A good bed can turn an average hotel stay into an excellent one

Let's face it: when on holiday, we all expect the best possible service we can find. This is often particularly significant with regard to the accommodation we choose. Because, whether you're staying in a small youth hostel in Ireland or taking a lavish holiday at a five star retreat in Thailand, there is one aspect of guest or hotel rooms that unites all travellers: the comfort of the hotel bed.

Many a holidaymaker will have woken up in a new and exciting world location, expecting to be ready to face the day ahead with enthusiasm and vigour. However, just as many holidaymakers will have had this feeling severely deflated due to an ache inflicted by an uncomfortable hotel bed. A good bed can be a vital component of not just a successful hotel stay but a memorable holiday. In fact, it can seal the difference between a person being physically fit and active enough to participate in activities and missing out on what would be the most fun parts of your holiday.

The secret to finding a hotel with excellent beds is not to be lured into glossy brochures - just because a hotel's beds might look comfortable in their photos, it doesn’t mean they will be. However, if you make sure not to be seduced by beautiful images of hotel rooms and hotel beds, it's perfectly possible to find a good hotel with comfortable beds; simply keep in mind some helpful and handy tips.

Firstly, always make sure to check what sort of beds the hotel you're thinking of staying in uses. Whether you intend to stay in a luxury hotel in Knightsbridge, London or a budget hotel in Belfast, don't be afraid to ring up the hotel and speak to the reception about the type of beds they use and their comfort levels. A good hotel will never be afraid to give you accurate information about the comfort of their hotel rooms, their suppliers and what sort of linen and mattresses they use. The Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel in London, for instance, is renowned for its excellent beds, obtaining their bed mattresses from Simons Bedding Group and their linen from Exclusive Linen providers.

Secondly, make sure you fully utilise what's likely to be your most valuable resource: the internet. Various websites exist that allow people from all over the world to express their opinions on hotels, as well as share good and bad experiences with other holidaymakers across the globe. The importance of this resource when sharing information on hotels with good beds is infinite; and, surely, if you've had a bad experience with a hotel bed, you'll want to do your best to ensure other people avoid the same experience.

Lastly, don't be afraid to make a complaint to the hotel about the discomfort caused to you by their bedding. The likelihood is that, if you've had a bad night's sleep, so have their other guests - and a good hotel will do their best to change that. After all, since a good night's sleep is such a crucial part of what makes a good holiday great, any way that hotel beds can be improved is sure to be of invaluable benefit.