Sleep so much better on Hampton Inn bed than my natural latex mattress

Mattress Talk General Mattresses Questions
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I was surprised when the back and joint pain that causes lost sleep most nights was much better on Hampton Inn beds in 3 different cities on different trips. I’ve read in this forum about the pitfalls of buying directly from Hilton or getting a comparable model from Serta. The possibility mentioned in the forum that a bed feels better when you’re relaxed on vacation doesn’t apply to those trips at the Hampton Inns.

It seems like I need to find the closest thing to a Hampton Inn Serta Posturepedic from a TMU trusted member. I sleep only on my back due to neck pain. I’m 5’3”, 110 lbs, age 71. My body seems to be in the princess-and-the-pea mold, so need softness (probably the fibromyalgia and arthritis). I have a slatted wood foundation. I’d like to go for less off-gassing materials, but I know I may need to prioritize a good night’s sleep.

I’ve been on a Sleep EZ 3-tier (natural talalay soft, natural Dunlop soft, and natural talalay medium) for 9 years, which I thought would last 20 years. Maybe I should have gotten more support, or maybe I just do better with a more traditional mattress, or maybe the natural latex doesn’t last as long as I thought I was told. I added a 1-inch natural foam topper for softness a few months after buying it. After my Hampton bed experience, I read your site again after all these years (I’m so glad you’re still around!)and I suspect I’m not getting enough spinal alignment. I chose those layers because the Sleep EZ salesman said I didn’t need much firmness due to my low weight. I can see a difference in mattress height between where my head and trunk rest, without the topper or fitted sheet on it. When we bought it 9 years ago, I thought it might solve back pain and weekly chiro visits. It never did but maybe that was too much to ask.

The only TMU showroom in driving distance is Engineered Mattress in Greenville, SC (2 hours away—I’m in the Atlanta area), and could be doable. I wonder if their Duo Latex or Duo Latex Plus would come close to my experience with the Hampton beds, or if I should order online somewhere else that has a good return policy. And if the Duo wasn’t soft enough, adding a topper would be, or is that just strictly a personal preference thing that’s too hard to predict.

(Getting desperate to sleep, so thank you for any advice!)

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Your experience with the Hampton Inn beds does highlight an important point that is often overlooked by mattress seekers. Hotel mattresses are often tailored for specific comfort and durability needs, to accommodate a wide variety of guest sleepers, and they can differ significantly from the consumer models sold to the public. These hotel mattresses are designed for limited use of life and might not provide the same experience when purchased. This is something that the mattress companies don’t mention when selling your their retail versions or even their hotel website versions of their mattresses.

Your focus on finding a mattress that offers both support and comfort is crucial, especially given your unique needs. The TMU Trusted Members you mentioned are great options because they prioritize customer satisfaction with generous return and exchange policies. This is especially important for someone like you, who has specific requirements due to back pain and a preference for softer materials.

Considering your experience with your current SleepEZ mattress and the adjustments you’ve made, it seems like you might benefit from a more traditional mattress with better spinal alignment. The Duo Latex or Duo Latex Plus from Engineered Mattress could be a strong fit, particularly if they allow for some customization. Adding a topper for softness can be a good solution, but it’s often best to try the mattress first to ensure the base offers adequate support.

Since you’re in the Atlanta area, it may be worth making that trip to the showroom. Trying the mattress in person will give you a clearer idea of how it feels compared to what you experienced at the Hampton Inn. It won’t offer you how it will fair, long term, but when you are dealing with a quality company, that produces quality products, the expectation is much greater than if you were dealing with the mass marketers that prioritize profit of long-term performance.

If you decide to order online, look for brands that offer a nice trial period, so you have the flexibility to return it if it doesn’t meet your expectations. Buying on line is not a bad thing. Trying in a showroom usually will allow you to determine what might be too soft, as most mattresses will get softer over time. Initially if it is soft, it will only get softer. On the other hand, if a mattress is too firm, you can always add a topper or try to accommodate as the mattress breaks in.

Ultimately, it’s about finding the right balance between comfort and support that helps you get the restful sleep you deserve.

Good luck, and I hope you find a solution that works for you soon!

Maverick

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Thank you very much for your thoughtful reply, Maverick! I’ll try to go this weekend to try out the DUO at Engineered Mattress.

I’m glad you made the point that a soft mattress will only get softer, so better to get one too firm than too soft.

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You definitely don’t want to go overboard, but if you lean too much toward firmness, you can always add a topper to make it softer. On the other hand, making a softer mattress firmer can be much more challenging, especially if it has already started to soften. If that’s the case, it likely hasn’t softened evenly, particularly if the mattress hasn’t been rotated. Once certain areas of the mattress have softened, even a firm topper may not help, as it can conform to the dips beneath and create uncomfortable indentations where the mattress is softer.

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Great advice. I don’t think I did much rotation of my current latex mattress.

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