At The Distinguished Guest, I’m constantly seeking the best vacation rental bedding for my clients, who represent a variety of nightly rates—from budget to luxury.
To offer the best products, I’ve spent the last several years collecting , , and samples, testing them out (sometimes I even put them on my own bed at home so I can get into the guest’s perspective) and laundering them to test their longevity.
No matter the price point, I evaluate vacation rental bedding using these four markers:
- How wrinkle-prone are the sheets? (Because who wants to iron sheets in 2019?!)
- How easy/quick are they to launder? (Streamlined turnovers FTW!)
- Is the product consistent? (Easy replacements = no more unmatched linens)
- Will guests like the bed linen and comforter set? Are they the right style?
That last question is a bit more difficult to answer, of course, as we can’t account for everyone’s personal taste. But my guests often comment on my comfy beds in their reviews (and, yes, I still do a little happy dance every time!).
Add to that the 3,000 happy owners, managers, and hosts who supplied their vacation rentals with TDG’s help, and I’m confident you’ll like these selections, too.
MATTRESS ENCASEMENT
This “set it and forget it” item is the bedrock (get it?) of your vacation rental bed. Its job is to protect your mattress investment from bed bugs and allergens and offers an additional layer of waterproofing.
TDG RECOMMENDS:
- Amazon: Safe Rest
- InnStyle: CleanRest (for TRADE PRICING click here)
- Venus Group: Healthy Sleep Advantage (10+ properties? Click here for TRADE PRICING)
MATTRESS TOPPER
Before you replace an older mattress, first try giving it new life with a mattress topper or mattress pad. Here’s a little secret: while featherbeds are my #1 pick at home, they require a daily fluffing to really look their best. For vacation rentals and Airbnbs, I recommend a less-finicky memory foam topper, which contours to your guests and quickly retains its shape.
TDG RECOMMENDS:
- Amazon: Pillow Top Memory Foam Mattress Topper
- Down Etc: Feather Bed (for TRADE PRICING click here)
MATTRESS PROTECTOR
The mattress protector is your bed’s most important layer. Unlike the mattress encasement—which stays on—the mattress protector is easy to remove and launder. Important: make sure it’s waterproof (like all of the below options), or don’t even bother!
TDG RECOMMENDS:
- Amazon: Safe Rest
- Down Etc: Lilypad (for TRADE PRICING click here)
- InnStyle: Silent Choice Plus (for TRADE PRICING click here)
- Venus Group: Mattress Pad (10+ properties? Click here for TRADE PRICING)
FITTED AND FLAT SHEETS + PILLOW CASES
Your choice of sheets is important (here’s why).
A couple tips before you buy a sheet set. First, be sure to measure your bed—no more mis-sized fitted sheet popping away from the mattress! And second, we recommend white over other color options for its bleach-ability (not actually word, but I’m making it one) and crisp look. White sheets have long been the hotel standard, and that’s increasingly true for vacation rentals—according to the TDG Hospitality Survey, 74% of owners choose a white over colored options.
TDG RECOMMENDS:
- Down Etc: Classic Fresh (for TRADE PRICING click here)
- InnStyle: Millennium 300 (for TRADE PRICING click here)
- Venus Group: Performance Twill (10+ properties? Click here for TRADE PRICING)
DUVET INSERTS
The debate rages: feathers or poly fill duvet inserts? I tend to be on Team Feathers. These days you can even find hypoallergenic options. But many TDG clients opt for poly fill with no complaints. See my recommendations for both below:
TDG RECOMMENDS:
- Down Etc: Aquaplush Insert, Essential Summer Weight, Essential Fall Weight (for TRADE PRICING click here)
- InnStyle: (for TRADE PRICING click here)
- Venus Group: Performance Plus (10+ properties? Click here for TRADE PRICING)
DUVET COVERS
I’ve been known to ask clients whose cleaners are resistant to duvet covers: “Do you need new bedding… or new cleaners?” That’s how important a duvet cover is for the hospitality industry, in my experience. European readers can back me up on this! They’re more hygienic than comforter sets, not to mention more convenient, because they can be easily laundered at each turn.
TDG RECOMMENDS:
- Down Etc: Classic Fresh (for TRADE PRICING click here)
- InnStyle: Millennium 250, TM 200 (for TRADE PRICING click here)
- Venus Group: Performance Twill (10+ properties? Click here for TRADE PRICING)
PILLOWS
Like your sheets, pillows can make or break a night’s sleep. Tip: offer two each of both feather and polly pillows for every bed (four pillows total). That way guests can pick which they like best. Bonus tip: instruct your cleaners to inventory the beds at each turnover, as pillows have a tendency to migrate from bed to bed. One more tip: use pillow protectors to keep your pillows as good as new.
Complete your bed’s look with a well-placed decorative pillow or two.
TDG RECOMMENDS:
- Amazon: Ultra Plush Pillow
- Down Etc: Aquaplush, Rhapsody (for TRADE PRICING click here)
- InnStyle: EnviroLoft Down Alternative, Sleep Chamber Combo Pillow, Up Side of Down (for TRADE PRICING click here)
- Venus Group: Ultra Plush Pillow, Healthy Sleep Advantage (10+ properties? Click here for TRADE PRICING)
Still feel like you need help with picking the perfect , , and for your short-term vacation rental? TDG Blueprint guides you through every aspect of short-term rental ownership.
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