Hotel room types: double, twin, triple and family rooms explained
Two rooms with almost the same name can sleep people very differently. The words on a room are worth reading slowly, because the hotel means them literally.
3 min read ·
Beds first
The most important word in a room's name is about the beds.
- Single — one bed for one person.
- Double — one bed for two people. It may be a standard double, a queen or a king; the description usually says which.
- Twin — two separate single beds, for two people. Good for friends or colleagues; not the same as a double.
- Triple — three people, as three single beds or a double and a single.
- Quadruple or family room — four or more, often a double with two singles or bunk beds.
When the description lists beds, it is more reliable than the name: "1 × double bed" and "2 × single beds" say exactly what you will find.
Grades within a hotel
Hotels sell the same bed arrangement in several grades. The names vary, but a common ladder is:
- Standard or classic — the basic room.
- Superior — usually a little larger or better placed.
- Deluxe — larger again, often with a better view or more furniture.
- Junior suite — a room with a separate sitting area.
- Suite — a bedroom and a separate living room.
These words are the hotel's own. A "deluxe" room in one hotel can be smaller than a "standard" in another, so compare what the description lists: the size in square metres, the view, and what is in the room.
Words that change the price
- View — "sea view", "city view", "garden view". A partial view is usually called that; a room without the word usually has no view to speak of.
- Balcony or terrace — listed when the room has one.
- Accessible — adapted for guests with reduced mobility. If you need it, choose it rather than asking for it.
- Non-refundable — describes the rate, not the room: the same room is often sold both ways. See free cancellation.
Before you choose
- Read the beds, not only the room's name.
- Check the room holds everyone: its occupancy counts children too. See travelling with children.
- Compare size and view between grades, and decide whether the difference is worth the price.
- Check the board and the cancellation terms of the rate you are choosing — they belong to the rate, and the same room can be sold with different ones.
Questions that keep coming up
What is the difference between a double and a twin room?
A double room has one bed for two people. A twin room has two separate single beds. Both sleep two, and hotels do not always swap one for the other on arrival.
Is a "superior" room better than a "standard" one?
Within one hotel, usually — bigger, a better view or newer furnishings. The words are the hotel's own, though, so compare what the description actually lists rather than the label.
Can I ask for a double bed in a twin room?
You can ask, in the requests box when you book. It reaches the hotel with the booking and remains the hotel's to grant, so if the bed matters, book the room type that has it.
What does "room only" mean on a room?
That no meals are included. It describes the board, not the room itself — see the guide to meals at a hotel.
On Rahlio each room shows its beds, its board and its cancellation terms before you choose, and a request such as a double bed reaches the hotel with the booking.