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It's All About the Bed
US News & World Report · February 15, 2004

Phoebe Eskenazi endured many sleepless nights before checking into the Royal Sonesta Hotel Boston for a weekend. The Alexandria, Va., teacher was recovering from a bout of asthmatic bronchitis and just couldn't get any rest. But when she collapsed into an extra-cushiony Serta bed created just for the hotel chain, she fell into a deep slumber. "It was one of the most comfortable beds I've slept on," she raves. Eskenazi and her husband were so smitten they took a Sonesta bed home - for $1,600, including shipping.

"It is all about the bed," says Sonesta spokeswoman Deborah Roker. The hotel industry is starting to agree. After all, what good is a mint on your pillow if the pillow resembles a bag of cement? Westin was the first chain to upgrade its bedding, back in 1999. Since then, other upscale hotels have jumped on the bedwagon. Now midscale joints are joining in. Last month, Hampton Inn announced it was spending $80 million to replace mattresses, pillows, and such. Four Points by Sheraton will roll out a "Four Comfort" bed this summer.

Like Eskenazi, guests sometimes want to buy the hotel bed. "It's found money," says lodging analyst Robert Mandelbaum, though he guesses that the take represents no more than 1 percent of the industry's income.

You can probably score a better deal if you do it yourself, but there's a lot to be said for one-stop shopping, not to mention the fact that you'll be the only person on your block with a bed fit for the Ritz. The for-sale package typically includes a mattress, box spring, frame, pillows, sheets, and comforter. Prices below, from high-end chains with high-end beds, are for king size; shipping (from the manufacturer) is extra.

Hilton

The bed: A tailored bed skirt, a thick mattress pad, 250-thread-count sheets, a down comforter, and down pillows with a foam core for better support.

Price: About $1,200. You can get info only by asking at the hotel.

Who'd buy: At that price, who wouldn't want such a nice bed?

Sonesta

The bed: The signature bed is accompanied by a down comforter and a hypoallergenic pillow, stuffed half with feathers, half with goose down (from Europe, where else?)

Price: $1,475.

Who'd buy: Someone who wants a deluxe snooze at a good price.

Four Seasons

The bed: For over the top, this upscale chain has few rivals. Four Seasons beds are loaded with cotton instead of synthetic stuffing for a sturdier feel--the king version features 40 to 50 pounds of it--and there's a centerpiece between box spring and mattress with a layer of rigid foam to prevent sagging. Custom pillows are made from down imported from the Pyrenees.

Price: Ask at the hotel; prices vary by property. Chicago's Four Seasons, at (312) 280-8800, charges $2,325.

Who'd buy: Sleepers who want a high-profile brand.

Sofitel

The bed: The French hotel chain, which runs 10 U.S. properties, bills "MyBed" as showcasing the French art of living. Maybe it's the 200-thread-count percale pillowcases in 100 percent combed cotton--touted as "supple and voluptuous." Or its signature duvet, "a model of lightweight warmth and cozy softness."

Price: $2,780. Call (800) 284-8060 or visit soboutique.com.

Who'd buy: Guests craving Euro-style comfort.

Westin

The bed: According to corporate lore, Westin execs filled a hotel ballroom with 50 beds from 35 hotel brands and tested them to develop the "Heavenly Bed." It set a high standard for hotels: a custom cushy mattress, five pillows, and a choice of three down comforters, depending on the clime (Northern Star has a whopping 29 ounces of down).

Price: $2,965. Call (877) 777-5418 or westin-hotelsat home.com.

Who'd buy: Goose-down fans.

The Ritz-Carlton

The bed: They call it the "Sleep Experience" bed, and hey, why not? In addition to a custom mattress and box spring, featherbed top, and Frette linens from Italy, the Ritz bed comes with a choice of up to seven pillows. "Amber Waves of Grain" is filled with porous wheat chaff that allows air to "cool and ventilate" your weary noggin.

Price: $3,159, from ritzcarlton.com /corporate/gift_shop or (800) 222-6527.

Who'd buy: Anyone who won't lose sleep over spending that kind of money on a bed.

Christopher Elliott is a travel commentator based in Key Largo, Fla. All e-mailed questions may be edited, condensed or republished at the site's discretion.