We have been communicating with several hotels in Spain for the last three weeks, trying to book rooms. We have run into problems trying to get double beds. We have some hotels say they can give us a "double" room, but when we ask if it is a double bed, there seems to be confusion. Others tell us that they cannot guaranty a double bed, but then I see them listed somwhere else as having double beds available to book. I don't know if they have a different concept of double beds or what. Has anyone had any experience with this ? Thanks, Dave

Hehehee... I can see the wheels turning in the heads of Spaniards when you ask for a "double bed". Maybe they're thinking you're asking for bunk beds or one mattress on top of the other so you can almost reach the ceiling. heheheehe....

Historically (Spaniards, please correct me if I'm wrong), just like in the USA, couples (even married ones) slept in twin beds in the same bedroom. Often, this is considered a double, simply meaning that TWO people will be sharing one room. And they will usually offer to push together the two twin beds, thereby (they think), making it a "double" in our "American" minds. I know. It doesn't work that way, but I've encountered this in Spain too.

If you'd like one double bed in the room to share with your partner, ask for a "cama matrimonial" (CORRECTION: that's "cama de matrimonio") - you don't need to tell them the sex of the other person staying with you - and you should get the larger bed.

Any other comments/corrections on this topic? Looks like a very good question that many people encounter when making reservations in English.

Saludos, MadridMan

[ 06-13-2001: Message edited by: MadridMan ]

A double room normally means two twins (a triple means three twins...). In many hotels (usually in Paradors as well), you can request "cama de matrimonio" which is the traditional double/queen bed. These types of beds are usually scarce if available at all.

If the "share the bed" experience is vital to your travel, you'll just need to be a little more selective in your hotel choices (or bring two sleeping bags and zip 'em together on the floor...).

Hi D, I know you are looking at hotels, but the hostal we stayed in had a double bed and a single. I realise that sleeping apart from your partner is not the norm. for us, but when the heat hits, you are grateful for a single bed, not waking up next to a sweating, (dare I say it,) body. Needless to say I chose the double to myself. ha ha. On a serious note though twin beds are the norm. in Spain as MM said and finding one may prove to be more difficult than you think.
Good hunting, Sue.

Without getting too detailed..I found pushing the twins together all over Europe was a great compromise.(Cozy in 1 of the 2 or restful to be on seperate matresses when eventually sleeping). If you like everything the hotel has to offer twins may add to the experience!!

Karen,

I think that's the easiest solution, unless the headboards are attached to the wall, but my guess is the "resourceful person" who has viagra with them won't mind the inconvenience of carrying a saw, hammer, pry bar, and a few nails along to make the conversion.

Which reminds me of a friend of mine... just retired as the Chief of Police in a small city. He and his wife were finally going on a honeymoon after 34 years of marriage, and nothing longer than a week off at a time.

We were at a cocktail party when he told this Doctor friend of ours that they were taking a one year honeymoon, planning to travel all over the world.

"How good is that viagra?" He asked the doctor.

"It works." Doc replied. "Why?"

"Well... we are going to travel... it is a honeymoon... Can I get some?" The ex-cop asked.

"Sure. No problem." Doc said.

"Good! Give me three pills. I want a one year supply." The ex-cop said.

Wolf (Who nearly swallowed the toothpick with the olive when he heard it said.)

Never heard of this story about couples sleeping apart .

About the matter of rooms, I have to say that most hostales (I'd say all) would understand "a double room" (habitación doble) as a twin room.

If you want a double bed, you have to specifically request a cama de matrimonio. By the way, don't say "matrimonial", which amazingly is the word used by most foreigners (can any teacher of Spanish explain the reason? is it used in some other Spanish speaking countries?).

Most hostales / hoteles have twin rooms and it's more difficult to get a double one. For instance, we (at Hostal Chelo ) only have 1 double room (the rest of them are twins). Most people don't mind pushing the beds together (which makes it bigger than a cama de matrimonio) but if you find it really unacceptable, tell your hostal / hotel when booking.

[Please, note that we always to our best to book a room which meets all the preferences expressed in your reservation. However, you have to understand that there are people who come without a reservation. If they rent a double room for a few days, it may happen that we'll only have a twin when you arrive. Also, we'll change you to that room as soon as it's available.]

By the way, the new trend when building a new hotel is putting twin beds together. Thus, you're forced to always share the bed

[ 06-13-2001: Message edited by: Antonio ]

Thanks to everyone for your helpful (and humorous) replies. I guess we will just have to book a "double" room and make the best of whatever we get.

Dave

[ 06-17-2001: Message edited by: Sofia ]

Dear Señora Sofía (and others fluent in Spanish), please humor the struggling student:
From the quote above, it seems that both are correct: "Cama de matrimonio" and "cama matrimonial". No? Although, Antonio did put his "Cama de Matrimonio" in italics for my benefit, I believe, so I would believe him.

Good topic for those of us trying to learn another language. Thanks for your patience!

Also, on the "double room" topic, as I said in my first follow-up in this thread: ... if you're (or anyone) is hoping to share that double bed with someone of the same sex, it's probably a good idea not to mention this on the phone or in the reservation. I suggest simply stating that two persons will be occupying the room and you request a cama de matrimonio.

Saludos, MadridMan

Are two twin beds the same as asking for a "cama divorcial"? (or is that "cama de divorcio"?)

I thought I was a dope, until I realized that if all I've done to Spanish is use "matrimonial", then I've nothing to fear...

CaliBasco, writing from the land of "trokas, raites, un party, and watchear-ing el TV."

Having just returned from my Spain trip (on Iberia, the nightmare I was hoping never to have again...), and muerta de suenyo but still on the MM board, let me say that a doble is 90% of the time going to be 2 beds. My creative solution is to get extra pillows and use one of them (they are loooong) to bridge the gap. In the Parador de Gijon, we had a QUEEN size bed w/ a view of the park/swans. Amazing. Antonio is right: newer hotels and paradores put the twin beds next to each other, and more and more hotels are using cama de matrimonio. The issue is SPACE. Isn't it amazing how even the most humble of Best Westerns or Red Roofs put TWO double beds in a room?

Bueno, a dormir!

Our experience in Spain was similar...occasional double beds, mostly twins. I agree that the heat makes it nice to have a bed all to myself! You can always "visit" your partner in a twin if you're so inclined...and then slip out and into your own cool sheets.

And just as an aside, my little sister and I found ourselves in a cama de matrimonio in Portugal--in a tiny pension with barely the room for THAT bed!! It was cozy, especially as it sloped toward the center. She grinds her teeth and snores (don't tell her I told you all that!), so I would have done ANYTHING for TWO camas!

And when she and I traveled on to a youth hostel on Ile de Batz, in Brittany (France), we found ourselves in the "twin beds pushed together" situation--but instead of just TWO twins, there were about 10 of them, all in a row, pushed together!! We found ourselves next to three friendly Italian GUYS!! Needless to say, big sis got all protective and made little sis sleep on the end, with me between her and Gianni! It was like a commune...and quite an eye-opener for two American girls in their 20s on a big European trip! (And yes, Gianni and his friends were incredibly handsome, charming, etc....and perfect gentlemen, darn it!)

Pleasant dreams, all--
Tara

[ 06-14-2001: Message edited by: taravb ]

Madridman,

Although "cama matrimonial" can be gramatically correct in Spanish, we don't use it (at least in Spain). So, if you want to make a reservation in a hotel/hostal in Spain do say "cama de matrimonio".

BTW, Sofía, I would say "zumo de naranja" and "estantería de libros". "zumo" is far more used in Spain than "jugo".

Hokay!

Now... assuming I want a double bed... "Just in case"... do I say;

"cama de matrimonio en caso de que consiga afortunado, por favor."


Of course my pick up line should be;

"Cuál es una muchacha que mira regordeta que hace en un lugar agradable como esto?"

Wolf (Who's still trying to figure out why he gets his face slapped so often.)

Well, at this Hostal Alegria I had a nice room with a Cama de Matrimonio and another twin (Uni-Personal)bed for my son, and sometimes when I was walking the hall and the maid was cleaning other rooms I peeked in and saw other rooms had this same style also.

ChicaGuay, any hotel that's named "Alegria" should have at least some (maybe mostly!) camas de matrimonio, don't you think?

Tara

Hey, ChicaGuay: Why wait until the maid is cleaning to sneak a peek? I usually just knock and ask for a look! It's a great way to meet people! I even found out that all the other rooms in the joint had a disco ball and "Saturday Night Fever multi-colored floor"! They gave me the bland room because I was obviously from out of town. Boy were they embarrassed when my sleuthing exposed this preferential treatment!

Also, I will often sit down at a table in a restaurant next to others who don't know me. Sometimes I get thrown out, but at least I get a bite or two "down the hatch" before the Guardia Civil arrives.