Hotel question for future trip

Just curious why you won't sleep under a duvet. You do know they change the duvet cover, right?

I’m thinking the duvet is just like a comforter,!is it not? Clearly I’m misinformed if otherwise. If it
Has a cover that is changed with each guest, then I’d be ok. But seems like it would be easier to have a top sheet.

But the style in many European countries is a cotton removable cover for a duvet, like a giant pillow case. That’s what we have adopted at home too with our European purchased bedding I love it so much.

The first night I ever spent in Germany was in a nice gasthouse on the edge of the Black Forest just across the river from Strasbourg. The duvet was extremely light weight (Eiderdown, I'm thinking) and had a slippery satin cover. Every time I rolled over in bed the duvet would float off the bed and settle on the floor next to the bed.

As said most hotels provide a duvet that comes in a washable removable cover - it’s just some older style places that have the old pulled blankets and sheets lol

More importantly note if they offer air conditioning /‘cheaper places often don’t . Never assume a amenity is offered if not mentioned ( also elevators )

Frequent conversation in European/hotels but this one is in Paris and a reason they may have mentioned they do not have bed sheets:

American guest: Why are there no top sheets and blankets.

Hotel: Madame, in Europe we use duvets instead and I can guarantee the duvet cover is changed between guests.

American guest: That's not the way we do it in America. I don't trust this European thing.

Hotel: I'm sorry, madam, we do not have that type of bedding. I assure you this is clean.

American guest: If I don't get my top sheet and blanket I'm going to give you a poor review on Tripadvisor. I want it like home.

Hotel: (under his breath); Then you should have stayed at home.

The duvet cover will be changed between guests. You might even like it. I did enough to adopt this in my own home.

Guide Daniela, on our recent Best of Eastern France tour, suggested people take the cover off the duvet, fold up the duvet and put it in the closet/wardrobe/corner, and use the duvet cover as a top sheet. Voila!

Love the duvet. Much easier to make the bed too.

Even North American hotels have or are moving to duvets; at least the 3+* chains that we stay at. Although they do tend to also have a top sheet. But in Europe, just go with the flow. We've encountered times when the room has been too warm (no or inadequate A/C) and just removed the duvet and used the cover by itself.

I really dislike hotel beds with bed spreads/ blankets. They seem so unsanitary compared to duvets.

My wife will tell you the first thing I do on arriving to an American hotel room is pull the bedspread off and put it in the closet. Second thing-wash hands.

Personally, I don't' like the duvet-or-nothing approach. It is like having really bright lights without a dimmer They're either on or they're off. Plus, as someone mentioned, I find they can slide off the bed in the middle of the night. Some of you can choose to "America-bash" at my sleep preference (someone already has, that happens a lot on this site), but I just want to get a good night's sleep.

Ditto to Dave on the bedspread thing. Those are not washed each time.

Come on Phil. Nobody is "America bashing". Simply voicing a dislike for hotel bedspreads.
But if you are referring to Frank II's post- I have no trouble believing that conversation.

American bashing ?

I love duvets and we have them on all our beds here - they don’t slide off our beds , they only slide off Americans named Phil’s beds , they told me it’s a thing lol

Never fond of duvet. I usually feel warm when sleeping at night and, especially if it is summer and there is no air conditioning, I can't sleep with too much cover but I do still like a sheet over me. I have started taking a sheet with me on trips because of that.

PharmerPhil, i’m with you. I intensely dislike duvets for many reasons. Grew up in France so am very familiar. My experience is they do come off while sleeping. Last time i slept with one was in a nice hotel in Murren, Switzerland. Slept badly because every time it slid off i’d wake up.

We hate duvets. On, they're usually too hot. Off, it's often too cold.

It's as if one would decide to ignore the clearly reasonable and comfortable advice to dress in layers, and instead, go around without a shirt but with a fluffy, warm, down jacket. You're either too hot or cold, almost never comfortable. On -- too hot. Off -- too cold.

I've lived in France for many years, and we travel with a flannel top sheet. The first thing we do when checking into a hotel that only has a duvet is to stuff the damn thing into the closet and replace it with our sheet. If we need a little more warmth we take the insulation out of the duvet and stuff it back into the closet and use the duvet case as a second layer.

If you live in small towns in France, you'll see -- on dry days -- people dangling their duvets out the window to dry. That's because they sweated in them all night long because they're so uncomfortably hot. French people are accustomed to heat and to still, non-circulating air. They hate moving air, which is common in many American homes.

In these days with the Covid-19 virus, when people are being told to avoid enclosed spaces without effective air circulation, perhaps the French will begin to change.

But I wouldn't count on it.

I hate the duvet only beds -- first encountered in Germany in 1960 in homes -- They were down and short and soooo hot. Also common in French hotels and apartments. A duvet alone is often too hot but without too cold or weird. I like a top sheet even in hot weather and in winter will sleep next to the down duvet with just the sheet over me. I don't know how people can stand sleeping with these heavy duvets. In France in summer when we had them, we just took the cover off and used that.

It is funny what you are used too, the odd ties i have met sheets and blankets i have had bad nights sleep cause the dam things end up going in different directions and get tangled up round my legs. In the morning end up with blanket at the bottom of the ed and shget at the top. And what a faff making the bed when you are used to a duvet. Would love to know what people are doing to make a duvet slide off the bed!!!!!

We tried one at home and gave up. Every time one of us turned on the side, the whole thing would move over and off. But for two weeks on holiday, I can stand anything.

I love the duvets in Europe and like a few other responders now use them on all my beds at home. They can be different weights for summer or winter use. If you need a sheet to sleep comfortably in Paris, either bring your own from home, buy one there or do as so many have suggested remove and carefully store the duvet and only use the provided duvet cover.

Stan it sounds like your duvet was too small for your bed. I cant see how it can slid off? Unless your duvet cover was satin.....

I don't like the duvet but I'm used to it when I travel and just go with it. I usually find it to be too warm for me, my husband is a furnace when he sleeps, so the sheet would be better. I'm usually so tired though it doesn't matter.

I am curious if you are seeing this on the Hotel's site, or on Expedia or another Hotel Booking site? Maybe an example?

I remove the duvet cover and use it as a top sheet.

I used to travel for work, and the Hilton hotels in the US would have the heavy duvet covers. I would remove the inside of the duvet when I arrived and fold it neatly into the closet shelf or nightstand. The envelope sheet for the duvet was the perfect amount of warmth without the heaviness or extra warmth I didn’t need.

I travel very light on vacation, so I definitely wouldn’t bring along a sheet. I don’t remember any of the dozen hotels I’ve stayed in Paris being an issue with their linens.