Why do people buy cheap beds for guest bedrooms?

[disykat]

Because most people simply can't afford, or can't justify the expense of, spending money on something that will be used rarely.

I wish I had a guest room with a comfy bed, but getting the larger house (we don't have an extra bedroom because that is the call we made when buying) and then furnishing it well is simply not something I can justify when it would be used maybe 3 - 10 nights a year.

If I visited Donald Trump and he had uncomfortable guest beds I would suspect an ulterior motive, but anyone else I'd just assume it didn't make financial sense to furnish a spare room luxuriously.

OP, if it's just you, you can probably find a Twin airmattress and pump that would easily fit in your luggage for around $20 at Target.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Like others have said there are a few reasons:
1. What you find comfortabel and waht I find comfortable may not be the same thing (DH and I did sleep on our guest bed for two weeks this winter while we looked for one for us--it is a European double which is a bit small for me and my 6'5" DH but otherwise was fine).
2. The economy is hurting us, jsut like it is hurting everyone ekse right now. I cannot afford to spend a lot on a bed that will be used minimally.

You know, it really jumped out at me that you "put up a fuss" about how uncomfortable your in laws bed was to you on your first visit there That does not seem like a way to get off on the right foot at all. Even if only your girlfriend was the one to hear your complaints that puts her in a bad position (not like she can change it but it is her parents' place so she will still feel responsible). I hope I never have guests who complain about their accomidations to me. I do the best I can with what I can offer and I assume that is what my hosts are doing when I visit as well.

 

[Chipmunk89]

Yes, but what do you do when the person you're visiting is the one putting pressure on you for the visit?? Yes, on the surface it does sound ungrateful to complain about the sleeping arrangements, but there's usually some sort of family obligation to visit relatives. It sounds as if the OP is actually going there to do the aunt a favor, not for a vacation.

Then don't go or get a hotel.

 

[dismom2]

If I ever heard someone was complaining about my guest bed(which for me is a couch) being uncomfortable, I would probably let them know that I had heard the Comfort Inn had some really comfy beds And if everyone is complaining about it, maybe people need to pitch in and buy them a new mattress for the bed? Seriously, when I stay at someone else's house, I am just happy I didn't have to shell out money for a hotel.

OP--Sounds like you are planning to help your grandma clean her house. Good for you! It is great that you're willing to help! Maybe you could ask if she has a friend with an extra mattress topper, since you remember the bed being a little hard for your tastes.

Marsha

I nearly always stay in hotels. On the very rare occassion I don't, it's because it was my parents or another close relative who insisted we stay there. Sometimes people actually get offended if you don't stay with them or tell them you were planning to stay at a hotel. I think it's very kind of them to let us/others stay there, and I truly appreciate the offer, but I have no problem ever paying for a hotel---that's not the issue at all. In those situations, I just make do, and I don't say anything (except to my DH in private). It doesn't mean I am not grateful.

Sometimes I sleep on the floor---otherwise my back hurts me all night and the next day. I would never want to hurt their feelings and complain about the bed or sofa. My DSis told me she gently brought up the idea of all of us siblings pitching in and replacing our parents' guest mattress, but they don't want to replace it---they think it's fine---but they have never slept on it so they don't really understand just how uncomfortable it is to feel all the springs. It is their right to have what they want in their own house, and we understand that, but it doesn't change the fact that people complain about it. We do accept it for what it is, though, and we love our parents no matter what. I would happily buy them a new one or stay at a hotel, but I have to take their feelings and wishes into consideration.

 

[SandrA9810]

Then don't go or get a hotel.

I've been putting this trip off since last Nov. I really had no more excuses for not going.

The irony to all this isn't that I find the couch uncomfortable, but my aunt hates the stupid thing as well. And she's had it for 12 years or something. She's just always sat in her chair, my g'mother in her's and the couch is for decoration or something. My aunt knows how horrible the stupid thing is. But never put forth the desire to get a new one.

And I know she's not going to buy a couch the second day I'm there, that's just wishful thinking. Before my g'mother lived with her, I stayed in the guest bedroom and she did have a very comfotable guest bed. Although my aunt's bed is squishy heaven. I love the thing. But both my aunt and g'mother are snorers so I'd get even less sleep if I slept in one of thier rooms. and it's a bit akward now that I'm 25 and not 10yrs old or something.

For the most part, couches are very comfortable, even Kari's parent's couch is nice and squishy. But since their living room/kitchen is all in the same area, it's not really an option for me to sleep on the couch. And I don't put strain on Kari about her parent's accomadation. We both have gripes about each other's families, but that's just how it goes with us. It works for us.

I just know that I will put forth to make accomadations comfortable for my company when I have a house big enough that needs more furniture. We usually don't have company over a lot, but I've slept on my couch many of times and find it highly comfortable and wouldn't worry about them sleeping on the couch. Now if it was Kari's parent's visiting they would get our room and we'd take the couch. But both beds (and couch) we have we're previously from thier house... so they know how comfortable they are. It would be like old times for them.

 

[OctMtnWoods]

Options:

Bring an aerobed.
Bring a foam thingy to put on top of bad guest beds.
Stay at a hotel.
Suck it up.

 

[JerseyMamaBear]

Go to overstock.com and invest in a 3" memory foam topper. Shipping is only $3. Have it mailed directly there. A 3 inch topper will solve your problem, no matter what you sleep on underneath that. Then, you can roll it up and use it for your next visit.

Im going to try that one for the in laws house although we prefer a hotel.

 

[MushyMushy]

Then don't go or get a hotel.

Real life is just so black and white, isn't it?

I know if I want my kids to come visit me when they're grown and out of the house, I'm not going to expect them to sleep uncomfortably while they're here.

 

[SandrA9810]

LOL, thanks mushy mushy.

 

[torinsmom]

Real life is just so black and white, isn't it?

I know if I want my kids to come visit me when they're grown and out of the house, I'm not going to expect them to sleep uncomfortably while they're here.

And if they do sleep uncomfortably, I don't want them coming to a message board and posting all about it.

If I slept at my parents' house much(they live an hour away, so I don't) and found the bed uncomfortable, I would replace the bed myself. I don't want my parents, who are on a limited income, spending money on something rarely used. But that's just me.

Marsha

 

[lecach]

When we had to buy our guest room mattress we didn't get the cheapest but got the next to the cheapest and it was still $330. We got one of those egg crate covers too. We rarely have guests. Maybe once a year. And the only other time the bed gets used is if one of us is sick. We couldnt justify spending more than that for something that's not regularly used.

 

[kirbsam]

Real life is just so black and white, isn't it?

in this case though, it really is just this black and white.

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

My sister put futons in both of her spare bedrooms after her kids moved out. Now she can't understand why our 80 year old parents won't come to visit. They don't want to sleep on the futon and are too polite to get a hotel room... I'm not, last time we went we stayed at a hotel about a mile from their house and it worked out great!

 

[luvmy3]

I'm of the opinion that if someone invited me to stay at their house so I didn't have to pay for a hotel, or pay for my meals at a restaurant while I was visiting then I would be grateful to them and not complain about why they don't provide me with a more comfortable sleeping experience.
If I knew beforehand that the bed/couch/futon would be very uncomfy I would take responsibility for my own comfort,and either bring a topper, air mattress or get a hotel.