Sleep code in Europe?

'Single' and 'double' refer to the number of PEOPLE. BUT, you very often are given the choice of a 'double/matrimonial' bed or 2 twin beds. Many times, that 'double/matrimonial' bed will in fact be 2 twin beds, pushed together. You've been warned LOL! Look at the photos very carefully...you can usually tell if it's 2 twin beds pushed together, even if there's a 'double-sized' bedspread over them.

The business practice in the US is to price the room and not much concern about how many people "use" the room. In Europe it is the reverse. Almost all rooms are priced per person. So -- a single means one bed for one person and most often a twin bed. A double means two people -- will see a twin for two single beds for two people. Don't think about booking a single with the idea of putting two people in that room.

...and if you see something like 'double as single', they mean ONE person in a TWO-BEDDED ROOM. NOT a 2-person double bed as we in the USA refer to them...I know that phrase trips some people up...

Many places have an email address. Send them an email telling them what you need and if they have an available room. I wrote to places in English and Italian. Here's some phrases to use: Ho bisogno di una camera con letto matrimoniale per due personi dal ( arrival day, month, year) al ( departure day, month, year). Ha una camera libere, e quanto costa? Translation: I need a room with a queen size bed for two people from (this date) to (this date). Do you have a room available, and how much is it?
A single room will be one twin sized bed. A double room will either be two twin beds or one queen sized bed. A triple room will be either three twin beds or, more likely, one twin and one queen, so you DO need to specify!