Carnival Comfort Bed

westin bed

Battle of the beds, By Chris Johns
Here is the latest news on some of Canada's plushest beds.

Four Seasons
The first hotel chain to truly bring the idea of the luxury bed to prominence was the Four Seasons, and, to this day, theirs remains the benchmark by which all others are judged. The new Four Seasons Resort Whistler is decked out in upscale mountain chic, with heavy exposed beams and stone fireplaces. Against such rugged materials it's especially inviting to climb into a soft bed. All Four Seasons beds are custom-made for the hotel by Sealy Posturepedic and are filled with cotton, not synthetic. Look closely and you'll find a layer of foam between the box spring and mattress that prevents sagging, with a pillow top above all of that. Between the mountain air and luxurious surroundings, this is a bed that dreams are made of.

Cost: king-size box spring and mattress, $4,550; duvet, $450

W Hotels
The hip, hard-working, hard-playing clientele who frequent the W Hotel in Montreal would probably cite the cutting-edge design, fashionable restaurant and exclusive bar as their first priorities, but that hasn't stopped the hotel from providing one of the most comfortable beds around. Designed by Simmons, the W bed, like most everything else from this boutique chain – from flip flops to perfume – can be purchased to take home. With its pocket coil mattress (the one from the bowling ball ads), pillow top layer and 316-count 100-percent Egyptian cotton sheets, there's no better place to crash after a fabulous night rubbing elbows with the beautiful people.

Cost: about $2,300 for a complete king-size set

Sofitel
Just thinking about the Sofitel's signature MyBed has got me ready for a nap. The box spring and mattress are both excellent, but the secret behind MyBed is what goes on top: the overstuffed feather bed. Filled with down and feathers, it's not only utterly sumptuous but almost paralyzing in its coziness. The supersize pillows are both yielding and supportive, and the nearly weightless duvet is surprisingly insulating.

Cost: $2,380 for the complete king-size set

Westin
My second Heavenly Bed experience (my first was a profound sleep at the Hotel Maria Cristina in San Sebastián, Spain) was at the Westin Nova Scotian in Halifax, where, for some reason, I ended up staying in the Crown Suite. The master bedroom was bigger than most hotel rooms (bigger than some lobbies, for that matter), and the king-size bed looked tiny way down at the other end of the room. Once I got over to it, however, the bed looked massive ­ – 10 layers from top to bottom with a 13-inch pillow top and five pillows resting atop an overstuffed duvet – and was as sweet and inviting as meringue.

Cost: $3,980 for the entire set, including shipping

Sutton Place
One of the latest entrants into the luxury bed race is the Sutton Place. Beginning last year, the Sutton Place Hotel Toronto began refurbishing its rooms with new beds. The so-called ergo~health and Springwall chiropractic sleep system (not the catchiest name, but it makes the point) is not only comfortable but is endorsed by both the Canadian and American Chiropractic Associations. Eighteen months of collaboration with chiropractic professionals and the Canadian-based Springwall mattress manufacturer has resulted in a bed that is both comfortable and therapeutic. After all, there's nothing like a great night's sleep to fix what ails you.

Cost: $1,800 for king-size box spring and mattress