Is the Four Seasons Mattress Worth Five Stars?

I am a Four Seasons snob. I'm not ashamed to say it and in all fairness (and at the risk of sounding pretentious), Four Seasons properties are practically my second home. My grandmother lived at the Back Bay one in Boston, my parents were married at that one, and our family vacations took us to its properties all over the world—from San Francisco to Nevis to Lisbon—courtesy of my parents' credit card membership rewards points.

So when I tell you the best part of a Four Seasons Hotel is the bed, you should believe me. Plopping onto a Four Seasons bed is truly magical. Yet, underneath the fluffy duvet and atop the cloud-like mattress, I began to wonder: Is it the experience of being in a five-star hotel that makes this bed so wonderful or is it the mattress itself? I decided it was time to put it to the test.

The Setup

Four Seasons mattresses come in three options: Signature, Signature Firm, and Signature Plush. My boyfriend and I both prefer a soft, plush bed so the latter was tempting, but due to his scoliosis and back pain, we figured it would be best to stick with the Signature iteration paired with the brand's five and half inch foundation to ensure that it had the proper support.

It took three very skilled men to bring the queen-sized mattress and its foundation up the four flights of stairs in our Manhattan walk-up. They did it though, and within twenty minutes my boyfriend and I had a new mattress and foundation sitting atop our old bed frame. Naturally, the first thing that we did was take a running leap and plop onto the new mattress. It really does feel as good as it does in the hotel.

It's All About the Details

It didn't take long for us to decide that we made the right choice. Between my boyfriend's scoliosis and my chronic night sweats, this mattress felt like it was made for us. Well, it was (as every mattress is made to order), but also, the Signature style is specifically designed to provide optimum firmness and peak coolness.

Here's how it does that. At the top, DualCool technology creates an antimicrobial performance layer that works to keep the mattress fresh and cool while moving heat and moisture away. Next, an AirCool Foam layer utilizes a channeled design that allows airflow through the mattress.  Then comes the AirFeel Foam layer, which provides comfort through ample support and cushioning.  A Plush Gel Memory foam layer adds additional support that provides pressure relief by distributing the body’s weight evenly. Finally, Pocketed Coil technology helps to isolate the motion between sleepers (i.e. my snoring boyfriend, my 60-pound dog, and me).

It's Thoroughly Tested

If my word isn't enough for you, I'd like to explain the method behind the mattress construction for some extra credibility. The mattresses go through Cornell Durability Testing, where they are compressed 100,000 times over a continuous day of testing to meet strict guidelines that show that performance remains consistent. There's also rounds of simulated use testing, testing of the product with adjustable foundations, and transportation shipping tests to ensure the products arrive at their destination in perfect condition. These mattresses go through it.

The Hangups

Let's talk price and the extras that come with it. The signature mattress's starting cost is $2,700 and goes up to $4,950 depending on size—but nowadays this is pretty in line with most premium mattress brands. Additionally, I would say that the foundation is a necessary add on—and a price increase of about $500-$700. If you want the full experience of sleeping on a Four Seasons bed, you really should consider getting one of its luxe linen sets. When you're that deep in, you might as well go all the way in.

Another aspect to consider is just how thick this mattress is. With the foundation, it makes for a pretty tall bed. If you get the tallest nine-inch foundation, you're approaching 25 inches worth of bed. You should think about how it will work for your bed frame before buying. And with the thickness, you may definitely want to think about sizing up in the bedding department or at least ensuring you have a larger-than-average fitted sheet (we have a list of recommendations here). All in all, this is a very expensive mattress, especially if you go for the full setup.

The Final Verdict

I'm giving this mattress a five-star review. It's always been my dream to plop into a luxury hotel mattress and that's exactly what this is. The fact that both my boyfriend and I have different challenges, but this mattress conquers both of ours is a huge bonus. Its versatility is what will be keeping it around for years and years to come. Finally, this is the mattress you can bring home from your vacation.

Four Seasons Signature Mattress