NZ-Back Pads for Bad Hotel Beds???

I don't have an answer to your question, but would be interested in the answer. The hotel I stayed at in Florence last week had a very firm mattress. Although I had a good night's sleep, every morning I woke up very stiff and sore. The pillows were also super firm but I had stuffed a 1/4 size pillow in my bag at the last minute before I left home and that addition saved my neck.

I'll be happy to...really wrecks your holiday when the hotel beds suck!!!

We did a tour of the North island of NZ in 2018 staying about 9 nights in about 4 hotels and none had mattresses too hard or soft.

The only place in the world where we had a bed with incredibly hard mattress was in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It was a five star hotel, very nice otherwise.

We were told that East Asians like hard mattresses.

I bring an air mattress, camping style, super thin and weighs about a pound. I found it at Costco. I bought it after time spent in Italy where I couldn't sleep without terrible pain. I have used it many times since I purchased it. I didn't need it once for Greece this last summer, which was great, but I don't regret bringing it with me because sleep is priceless. Trying to put a link, to something similar. https://www.amazon.com/Klymit-Static-Lightweight-Sleeping-Navy/dp/B085D7WXT2/ref=asc_df_B085D7WXT2/?tag=&linkCode=df0&hvadid=423743560937&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15015085429194265766&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9032904&hvtargid=pla-894764115518&ref=&adgrpid=96734931485&th=1

"I bring an air mattress, camping style, super thin and weighs about a pound..."

Hi Northwestern (did you go to school there btw?):
This is a fantastic lead...thank you so much. I have it bookmarked and I may have found the one you used, is this it? And if yes, which do you think would be better? (The costco one is slightly heavier & more $$).:
https://www.costco.com/cascade-mountain-tech-insulated-sleeping-pad.product.100772580.html?bveventid=18304b3556c&langId=-1&krypto=X6xCX7NfgE7%2BqInUcw5DuPTp8Pw5GQCrYLcjVe0NLyYdnn4prwx75p%2B0RZjzZfEB5GwfqtUmpBHfn59mVLKFjhjAE6l8zE3LqRHOH22rbmIFGxHA9djyYqQoDJmQ9Lu8jxjMQHHhF%2B8X7HC8w%2FJ05EuxPapUj87SlY9mA%2FjPft6as%2BmXqTBQMgFcbYiNQwtwsRmZD1D3I3P0FYoLK3DqBSXwtJ%2BCYrAKoelU82GcYClunmRmfQeSHZyLNoNao8Av

I really don't believe that NZ beds are harder or softer than their North American equivalents, and wonder how much weight you should apply to internet reviews which will be so personal to the reviewer (probably as much as my opinion here!)...

However, as it sounds like you have quite particular requirements, and if you are staying at hotels and motels, you could contact them directly to alleviate your concerns? For example, there is a hotel chain (Scenic) that uses a (removable) down mattress topper to add a plump, soft, cosy layer (over a normal mattress - ie. what you lie on not what goes over you), which I think are amazing, but you might not and they could remove for you if they knew you weren't a fan.

Edited to add a link - the hotel sells them!
https://www.scenichotelgroup.co.nz/gift-shop/product-detail/bed-topper?productlistPCMID=136883&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6KTV5sv5-QIVWB0rCh1HEA2gEAAYASAAEgIj6vD_BwE

If we're talking hostels and huts in national parks, then you've probably got what you've got...

Camping mats (of the type you've linked) are obviously available here, they are unlikely to be cheaper but could save having to bring from the US? Camping retailers include www.kathmandu.co.nz or www.bivouac.co.nz or www.macpac.co.nz , or if you want to go really budget www.thewarehouse.co.nz

Thanks Northwestern! I will take a look at camping style mattress pads. I always figured that they would several pounds....at 18.5 ounces, that's light enough that I might be able to make it work..