Hampton Inn & Suites By Hilton Calgary — University Northwest
Photograph ©2017 by Brian Cohen.

Two Beds. Solo Traveler. Which Bed Do You Choose?

Sometimes the silliest thoughts pop into my head for no apparent reason and without any provocation — and despite having stayed in literally hundreds of hotel rooms with two beds while traveling solo, a thought entered my mind during a recent hotel stay…

Two Beds. Solo Traveler. Which Bed Do You Choose?

…and that thought is that I realized that I usually choose the bed closest to the window whenever two beds are in the room. I thought about why I do that.

One possible reason is because I always like when daylight comes into the room in the morning; and I like to be as close to the window as possible. In fact, I ensure that the drapes, shades or blinds are almost always open prior to my going to sleep — and I know that many people prefer them closed. I suppose airplanes are not the only entities in which I prefer being close to a window.

A second possible reason is that the bed closest to the window is also in the middle of the room rather than by a side wall, which usually means that there is more space around that bed than the other bed. I have been in hotel rooms where the other bed is so close to the wall that one needs to literally squeeze into it — if one for some reason prefers not to enter the bed on the other side.

I rarely watch television; but I suppose that people who like to watch television usually watch it straight on from the bed closest to the window and not have to watch it from an angle, as is typically the case with the bed by the wall.

Summary

My choice of bed in a hotel room furnished with two beds has always been subconscious. I do not ever recall arriving in a hotel room and specifically saying to myself, “I must have the bed closest to the window.” I have absolutely no problem at all sleeping in the bed by the wall instead, as it is usually just as comfortable — and I cannot tell the difference where I am in the room when my eyes are closed — but I suppose I am not completely certain as to why I usually choose the bed which is closest to the window…

…but after my realization, I then became curious as to which bed you typically choose in a hotel room whenever you travel solo — or even when you travel with a companion, for that matter — and what are your reasons for doing so. Please post your thoughts in the Comments section below.

Photograph ©2017 by Brian Cohen.

  1. I always try to sleep on the same side of the bed as I do at home. I try to replicate what I do at home to try and get the best sleep. When there are two beds I pick the one that has that same side in the best spot. Say where the AC isn’t blowing on my face all night or has the best outlets to plug my phone in. Usually that bed is the one furthest from the window AC unit. It’s harder if you get a multi room suite 🙂
    #firstworldproblems

    1. What you mentioned are definitely factors in the decision, DaninMCI — although try as I might, I cannot remember the last time the air conditioning was blowing on my face while I was in bed in a hotel room…

  2. Like the previous comment, I sleep on the side of the bed like I do at home. Typically thos is ghe farthest from the window / closest to the door, unless the space is too tight, or the ac is blowing right onto my face, or in one case this year, the smome detector was right over the bed and the red light was blinking so brightly that it was keeping me awake.
    I have a similiar question though – what side of the hotel sink do you stage your toiletries? Left, right, both, or “at home”?

    1. I stage my toiletries on the side of the sink with the most room or with the least chance of getting wet, Gizmosdad.

      I have thought about it; but I cannot say that I actually have a preference as to which side — perhaps the left side?!? I suppose how the bathroom is configured also affects my decision…

      Perhaps I will pose this question in a future article, as it is a good question.

      Thank you, Gizmosdad.

  3. Two beds are perfect for Starwood stays when they have the 500 point per night bonus for not servicing the room. Because then I just sleep on the other bed the second night and making a few points.

  4. Never thought about it but I too tend to go for the bed closest to the window. I also tend to sleep on the side closest to the window. I have no idea why!

  5. We instinctively try to be as far away from the door as possible, as that is the most likely point of entry for an intruder. As this article posits, “humans have an evolved preference for safe sleeping places, that is, those that promise protection against potential aggressors and nighttime predation” (http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/147470491000800308). In this study, people chose bed locations that “(a) allowed them to see the door, (b) was as distant as possible from the door, and (c) was on the side of the room toward which the door opened.”

  6. I am just like you and choose the bed closet to the window because I also wake up with natural sunlight and don’t close the blinds prior to going to sleep.

  7. I sleep whichever bed is not in the direct line of the air vent (or less of a direct line) since I have sensitive sinuses.

  8. What a fun article to read the answers to! I just searched to they ton find which Ed tends to be least slept in bc tonight I wanted that one, as the beds in this hotel are a little soft for me and I thought a less slept in one may be firmer.
    It’s interesting looking around my room and as I compare it with all your comments.
    I usually like closest to the window but oddly the side of the bed farthest from window (no idea why), unless the ac comes from a wall unit by the window then I choose the other bed.
    I also try to sleep as far away from the bathroom as possible.

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