German Beds
Saturday, July 2, 2011 at 9:00 Travellers always find little surprises wherever they go. The most common one in German hotels - after "what do you mean there's no air conditioning?!?!!" - is the bedding.
Perhaps it's in response to complaints, but I'm impressed that a recent Jetsetter popup sale on a Berlin hotel added this to their "What to Know" section.
Whether you're staying in a hotel or trying to buy bedding, Americans are in for a shock that it's extremely difficult to find large duvets. Usually they're closer to our twin size, so that you'll need 2 duvets for a normal sized bed. Many couples who come here are shocked that they have to sleep under separate covers. There is a logic behind it, that men and women often have different sleeping preferences and having two different duvets (and sometimes 2 different mattresses joined together!) allows each to have their own preferred comfort and temperature. It's supposed to prevent many matrimonial arguments, though many German women's magazines now debate whether the traditional is extremely practical or terribly unromantic.
What do you think? Strange? Great idea?
Personally, I like to able to totally wrap up in the winter and those little ones just don't do the job.
Frau A ... 4 Comments Germany & German Culture, Travel tagged hotels, life in Germany ... Print Article Email Article Share Article 
Reader Comments (4)
I looooooooove German beds. We have 2 mattresses on one big bed, and separate duvets. I think we sleep a lot better on the separate mattresses, becuase we don't create a big gravity hole in the middle that we both roll into and get too hot. Even before we moved here we used separate blankets because it's easier to regulate your temperature that way, plus I'm a dangerous blanket hog. It's not unromantic to spend some time under the same blanket to start the night, but then move apart when you want to get serious about getting some sleep. :)
The best thing ever was the king size bed. One mattress,one sheet, one or more blankets, two or more pillows. Use your imagination! Togetherness is accomodated by no seam for a knee or elbow to fall through. Lots of space for togetherness or moving conveniently apart. One partner can comfortably have the full covers on their side and the other can simply peal back layers and be cool. The KSB is anything from a playground to semi private space. I can change a king bed sheets much faster than twin Duvets. Men hate stuffing these duvets!
And speaking of romance you can spoon anywhere in the KSB even in the middle! Or for that matter you can do anything anywhere on this platform. I better stop here.
I agree -- most hotels have separate duvets, but sometimes its one mattress and sometimes its two. In the stores, it's quite easy to find a duvet to fit what equates to an American Queen sized bed. A King size -- never looked.
Luckily these days I think you can find whichever you prefer. Except a King Sized...realistically almost no one has the space to put one in a city apartment!