Fixit: Hotel mattress can be bought for home

By Karen Youso, Star Tribune

Last update: April 23, 2007 - 6:51 PM

Q I stayed at an Embassy Suites hotel that had the best mattress I've ever slept on. I'd like to get a mattress just like it for my home. Is it possible?

A Yes, and Hilton Hotels will sell it to you.

At Embassy Suites you sleep on what the hotel calls the Embassy Essentials bedding package, made by Serta and called the Suite Dreams mattress.

You can get the identical mattress through Embassy Suites' sister brand, Hilton, where it's referred to as the Hilton Serenity Collection, said hotel spokeswoman Dawn Ray. Contact the company's customer service at 1-877-344-5866.

If you fall in love with the bed at other hotel chains, contact them, too. Most will arrange a sale or direct you to a source.

At Westin Hotels, for example, the Heavenly Bed by Simmons is available at www.beddingconcierge.com.

In recent years, there's been a bed war of sorts in the hotel industry. Trying to lure customers with the best sleep possible, hotels have upgraded their mattresses, pillows and bedding. That has created a unique way to shop for mattresses: Stay at hotels.

Try the Sleep Number Bed at Radisson Hotels. The Tempur-Pedic is at various hotels. For a list go to www.tempurpedic.com/TempurCMSVB/company/hotels.

Selling old records

Q Our family is in the process of cleaning an elderly relative's home now that she is in a nursing home. We have found numerous 45 and 78 rpm records from the 1930s and '40s, most in their original paper jackets. Is there any value in these or are they just Dumpster material?

A Do not throw them away. They may have value. Contact a vintage record dealer such as Hymie's Vintage Records in Minneapolis (612-729-8890) or Vintage Music Co. (612-729-8929). They will need to see the records to appraise them.

Otherwise, you can sell them yourself online by posting them on eBay.

Hymie's Vintage Records also buys eight-tracks and cassettes -- basically everything except CDs.

Send your questions to Fixit in care of the Star Tribune, 425 Portland Av. S., Minneapolis, MN 55488, or call 612-673-9033, or e-mail fixit@startribune.com. Past columns are available at www.startribune.com/fixit. Sorry, Fixit cannot supply individual replies.