Would a cot be considered a Single?

[Andy428]

I had a guest complain in their review that the "Single" in the common space wasn't actually a bed, but a canvas cot. Would listing the cot as a "Single" be inaccurate? None of the other options seem to fit. I could go out and just buy an air mattress, it would actually be cheaper than the cot.

[Sandra126]

@Andy428, the complaint you would get is ''the single is just an air mattress''.

Best way is to descibe the cot. I have two singles which are standard foam mattresses on wooden slat bases. These are beds. Yet, people sometimes tell me ''they are not beds, they are just foam mattresses on slats''. Yes, that is what they are. Still beds. They will not be comfortable if you are tall (singles are not long) or overly heavy of body, as you will feel the slats. So I write:

''The singles are foam mattresses on slats. If you feel you need greater comfort than that, this is not the place for you''.

Can't be fairer than that, but guests don't always read. Just describe the experience they will have with your cot and you will be fine.

[Sarah977]

@Sandra126  My mattresses are also foam. But there's no way you'd feel slats under them. Sounds like you have a low density foam, which will squash down easily and you'll feel whatever the base is.

What I use is 4" of medium-firm high density foam which doesn't squash down, then 2" of softer, but also high density, foam on top. With a mattress pad on top, no one would ever know it was foam.

I actually prefer foam mattresses- they're not heavy, so makes cleaning easier if you need to move the bed around.

@Andy428  No, a cot is not a single bed, nor is an air mattress. You do need to make it clear, not say it's a single bed. 

[Sandra126]

@Sarah977, my mattresses are fine unless you are very large. But as I don't want to say this, I use the ''if you need more comfort'' etc line. There is a weight limit to feel slats. The guests who have commented have all been overly wide. Only a sprung mattress counts as a bed  in their eyes.

[Sarah977]

@Sandra126  Got it. There seem to be quite a few overly large folks these days. I had one or 2 who I feared might break the bed or the chairs they sat in.

[Cormac0]

@Andy428 

Why don't you just buy a proper single bed with matress?

[Andy428]

It's in the common space/living room and won't be used the vast majority of the time. I have 4 "proper" beds, two queen and two twin. I've only been doing Airbnb for 4 months, so I don't know, but is it normal to have pernament bedframe placed in common spaces?

[Sarah977]

@Andy428  No, I don't think it's good to put a bedframe in the common spaces. It sounds like you're just wanting to squeeze in one more person for extra cash, and that person wouldn't feel like they had any privacy and other guests might be sitting on that bed during the day if it's in the common space. What I'd do is list the place for the number of beds you have, then provide an option for 1 extra guest who is included on a reservation for another, who would be okay with bedding down on an air mattress either in the common space, or in one of the bedrooms with their friends or relatives. In other words, not a single reservation for someone to sleep on the air mattress.

[Linda108]

I agree with the other hosts about the use of a cot as a single bed.  @Andy428  There are other optional bed for extra guest choices that shouldn't be too expensive but will not cheapen your listing.