Please explain the difference
 

Please explain the difference to me between a twin room and a double. It appears that 2 people can stay in each. I want to make sure and reserve the right thing. I need two beds. What should I be requesting?

A twin room has two (usually) twin beds; a double (usually) has a double bed, though sometimes it might be two twin beds pushed together.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

I've found that it can be difficult to assure yourself of a double bed in a room listed as a double. As Rex says, the double may consist of two twins pushed together. At the most inopportune of times, the beds may separate. To be sure of getting a single bed capable of sleeping two persons, you should ask for a "bed matrimonial"

I learned that in Austria the term double bed most often means a bed about the size of my king bed, perhaps a little larger. The use of separate comforters for the bed covers makes it a little strange, however. We experienced that situation in several places.<BR>In Switzerland, we usually found two single beds where we went.<BR>The same was true in Paris.<BR>

We prefer the twins also, so you need to request a "twin" room (not a "single"). Sometimes it can be clarified that you want 2 beds. Some hotels may not offer twin rooms. If I'm surfing for hotels, I like to see if any of the photos display a room with twins, otherwise it drops down the list.

To avoid any misunderstandings-I always ask for a double room with one big bed for two!then I ask if the beds are double sized -making myself as clear as possible, the first time we were in Paris, I asked for a room for two and we got two tiny (I swear they are smaller than US twin size) beds, so we pushed them together and all was fine...My daughter just took a room in London to share with her little boy-she asked for a room for 2 people with twin beds, exactly what you want.

Never mind the jargon. Avoid headaches and simply ask for what you want: "a room with two beds." Leaves no room for misunderstanding!

I'm with Rita, I either ask for "a room for two people with two beds" or "a room with two people with one large bed".<BR>Sometimes a hotel will fax or email their rate list--look for the "twin-bedded" room if it's in English.<BR>On average, the twin-bedded rooms can be larger so as to accommodate the two beds, so that's an advantage.<BR>

Even if you don't know a word of French - learn this: une chambre avec deux lits, S'il vous plait: - (a room with 2 beds please) - in a double bed in France, with exception of the American chain hotels, one person can sleep only. They are 1.20 or 1.40 meters wide, if that says anything to you. Sometimes we have to book 2 rooms, if there are no spare rooms with 2 beds.<BR>

I think it's good advice to definitely say you need two beds. My experience in France is different from others above as I've always gotten a double bed, the hotels I stay in have more of those than twins. I always make my demands in French, my experience is they always call a double bed exactly that (un lit double) or simply a "grand lit" (large bed). A std French double bed is the same size as an American one -- the above numbers as 140 cm for a double is correct (I've never seen one at 120 cm), but that's the same size as a std American double bed (but is not a queen size, which is more like 160 cm).