AIBU to charge work double because the hotel mattress is causing pain?

MadMAGA · 2026-09-17T05:00:10+00:00

I'm abroad for work this week, leaving tomorrow. The hotel I'm in is nice but I'm in agony from the mattress. It's very firm and I'm a side sleeper so it's making my hips sore. I keep waking up in pain during the night and it hurts all day afterwards. I've stuck a pillow between my legs to try to take the pressure off but this morning I'm so sore I struggled to get out of bed. WIBU to move hotel for the final night, even though it would mean work pays twice?

Laurmolonlabe · 17/09/2026 23:40

Hotel mattresses are often firm- explain to reception and ask for a mattress topper- changing hotels won't necessarily help.

globalswimmer · 17/09/2026 11:55

Proteinlentil · 17/09/2026 08:27

Speak for yourself. My experiences of hotels are generally very positive!

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I generally find them too hot unfortunately. I like a very hard mattress, this is easier to find luckily.

Busymorn · 17/09/2026 11:16

To charge work double when you have repeatedly booked this hotel and always suffered from back pain due to the mattress…. oh dear @MadMAGA , oh dear!

Proteinlentil · 17/09/2026 08:27

globalswimmer · 17/09/2026 08:01

Sadly you are unreasonable. Hotel rooms usually have something wrong with them. Too hot. Bed too hard or soft. Basically not as you like it. I love a hard bed and hate a soft bed so what suits you would be rubbish for me. You just suck it up for a night or two.

Speak for yourself. My experiences of hotels are generally very positive!

globalswimmer · 17/09/2026 08:01

Sadly you are unreasonable. Hotel rooms usually have something wrong with them. Too hot. Bed too hard or soft. Basically not as you like it. I love a hard bed and hate a soft bed so what suits you would be rubbish for me. You just suck it up for a night or two.

Whyherewego · 17/09/2026 08:01

If they have toppers surely they can give you another couple then ?

faithfultoGeorgeMichael · 17/09/2026 08:00

when I worked in a hotel we used to put 3 toppers and 3 duvets on the bed if someone liked it 'soft'. We had one woman from Saudi Arabia who had 6 of each! She was like the Princess and the Pea we used to joke 😂
Ask the housekeeper for help

Original poster

MadMAGA · 17/09/2026 08:00

I asked reception for another topper and they're arranging it. No issues. Feel daft now Thanks MN!

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TunnelLight · 17/09/2026 07:54

MadMAGA · 17/09/2026 06:25

Because, stupidly, I've stayed at this hotel many times before and every time think, "I should book a different hotel with softer mattresses next time." Then I forget and book it again. Which is entirely my own fault, I know. This is the longest I've stayed here and the thought of having another night like this, followed by the plane journey home, is quite daunting.

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Well no you can’t ask work to pay for another hotel, after you booked this hotel yourself having stayed there before and knew what you were getting.

FinanceLPlates · 17/09/2026 07:32

I’ve stayed in hotels before where the mattress + topper arrangement was thereto allow for different firmness preferences - basically they have toppers of different “grades” that can be switched out, a bit like pillows.
Good luck!

Original poster

MadMAGA · 17/09/2026 07:22

And write myself a big reminder not to book this hotel again!

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Original poster

MadMAGA · 17/09/2026 07:21

I'll speak to the hotel and if they can't help I'll pay for a second hotel myself.

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ladyjaynes · 17/09/2026 07:11

I can imagine your work would refuse to pay for a second hotel but if you are happy to soak up the cost then do it

Smartiepants79 · 17/09/2026 07:11

You can change hotels if you want but I think, given the circumstances, you can’t expect work to pay for it twice. You chose this hotel despite having already stayed there several times. You’ve done nearly a whole week in it and done nothing to try and fix the problem. For one last night I would just be getting on with it and be glad to go home.

Proteinlentil · 17/09/2026 07:08

DailyEnergyCrisis · 17/09/2026 07:07

I do find this a bit strange. Knowing you’re going to be in pain and booking time and again….

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More than a bit strange.

Sado-machochistic

DailyEnergyCrisis · 17/09/2026 07:07

MadMAGA · 17/09/2026 06:25

Because, stupidly, I've stayed at this hotel many times before and every time think, "I should book a different hotel with softer mattresses next time." Then I forget and book it again. Which is entirely my own fault, I know. This is the longest I've stayed here and the thought of having another night like this, followed by the plane journey home, is quite daunting.

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I do find this a bit strange. Knowing you’re going to be in pain and booking time and again….

DailyEnergyCrisis · 17/09/2026 07:04

I have this issue and it can trigger sciatica for me. I always speak to the hotel and I’ve never not received extra duvets and they usually have toppers to offer too. Even in very mediocre hotels I’ve always been pleased with the response.

Mulledjuice · 17/09/2026 07:00

absolutely speak to the hotel and ask what they can do.
Nonsense to assume all the beds are the same without knowing.
But also a lot of hassle to switch hotels if you don't know the other hotel will be any better.

do you kne what woild help? ie if they could add a mattress topper and give you an extta duvet / couple of pillows woild that help?

and for God's sake please don't book it again.

Proteinlentil · 17/09/2026 06:30

MadMAGA · 17/09/2026 06:25

Because, stupidly, I've stayed at this hotel many times before and every time think, "I should book a different hotel with softer mattresses next time." Then I forget and book it again. Which is entirely my own fault, I know. This is the longest I've stayed here and the thought of having another night like this, followed by the plane journey home, is quite daunting.

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Ok this just got weird (er)

fumingrightnow1 · 17/09/2026 06:30

MadMAGA · 17/09/2026 06:26

It's possible but TBH I'm very easy to please and this is the only place I've ever had trouble sleeping.

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Yet you keep rebooking it

OhBettyCalmDown · 17/09/2026 06:28

I think if you’re the one choosing to book the hotel you should pay for the alternative yourself. Work aren’t forcing you to stay there your in pain by your own mistake

Original poster

MadMAGA · 17/09/2026 06:26

pasturesgreen · 17/09/2026 06:22

I wouldn't for just one night, no. You were there all week, I'd just suck it up for tonight (besides, there's no guarantee you'd sleep better at the new hotel: perhaps the mattress there is fine, but the pillow isn't be, or you couldn't sleep for a myriad other motives). Just think you're going home and tomorrow night you'll be in your own bed!

It's possible but TBH I'm very easy to please and this is the only place I've ever had trouble sleeping.

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Original poster

MadMAGA · 17/09/2026 06:25

Proteinlentil · 17/09/2026 06:22

How on earth do you know that?

They will replace on a rotating basis not all at once 😆

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Because, stupidly, I've stayed at this hotel many times before and every time think, "I should book a different hotel with softer mattresses next time." Then I forget and book it again. Which is entirely my own fault, I know. This is the longest I've stayed here and the thought of having another night like this, followed by the plane journey home, is quite daunting.

OP posts:

pasturesgreen · 17/09/2026 06:22

I wouldn't for just one night, no. You were there all week, I'd just suck it up for tonight (besides, there's no guarantee you'd sleep better at the new hotel: perhaps the mattress there is fine, but the pillow isn't be, or you couldn't sleep for a myriad other motives). Just think you're going home and tomorrow night you'll be in your own bed!

Proteinlentil · 17/09/2026 06:22

MadMAGA · 17/09/2026 06:21

Photo of the mattress + topper. I'm not a princess and it's not an expensive hotel, I'm just in pain.

Walk downstairs
Go to reception
Explain very poor mattress and suffering and request a different room for your last night