La Quinta Hotel, Simmons Beautyrest Mattresses.

Ken writes:

Hi Pete,

We recently stayed at A La Quinta hotel and had the best night's sleep in many years, as our 12 year old Simmons is becoming painful to sleep on.

We removed the linens and saw that is was a Simmons Beautyrest Flatbrook Pillowtop.

In doing a google search for this mattress, your blog and website came up.

I see that your Broadway model used to be called Flatbrook.

Are they the same?

I also see that you don't list a pillowtop of this on your website.

Can you get it? What is the price? Can you send me the specifications for the mattress we want?

Thanks, Ken

Hi Ken,

Here are the specifications for the Simmons Recharge Broadway Luxury Firm Pillowtop, as requested.

You'll add $100 for the pillowtop model, which I can get for you.

Delivery is free, which includes set-up and removal of your old mattress...and there's no sales tax.

Luxury Firm Pillow Top
Comfort Materials	DECK 2" GelTouch® Foam 0.5" Energy Foam
Quilt	SurfaceCool Fiber™ 1.25" AirFeel® Foam 1" AirCool® Foam
Support System	800 Series Beautyrest Pocketed Coil Total Surround Ventilated AirCool® BeautyEdge® Foam Encasement with QuantumLock™ 1" Energy Foam Base Layer Triton Foundation
Warranty Period (Years)	10

The 2" GelTouch foam at the very top, is gel infused memory foam.

The AirFeel and AirCool foams are also memory foam...not gel infused.

The Energy Foams are high density Poly foams.

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I could have just left it at that...providing you only the info you asked for, but there is a lot you need to know before you buy.

There was no memory foam in your 12 year old mattress....one of the major factors in it having lasted as long as it has.

It was about 12 years ago when Simmons changed from making a two sided mattress that you can flip, to making a one sided mattress that you cannot flip.

Since yours is 12 years old, I'm guessing that it is two sided.

Either way, you are stepping out of a time warp...bringing with you, the assumption that mattresses are made as well today, and that a new one will last as long.

Today's mattresses are designed to need frequent replacing. That is facilitated by the use of memory foam.

Memory foam is extremely comfortable, initially, but loses its support and comfort quickly.

The diabolical part of all this is, that even after you sink into it and feel this loss of support and comfort, the memory foam will return to its original shape, (or, close enough to it), so that you will never prevail in the warranty claim you are sure to file.

The two things that "Make the sale", that don't last but only months, are the memory foam and pillowtops....which is why we don't show pillowtops on our website.

Also included in this list, and unique to Simmons, are their "Plush" models, which use a much thinner gauge wire for the coils...which is why we don't show those on our website.

If you scan the internet for reviews on Simmons Beautyrests, they are horrible. It is the plush and pillowtop models and the memory foam in them that are responsible for two things...the horrible reviews and the ease of making the sales that produce those horrible reviews.

But, as long as the sale is made, nobody in the mattress industry cares...because it isn't a problem for them...only for the consumer.

Hotels are in the comfort business, which is why they opt for pillowtop models...and, low end pillowtop models, at that.

Hotel room aren't usually filled every night. They are filled on a rotating basis and may be used 3 times a week, on average. This amounts to part time use.

And, they replace their mattresses every few years.

Today, you can't buy a mattress, simply based on comfort. For a master bedroom, you'll be expecting more from your mattress than this one will provide.

What we recommend, and have recommended over the past several years, is a World Class Beautyrest in Luxury Firm and a 2" Soft Talalay Latex Topper to go on it.

THIS, is a long term solution to the problem of longevity that has been created by the mattress industry.

What makes a Beautyrest particularly comfortable, is the individually pocketed coil unit, which provides an independent suspension type of support.

This support maintains the natural alignment of your spine and greatly reduces motion transfer in the mattress....so you don't feel each other move.

The firmer models use a much heavier gauge wire, which is much more durable than in the plush models.

The latex topper does a number of things. First, it provides surface comfort that is superior to the feel of memory foam.

The latex topper sleeps cool, and insulates you from the memory foam, which is a temperature sensitive material that sleeps hot.

Latex foam rubber is thee most resilient upholstery material on the planet and has been so for the past 100 years...nothing new about it.

Due to it's extraordinary resilience, the latex topper will absorb much of your body weight, which will double the life of the mattress over that which was intended by the manufacturer.

The unique"Zero Gravity" feel that latex provides is extraordinarily comfortable.

The World Class Beautyrests are more expensive, but have 200 more coils in queen...(that difference being greater in king)....is the appropriate choice for 2 adults using the mattress every night. The model you asked about, is what we recommend for children and guest bedrooms....(lighter weight or occasional use).

Now, Ken, you have all the information you need.

I'm including links to: The Broadway/Flatbrook model you asked about...the World Class page, where the starting model (The Santorini in Luxury Firm is recommended)...and to the latex mattress toppers, which come finished in a very nice cover and corner straps that hold it in place.

If you take my recommendation, you will have a much more satisfying and long term experience.

If you buy what you asked for, you'll regret it withing a mattress of months, in terms of durability...and immediately, in terms of sleeping hot.

Mattresses have reduced in quality, in a dramatic fashion, over the last 10 years.

Here are those links:

http://themattressexpert.com/our-brands/simmons/beautyrest-recharge-classic/