Why single occupancy costs more than double

Have you ever noticed how single occupancy rooms tend to cost more than double occupancy rooms? Here are a few reasons why!

A basic hotel room most often includes one king-sized bed because most people travel as a couple or in pairs.

• Designing single rooms to rent out at a lesser cost does not make the best use of the hotel's space and the demand for smaller single occupancy rooms is just not there.
• For one, many single travellers prefer to sleep in a larger bed rather than on a tiny twin mattress as it resembles what they have in their own home. That’s one reason why rooms designed for double occupancy have become the standard.

Whether a single person or a couple sleep in a bed, the same amount of sheets need to be washed.

• If a room is prepped for a couple, but you stay in it alone, the maids will have to wash the same amount of towels and replace the same amount of toiletries.
• A hotel won’t charge you less for occupying the room alone because overall, their cleaning and maintenance costs stay the same.

If you’re alone, you’re also using up close to the same amount of space as a couple.

• This is also the logic behind coupling up and the reason why many couples or roommates choose to live together in everyday life.
• And realistically, there is no way to split the amount of space from one hotel room in two parts to create two bedrooms with each their own bathroom.
• Two rooms designed for single occupancy would take up more space. To offer the same per person price, a hotel would have to downgrade the quality of the service they offer to a single person.

Plus, if a hotel calculates its profit margin based on double occupancy. If a single person decides to occupy the room at the same price, they ensure no loss of profits on their side. Giving a discount rate to single occupants would mean the hotel would be losing money on your stay.

If you want to be sure not to pay twice the "per person" price as a single person, there are other options available to you.

• For example, you might try a hostel. You may be paired up with another traveler in dorm rooms. But if you don't have a travel partner of your own, you will still get to save on the lodging fees.
• Another alternative would be a bed and breakfast. Because bed and breakfasts are smaller and cater to a more specialized crowd, you may be more likely to find a single room or at least rent a double room at a lower rate.