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If you like to splurge on a nice hotel while traveling, you probably know how luxurious it feels to slip into a four- or five-star hotel bed and get a blissful night’s sleep. After your vacation is over, you may go back to your old mattress wondering what it was about that hotel bed that left you feeling so rejuvenated.
Generally speaking, hotels (particularly luxury hotels) use high-quality mattresses, bedding, and pillows that can offer an unmistakably cozy feeling. A survey from J.D. Power reported that the most important factors that contribute to a good night’s rest in a hotel are the comfort of the bed, the quietness of the room, and the quality of the pillows and linens.
While some hotel chains (like the Ritz Carlton) sell mattresses to the public, other commercial brands make mattresses that offer a similar luxury sleeping experience.
To give you that “on vacation” level of sleep while you’re at home, we’ve rounded up five of the best hotel mattresses that we think provide a five-star sleeping experience. Continue reading to see our top pick and which other mattresses made the list.
The Saatva Classic is a luxury innerspring-hybrid mattress with five layers made from a combination of foam and innerspring coils. Materials like organic cotton and natural flame retardants made from thistle pulp make the Saatva Classic an appealing choice for those who want a high-quality mattress.
Sleepers who prefer a high level of contouring may enjoy the Euro pillow topⓘ A style of pillow top that provides an added layer of plush—the extra layer of padding is stitched beneath the mattress cover, so it’s flush with the edges of the mattress without adding extra height with zoned support and reinforcement in the lower back region. In general, our testers rated the Saatva Classic well in terms of pressure relief, particularly for back sleepers. Side sleepers may find the mattress a bit more firm and experience more pressure buildup in the shoulder and hips than those who sleep on their backs.
The mattress contains a high-density layer of memory foam on the perimeter of its top layer, which ultimately earned it a five out of five for edge supportⓘ This refers to the bed’s stability along the edges . This means couples who need the bed’s full surface area and people with mobility issues should sleep comfortably.
We felt the Saatva Classic performed well in the support category, meaning our testers felt their body weight evenly distributed across the mattress while their spine stayed in a neutral positionⓘ The spine’s natural curves at the neck, middle, and lower (lumbar) sections . Since most hotel beds offer a mix of support and contouring for different sleeping styles, we feel the Saatva Classic is a great fit for sleepers looking to replicate a hotel-like experience.
Because of its breathable hybrid construction and organic cotton cover, the Saatva Classic earned high scores in the cooling category, which is great for people who tend to sleep hot.
One area where we felt the Saatva underperformed is in motion isolationⓘ The ability of a mattress to keep movement on one side of the bed from affecting the other side . Because the mattress contains springs, it has a lot more bounce, meaning people who sleep in pairs may feel their partner moving around at night.
“I like how the memory foam layer supports my lower back, and while on my stomach it supports my hips. This mattress is also really bouncy, making it great for people who change positions at night.”
Who may love it
Who may want to avoid it
To learn more, read our Saatva mattress review.
While The WinkBed comes in four different firmness levels (softer, luxury firm, firmer, and plus), we tested the luxury firm model. The mattress contains four primary layers featuring a mix of gel-infused foam and innerspring coils that provide a good mix of contouring and support.
The first layer is wrapped in a moisture-wicking Tencel cover, which is both soft and cool to the touch. Underneath the cover, you’ll find a Euro pillow top made with gel-infused hypersoft foam, which sleeps cooler than memory foam but still provides a high level of contouring. Contouring is important for side sleepers since there’s added pressure around their shoulder and hip areas, requiring morel pressure relief to prevent pain.
When resting on The WinkBed, our testers felt like they were sleeping on top of the mattress instead of “in” it. They did experience a gentle cradle from the top layer before being met with firmness. When testing this mattress for side sleeping, the testers felt their hips and shoulders were well supported and that the spine stayed neutral. Lighter-weight (130 pounds or less) side sleepers may feel The WinkBed as firmer than average-weight or higher-weight sleepers, causing a slight pressure buildup.
Because of the mattress’s hybrid construction and its Tencel cover designed to sleep cool, people who tend to overheat should be happy on The WinkBed.
The mattress has extra reinforcement around the perimeter and is designed to have strong edge support. Our testers mainly felt stable while lying close to the edge, although they did feel a little give the closer they got to the edge. They said that while sitting on the edge, they felt firmly supported, which is good for people who need that strong support for getting in and out of bed.
The WinkBed also scored high for motion isolation, meaning couples are unlikely to be disturbed by their partner’s movements in bed.
“I feel very supported by this mattress, with my hips and shoulders against the surface of the bed and my spine neutral.”
Who may love it
Who may want to avoid it
To learn more, read our WinkBeds mattress review.
The Bear Elite Hybrid is a luxury hybrid mattress comprised of a mix of foams and individually pocketed innerspring coils that provide a medium-firm feel. One of the standout features is that it includes a layer of copper-infused memory foam, which sleeps cooler than traditional memory foam.
The Bear Elite Hybrid offers sleepers the optional add-on of a Celliant-infused cover, which Bear refers to as “sleep recovery technology.” The materials in the cover are designed to convert body heat into infrared energy, with a study showing that Celliant fabric can increase blood flow and oxygen in the skin.
When testing the mattress, our testers felt supported in every position, with only a slight pressure buildup in the shoulder area when sleeping on their side. Our testers felt the Bear Elite Hybrid would be a great choice for side, back, and stomach sleepers, except higher-weight stomach sleepers, who may feel it’s too plush. Since the mattress contains zoned support in the lower back region, it’s specifically a good fit for side and back sleepers who need extra support in this area.
The mattress is highly responsive, making it a good option for combination sleepers who change positions frequently. People who overheat at night should be happy with the cooling copper-infused memory foam, even if they don’t opt for the Celliant cover.
The mattress did fall short in the edge support category since our testers felt a lot of dipping as they approached the edge.
“I feel close to the surface on this mattress, but it has give and is molding to my back. I’d definitely be looking at this mattress if I was looking for a new one.”
Who may love it
Who may want to avoid it
To learn more, read our Bear brand review.
The Helix Dusk Luxe is a hybrid mattress specifically designed for side and back sleepers. It has five primary layers underneath a cooling pillow top. Sleepers can choose between the standard Tencel cover, which is breathable and plush, or a GlacioTex cover designed with additional cooling technology.
The first layer of the mattress is made with a responsive foam designed to offer contouring and pressure relief. You can also choose to swap this layer out and upgrade to the ErgoAlign layer, which provides zoned support and pressure relief in the lower back area. This section uses ultra-dense foam in the lower back region and softer, more contouring foam in the upper and lower sections for pressure relief.
The layer of individually wrapped coils is designed with back sleepers in mind. Our testers found that the reinforced coils in the hip region kept them lifted and supported while sleeping on their backs. Our testers felt well supported in this position, commenting that they felt slight sinkage in the plush top layer and were gently cradled.
Combination sleepers should be happy with the Helix Dusk Luxe since the foam layers are highly responsive, making it easy to move around and change positions. The mattress offers great support for higher-weight sleepers of all sleeping styles, but lighter-weight side sleepers may feel it’s too firm and experience pressure buildup.
Because the mattress is bouncy, couples are likely to feel some motion transfer as their partner moves. They may want to explore options in our best mattress for couples review.
“The top plush layer is cradling my back while it helps elevate my bottom.”
Who may love it
Who may want to avoid it
To learn more, read our Helix mattress review.
The DreamCloud Memory Foam is the all-foam version of the brand’s classic DreamCloud model and comes equipped with seven layers of different types of foam. The mattress uses a layer of cooling gel-infused memory foam that’s quilted into the cover for a soft, contouring feel. Layered underneath are different densities of memory foam that lend additional support and motion isolation, but still give the mattress an overall medium feel.
Because memory foam absorbs movement better than latex or innersprings, couples should feel little movement. When testing for motion isolation, we placed a glass of water on top of the mattress and had our tester sit and move around on the other side. We noticed almost no movement in the water, which means couples are unlikely to detect their partner’s movement at night. We gave it our highest rating of five out of five in this category.
Although the mattress uses memory foam, which is known to have little bounce, the DreamCloud is still responsive, meaning it’s easy enough to move around on its surface. That’s good for combination sleepers and people with mobility issues. Memory foam is not known to sleep cool, but the DreamCloud Memory Foam defied the odds in this category, staying cool even while multiple people were on the bed.
We rated the mattress a 4.5 out of five for pressure relief, meaning you should feel a good amount of contouring when you rest on it. This is good for side sleepers, back sleepers, and people who experience pain. We also ranked it 4.5 out of five in support, which means despite the sinkage, you’ll still feel support coming through the deeper layers, keeping the spine neutral.
“When I lay on the bed with another person moving around, their movement was barely detectable. I closed my eyes and barely noticed it. Even while they were jumping, I could feel it, but it was pretty minimal.”
Who may love it
Who may want to avoid it
To learn more, read our DreamCloud mattress review.
Our Reviews Team has dedicated more than 1,000 hours to researching the mattress industry, consulting at least 10 health care professionals, and testing roughly 40 brands and 130 unique mattress models for quality and comfort. We’ve also interviewed 16 older adults who recently purchased a mattress and surveyed more than 3,200 recent mattress buyers to understand their experiences shopping for a new bed.
Each mattress undergoes a rigorous 36-page testing procedure to score its different characteristics, including firmness, support, and other aspects most shoppers consider. We choose the best hotel mattresses based on their scores in the most important criteria, including firmness, edge support, overall support, pressure relief, and cooling.
To learn more about our testing, review our sleep methodology.
We continuously test new mattresses each month to make sure we give you the most up-to-date information possible.
Most hotel mattresses represent the middle of the road when it comes to firmness to satisfy the largest number of sleepers. Mattresses that are too soft will not only sag quicker, but can also throw your spine out of alignment. On the other hand, mattresses that are too firm can cause pressure buildup and may potentially lead to pain. If you’re looking to replicate the hotel sleeping experience, we recommend a medium-firm mattress that offers a good blend of pressure relief and support.
Pressure relief refers to how well a mattress contours to the curves of the body and limits the buildup of pressure. If too much pressure builds up around the joints, it can lead to pain, so people who experience joint pain should look for a contouring but supportive mattress. Adding a pillow top (found in many hotel beds) or memory foam is particularly good for people who sleep on their side.
When you’re sleeping on a mattress that’s supportive, you may feel more “on top” of the bed than “in” it. In general, support refers to how well a mattress fills the gaps between your body and the surface, reinforcing the areas where you need it most, like the lower back. A mattress with a high level of support will help keep your spine in a neutral position, which is the most comfortable way to sleep for most people.
How cool a mattress is will depend on several factors, like its construction. Whether made entirely of foam, latex, springs, or a mix—all these materials can influence cooling. Hotel beds may contain cooling materials, like cotton, or other types of cooling technology to keep guests from overheating. Hybrid and innerspring models tend to sleep cooler since air can circulate through the coils. To ensure a cool night’s sleep, look for mattresses that combine cooling technology and either a hybrid or innerspring construction.
Many hotels invest in mattresses made with high-quality luxury materials to give guests the best experience. They also often invest in sheets with a high thread count and comfortable pillows. Hotel beds are usually medium-firm and provide the right balance of comfort and support to appeal to most people. Hotels may also use add-ons like pillow tops for extra contouring and comfort.
| Mattress type | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Memory Foam |
| Mattress height | 11.5″ and 14.5″ | 13.5″ | 14″ | 13.5″ | 12″ |
| Cooling | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 |
| Warranty | Lifetime | Lifetime | Lifetime | 15 years | Lifetime |
The best hotel mattress offers a comfortable sleeping experience that leaves you feeling well-rested the next day. If you want to replicate the sleeping experience you get on a five-star hotel mattress, you’ll want to consider factors like overall quality, comfort, firmness, pressure relief, support, cooling, and more. We chose the Saatva Classic as the best hotel mattress overall due to its high-quality construction and comfort.
Following the Saatva Classic, we chose The WinkBed, the Bear Elite Hybrid, the Helix Dusk Luxe, and the DreamCloud Memory Foam, which all stood out as great hotel-like mattresses in their separate categories. Ultimately, you’ll want to choose a mattress that fits your personal preferences, including your preferred sleeping position, whether you co-sleep, and whether you like a firmer or softer sleep surface.
Five-star hotels typically use hybrid mattresses that feature a combination of foam and innerspring. They are usually medium or medium-firm, which appeals to the greatest number of sleepers. Hotel mattresses may also add a pillow top made with memory foam and soft quilted fabric for added contouring to ensure guests’ comfort.
Hotel mattresses are worth buying if you’re in the market for a high-quality, durable, and comfortable mattress. While some higher-quality mattresses cost more, it’s important to consider the materials used, as lower-quality materials may degrade quicker, leading you to have to replace them more frequently. If you experience pain, a high-quality mattress that relieves pressure may help alleviate symptoms.
Most people find that a medium or medium-firm mattress is most comfortable since this firmness level usually does a good job of relieving pressure and supporting the spine. If you experience pain, you’ll want some contouring around your joints to avoid pressure buildup, which can exacerbate symptoms. If you experience back pain, you’ll want to ensure your spine is fully supported in a neutral position to avoid it being thrown out of alignment.
Have questions about this review? Email us at reviewsteam@ncoa.org.
