it clear on their room description, also.
If it is being sold as a twin bed room, you probably can.
But in many hotels in central Europe, there are two twin mattresses but that are in the same frame and cannot be moved apart. They have a common headboard, also. Sometimes ones with a common headboard are actually two separate beds, but often they are not and they cannot be moved apart. ONe hotel I stayed at in Salzburg specifically describes their rooms as a double bed with two mattresses or something, and you cannot move them apart, the photo also makes that kind of clear. They may have separate bedding, though (bottom sheet and duvet). Some hotels actually do provide both options but the rooms are called different things (the ones where the beds can be separated vs cannot). Sometimes ther eare just two mattresses to make a king size, as you can't get big mattresses up in some of these hotels that easily. I've also had a hotel in Seville where it was two mattresses but you could not move them apart.
this is an example of one hotel I stayed at, you cannot move those mattresses apart in the DOuble std or superior rooms. I've encountered that in some German hotels, also, in that small room I have no idea why they have two mattresses on teh bed, but I figured it was some custom in that area that people liked it that way, maybe for movement or because they can have the type of covers they each like.
https://www.hotelelefant.at/en/zimmer/
IN some other hotels, they deliberately have rooms that can be made up either way so they can change configurations depending on demand.
The photo you give is like nothing I've encountered, where it is literally two separate beds with no headboard. I can tell that's a more budget hotel, and that's fine, but in that case it would always be two separate beds if they are actually two separate frames and have separate bedding.
If it is being sold as a twin bed room, you probably can.
But in many hotels in central Europe, there are two twin mattresses but that are in the same frame and cannot be moved apart. They have a common headboard, also. Sometimes ones with a common headboard are actually two separate beds, but often they are not and they cannot be moved apart. ONe hotel I stayed at in Salzburg specifically describes their rooms as a double bed with two mattresses or something, and you cannot move them apart, the photo also makes that kind of clear. They may have separate bedding, though (bottom sheet and duvet). Some hotels actually do provide both options but the rooms are called different things (the ones where the beds can be separated vs cannot). Sometimes ther eare just two mattresses to make a king size, as you can't get big mattresses up in some of these hotels that easily. I've also had a hotel in Seville where it was two mattresses but you could not move them apart.
this is an example of one hotel I stayed at, you cannot move those mattresses apart in the DOuble std or superior rooms. I've encountered that in some German hotels, also, in that small room I have no idea why they have two mattresses on teh bed, but I figured it was some custom in that area that people liked it that way, maybe for movement or because they can have the type of covers they each like.
https://www.hotelelefant.at/en/zimmer/
IN some other hotels, they deliberately have rooms that can be made up either way so they can change configurations depending on demand.
The photo you give is like nothing I've encountered, where it is literally two separate beds with no headboard. I can tell that's a more budget hotel, and that's fine, but in that case it would always be two separate beds if they are actually two separate frames and have separate bedding.
Oct 8th, 2021, 10:53 AM
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,494
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yeah, I'm thinking I'll be staying in the upgrade, as I don't think the room is meant to allow guests to move beds apart as the traveler above did. It is listed as a TWIN specifically, and they have DOUBLEs, which are same size room, with the full mattress. The hotel's pic shows this, so I was curious if the frames can have space between them. Not a big deal, but I do think we'd feel each other moving/rolling around on the other mattress even though they're separate. It's a chain in Paris with around a dozen locations, so that's why I wanted to stay there, for reasons in other threads. I'll be sure to post what the hotel says when they reply.
Oct 8th, 2021, 11:35 AM
#13
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 18,102
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Two mattresses, two sheets, two duvets, two bases is perfectly normal in hotels and homes in Europe. Our bed at home is just that (2x 90cmx220cm beds). French beds will be shorter probably, and in traditional French hotels the beds can be very small.
We do not disturb each other in the night unless we chose to (Ahem), so I can't see that it would be a problem for you, but you can always ask if they can separate them for you.
We do not disturb each other in the night unless we chose to (Ahem), so I can't see that it would be a problem for you, but you can always ask if they can separate them for you.
Oct 8th, 2021, 11:43 AM
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,494
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I know. It's weird. The doors are the "headboard," and appear to be in all the rooms. I don't know why it's ajar.
From every pic I've seen, it seems like the bed frames are separate, but going through the 500+ images on other travel sites, I've only seen 1 pic where the beds are pushed apart (further above), and searching text in reviews to no luck. So my sense is they can't allow them to be moved apart. I'll likely stay here in the upgraded bookings for a bit more space. It's in top 5 on TA for Paris' 1800+ hotels, so I'm enthusiastic and reluctant to look elsewhere, with the senior traveler coming with me.
From every pic I've seen, it seems like the bed frames are separate, but going through the 500+ images on other travel sites, I've only seen 1 pic where the beds are pushed apart (further above), and searching text in reviews to no luck. So my sense is they can't allow them to be moved apart. I'll likely stay here in the upgraded bookings for a bit more space. It's in top 5 on TA for Paris' 1800+ hotels, so I'm enthusiastic and reluctant to look elsewhere, with the senior traveler coming with me.
Oct 9th, 2021, 01:00 AM
#17
I'm guessing the hotel is in an old building so rooms can often be a compromise between historical architecture and guest comfort. Some twin beds can be pulled apart and some are in a single frame. Definitely ask the hotel if they can do this or just do it yourself when you get there. The only problem I would have with separating the beds myself is the possibility of finding out that the floors beneath the beds are dusty/dirty.
Oct 9th, 2021, 02:38 AM
#18
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,401
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My only thought is that you should be prepared to get what you get no matter what you ask in advance and in spite of any on site negotiations.
Will you try it out to see if it works, look for another hotel, or....?
I loved our hotel in Amboise, but the room had a sloping ceiling (it was in the 'garret' ie on the top floor) so if you had tried to move the beds more than a few inches apart, either you couldn't get into the bathroom or one of the bed occupants would hit their head on the ceiling when sitting up in bed. Point being that hotel rooms in old hotels can come with many quirks and may not permit a lot of variation in bed position, be prepared.
Will you try it out to see if it works, look for another hotel, or....?
I loved our hotel in Amboise, but the room had a sloping ceiling (it was in the 'garret' ie on the top floor) so if you had tried to move the beds more than a few inches apart, either you couldn't get into the bathroom or one of the bed occupants would hit their head on the ceiling when sitting up in bed. Point being that hotel rooms in old hotels can come with many quirks and may not permit a lot of variation in bed position, be prepared.
Oct 9th, 2021, 08:11 AM
#20
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 36,842
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
That picture with the doors behind the bed is truly bizarre. You can tell there is no headboard at all -- note that you see the door behind the pillow on the right bed. So if the pillows aren't leaning against the doors, how on earth do they stand upright like that without falling off the end of the bed?
