Extra bed or extra mattress: what resorts mean
Your booking offers an extra bed for a child and you want to know what it means.
An extra bed is usually a folding or rollaway bed with its own mattress. An extra mattress is usually bedding laid on the floor or on a base. Both add a sleeping place for one more person, but they differ in comfort, space and cost, so ask which one the resort means.
If you are choosing a room for a family, our guide on family rooms versus connecting rooms comes first. The resort inclusion comparator can line up what each resort says.
What does each term usually mean?
An extra bed is a separate frame, often folding, with a mattress. It stands in the room and can be removed in the morning. An extra mattress is a mattress or thick mat, sometimes with sheets and a pillow, placed where there is floor space.
The words are not standardised. One resort may call a rollaway an extra bed and another may call it a mattress. The safest thing is to ask what is physically in the room and what size it is.
How do they compare?
| Extra bed | Extra mattress | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Frame with its own mattress | Mattress on the floor or a base |
| Comfort | Usually higher | Varies, often thinner |
| Space used | More, while set up | Less, but on the floor |
| Suits | A child, sometimes a teen | A younger child, short stay |
| Ease of removal | Folds away | Rolls or stacks |
| Charge | Ask | Ask |
Do not decide from the table alone. Compare it with the room size, which is the real limit.
Who is each a better fit for?
A young child can sleep well on either, as long as the surface is firm and clean. For a baby, neither is the right answer, and you should read our guide on cot and baby bed requests.
A teenager or adult needs a proper bed. A thin mattress on the floor can be uncomfortable for several nights. Ask whether a larger bed or a second room is possible. Our guide on room sizes for four shows how to read the person count.
What does the booking say about extra persons?
This is where surprises happen. A quotation may list the room for two, and the extra person is added later with a charge. Or the room may be rated for four, but only with a particular bed arrangement.
Read the occupancy rules before you rely on any extra bedding. Our guide on maximum occupancy rules for infants, children and adults explains how resorts define each age.
A better fit if…
An extra bed may be a better fit if:
- the room is large enough to hold a frame without blocking the door or the bathroom.
- you are staying several nights and want a comfortable surface.
An extra mattress may be a better fit if:
- the room is small and a frame would leave no walking space.
- the child is young and the stay is short.
A second room or a family room may be a better fit if the extra person is an adult or a teenager.
What should you ask the resort in writing?
- Is it an extra bed or a mattress, and what size?
- Is it included, or is there a charge, and per night or per stay?
- At what age does the charge apply?
- How much floor space is left once it is set up?
- Is it confirmed on my booking, or a request?
- Is bedding included, and is the surface clean and firm?
Keep the answers with your booking and show them at check-in if the room is not set up as agreed.
Common questions
Is an extra bed the same as an extra mattress?
Not always. An extra bed is usually a folding or rollaway frame with its own mattress, while an extra mattress may be placed directly on the floor. Resorts use the words loosely, so ask what exactly is provided and what size it is.
Is there a charge for an extra bed or mattress?
Many resorts charge, but amounts and rules differ and we cannot state them. Ask whether it is a per-night fee, whether children are free below a certain age, and whether the charge is in the quoted total or added at check-in.
Will an extra bed fit in a small room?
Sometimes it takes most of the floor. Ask for the room size, and ask whether the room is designed for a third person or whether the bed is squeezed in. Look at the room photo to see how much walking space remains.
Can an adult use an extra mattress?
Some resorts allow it and some rate extra bedding for children only. Ask for the limit on age and weight. If an adult will sleep on it, ask about the thickness and whether a proper bed is available instead.