Like NeoPatrick and mclaurie, I've also come across rooms meant for one person in NYC. But that's the exception rather than the rule.

I've always wondered, are Europeans able to sleep in a twin/single bed because they are small, or are they accustomed to sleeping in a fetal position due to lack of ambient heat?

European or otherwise, why wouldn't one person be able to sleep in a single bed? There's plenty of room... no need for the "fetal position".

A single bed is often exactly 72 inches long (6 feet). If you are anything over 6 feet tall then obviously you can not lay down fully stretched out in it. Sleep on your stomach and your feet hang over the end. Even if you are a little less than 6 feet tall, most people don't like their head actually against the headboard.

Agree - a single bed isn't comfortable for anyone over about 5'6" - your feet reach/may hang over the bottom of the bed. In the US these are children's beds.

Most people have a queen or even king in their master bedroom.

If you sleep on your back, or toss and turn, there isn't enough width, either.

I remember my first stay in a London 3 star hotel. They asked me if I was a single. Thinking they just wanted to know how many people were staying in the room I answered yes. They gave me a tiny room with a bathroom so small you had to sit sideways on the toilet because the bath tub was pressed against it. Don't ever get a "single" room in Europe.

Oh, I was thinking of the width!

Obviously I am short

I've traveled quite a bit and I've only run across two single rooms - one in Germany and one in Singapore. Both contained single (twin) beds and were laughably small.

I always wondered why a single room was less than half the size of a double.

Yes it's best to get a "matrimonial" even if you're not married!!! Unless you are a tiny person.

Can anyone tell me whether Hong Kong hotels fall into the tiny bed category?
I am going in April and plan to take my sister.
I dont mind twin beds, we had incredibly luxurious twin beds at the Jumeirah in London last summer... but I do not want to share a small double bed!!!
I think I will be staying at one of the Shangri-La hotels.

So now I know! Thx all for the considered replies. It sort of makes sense if the hotel is purpose-built.

I'm just glad that many of the cheaper places to stay in Europe DO have single rooms. Long may it remain so. I have no problem with the size of the bed or the size of the bathroom, and actually PREFER to stay in places that have a story and/or a bit of character instead of somewhere that's in London but could just as easily be in Chicago or Frankfurt or Auckland, etc.

Happy New Year everybody.