Twins or Doubles?

[VandA]

Just about to shop for beds (the gite is getting closer to being finished!). We have two bedrooms, along with a sofa bed downstairs. We were thinking of getting a double and twins for the bedrooms. Would you recommend getting two sets of twins instead for the increased flexibility? I'm not overly keen on zip link beds but would we lose bookings without the option?

[Mr Coeur de Lion]

I don't know, but from a customer point of view (me being the customer), there is nothing worse than sleeping on single beds. I've been to many hotels in France with single bed only configuration and hated it.

I would go for a double and two twins.

[idun]

I don't like sleeping in a single bed either.

Don't mind if it is making do for a night, or at friends and that is all that is available. When paying for somewhere for a holiday, it is something I would take into consideration.

[JSKS]

Probably not too important as long as what you buy is of good quality. For each couple that prefer a double will be another couple who don't! When you consider all the criteria for choosing a holiday - location, weather, cost etc - I'm not convinced this would be a deal-breaker.

[just john]

There is always a third way, how about a single and a double, many hotel rooms have this option which covers all bases, and you can get a small double if necessary which would suit those who want to be together[8-|]

 

[VandA]

The rooms aren't big enough for a double and a single. My thinking is that if both rooms have two singles in then we can join them together to make doubles in both of them when needed.

There are some pretty clever things for joining beds together so that the join can't be felt..

Or would one dedicated double room and one twin room be better?

[Russethouse]

You can buy mattresses made for the purpose of zipping together can't you ?

[VandA]

You can but I quite like the look of this thing for maximum flexibility:

http://www.outofeden.co.uk/productdetail.aspx?productcode=2999

[Russethouse]

Thats neat - what size sheets would you need for the beds when they are together ? Ordinary King Size ?

[Judith]

Two singles give you more options - doubles, even king / queen are sometimes not large enough, whilst two singles together give you a nice large bed .... so you have both options in both rooms.

Agree about good quality beds and bedding though ...

[idun]

That looks very good.

 

I am just wondering how much pressure the join could take though. Would you have to leave a little note along the lines of 'please be aware that rumpy-pumpy must be only on one side of the bed' [:)]. Aren't couples supposed to be having a good time on holiday?

[betoulle]

a lot depends on the location of your property & the type of clientele you are looking to attract.  Our family gite has a queen size bed & 2 singles.  This appeals to the family market in the peak months, but approx 70% of our work is off season to mature couples.  We offer a couple only discount during the April/May/June & again Sept/Oct periods & for the 5th year running we are now almost fully booked from early May till October, with just 5 weeks of 'family' bookings - the 'shoulder' period is notoriously difficult to fill for those in the family market.  Is your gite spacious enough to offer 2 double rooms of the same quality to appeal to 2 older couples holidaying together?????  If so, I would offer 1 proper king size bed (very important amongst the older clientele) & a 2 single ziplock in the 2nd bedroom - covers all options.  Good luck

[betoulle]

just looked at your website - from our knowledge of the area you will appeal to Parisiens for 'short breaks' - often 2 couples holidaying together, so we would go for what will appeal to an older market, especially if both bedrooms are same size & quality.  Our gite does not appeal to that market as the 2nd bedroom is a third of the size & of a different decorative standard to the master - ideal for 2/3children, or a single person (teenager/elderly relative) but no good for a couple, hence our decision to market to 'single couple only' off season who want more luxurious private space at a reduced rate. 

[Gardengirl]

We often stop overnight in the same chambre d'hotes in Beaune, where they have only 2 rooms - and where we're often unlucky in getting a room! Although we prefer to have a queen or king-size bed, the room with the best view of the garden and out to the vines is the one with 2 singles. So that's the one place where we request the 2 singles room. The double room also has views, also a single bed on a mezzanine and is bigger, but you have to climb up to the mezzanine for the views - and my knees creak so!

I echo the need for excellent beds and bedding. At the Beaune place they are super-comfy, as good as our own. The chambre d'hotes we stayed at in Bergerac last week also had super beds. My main gripe at most places is the state of the pillows; if we're travelling in the car I often stick a couple of our own in, so I know we'll be super-comfy! I can't bear those old floppy things most places have, nor the long sausages, which make my back and neck ache!  [:D]

[Judith]

GG

I forgot the pillows - yes I cannot stand the rubbery things which are supposed to be better for allergies.  All I know is that I cannot sleep on them, so if at all possible I take my own, as for me pillows are as important as beds.

I also prefer a duvet whilst OH likes blankets, so we quite often opt for singles, even though we have a queen size double at home.  I find that not many B&Bs or hotels offer a choice of bedding, which would again be a nice gesture.

[Araucaria]

[quote user="Judith"]GG

I also prefer a duvet whilst OH likes blankets, so we quite often opt for singles, even though we have a queen size double at home.  I find that not many B&Bs or hotels offer a choice of bedding, which would again be a nice gesture.

[/quote]

Judith - if it's not intruding too much into your bedroom, how do you manage at home? My OH also likes the weight of blankets, and I much prefer a light duvet, and the result is often that I end up much too hot at night.......

[idun]

Araucaria, we have friends who have a quilt each on the bed. She is german and that is always what we have been given in hotels in southern Germany and Austria, So you could have one light one for you and buy your OH one of these awful really heavy ones just for him, well if that is what he likes.

[VandA]

I've been looking at the prices of bedsteads in France and to get something of decent quality it seems you have to pay a fortune! Is there somewhere like Dreams in the UK where you can get a decent bed for not too much money? Any recommendations?

[idun]

IKEA?

[VandA]

May end up there but was hoping for a bit more variety. Found this place - http://www.premierfurnituredirect.com - anyone used them?

[just john]

One day when you have your rose-tinted lunettes on and antique bargain hunting head on you could do worse than  Emmaus+mouy where sometimes there are some surprisingly lovely furniture pieces, just don't tell anyone else, they'll probably only see the indesirable ordures; plus anything you pay goes to charity for homeless etc, so you can feel you have done your bit. As for Mattresses probably Le Clerc is the best price/quality I've seen, both deliver.

[idun]

Yes, I agree whole heartedly, Emmaus is a lot fussier than it used to be, so yes, maybe some good buys there, for the bed bases.

[betoulle]

Big antique markets are where we sourced some of our beds - from this Friday 22nd one of the better ones is on in Bordeaux at Place des Quinconces (runs for a couple of weeks).  You will find a variety of brass, wrought iron & upholstered beds at bargain prices.  You will need to make a base & buy a mattress, but we found a beautiful 1900s silk upholstered bed there a few years back which needed no restoration - cost 500euros, so with t he base & a nice mattress we were looking at at least half the price of one to be found in an antiques centre. A similar bed in one of the centres that specialises in such beds in the uk would have cost £3000..  That room is now one of our most popular because of the unique bed.  Otherwise I agree with the previous poster that Emmaus or a good Troc can be a good place to search.

[londoneye]

I've used Premier Furniture direct several times. There was a delay on one occasion but they were very good at communicating about the delay and offering to loan us the beds they had in stock currently (not the ones we had ordered) and then replacing with ours when they arrived.

Apart from that occasion they were great and the quality of the beds and mattresses was more than acceptable. Admittedly being a skin-flint I had purchased the cheapest beds, but the mattresses are very good quality.

Also, we wanted metal beds and they resourced some for us, which were not shown on their website.

However, I actually hate recommending places because what works for you doesn't always necessarily work for someone else, so important to check them out yourselves and make sure you are happy if anyone does go ahead and use them.