Thank you all so much for your advice here. I guess the best thing to do when shopping for a mattress is to try them out for yourself, which is what I did today. I just came home, and I bought a mattress.... maybe I should have done more research, but I wanted to get this done and move on with my life. I didn't buy the first one I saw though, I went to three places. I was the ONLY customer in each of the three stores I went to, so I think the sales people were "hungry". I pocket dialed my a friend 3 times while trying out mattresses, I guess they make a keyboard lock for a reason! First, Mattress Firm. Sales guy was an eager, young, skinny whipper snapper, named Craig. He made me lie down on a diagnostic bed. Then he looked at the print out and would only show me mattresses on the print out (which were the firmest ones in the store, and I stressed I wanted soft, not firm). I really liked the Simmons Beauty Rest with pillow top, AND the Tempurpedic, but I was not about to spend 3000 dollars (or even the sale price of 2600). I also liked the Sterns and Foster, but again, way high end. The second place was one called Mattress One... a nice older guy named Humberto was the salesman there. He spent time showing me a lot of beds and listened. There was one that was called Therapepdic, which was a knock off of Tempurpedic. It was only 499... I liked it for the most part (super soft), but I sank way down into it, and could feel the box springs below. I told him I'd consider it, took his card, and went to Five Guys to have lunch. While inhaling my cheeseburger, I hopped online (on my phone) and did a bit of research on Therapedic. I discovered some bad reviews, they don't keep their shape after a few years! In the next plaza over, there was a Mattress Giant. I walked up to find a big fat guy in a yellow shirt smoking right outside the door... upon seeing that, I almost got back in the car, but instead went inside since I was already there... His name was Sergio, and he really took the time to explain things to me, and after listening, directed me to a brand called King's Down. It's memory foam on the inside (no coils at all), but it looks like a traditional mattress, and doesn't sink down and envelope you like a Tempurpedic does. I picked the softest one in the line, and it was just like sleeping on a cloud. Very nice! Mattress and box springs was 799, delivery 69, and mattress protector was 89, so with tax, it came to just over 1000, and will be delivered on Thursday. 100 day comfort guarantee (exchange policy), and 10 year warranty. I feel really good about my choice, and can't wait to sleep on a mattress that isn't sunken in in the middle! I called Humberto and told him that I decided on something else so he didn't count on me coming back... I had told him I'd be back if I didn't see something I liked elsewhere better. He was glad I let him know (I felt weird doing that, but he was nice, so I figured I owed him that), but I could hear the disappointment in his voice when he realized I wasn't going to buy from him. Thanks again for your advice here! Oh yeah, I told a friend about it, and he told me he bought the same bed from the same store about a year ago and loves it (but he got free delivery and a free mattress protector, I guess I'm not much of a haggler).

We have bought 3 nova form gel form toppers from Costco for 3 different beds. One is for our home in the desert where we are stingy with the AC, one is on our bed at 8,000 feet where it's rarely over 50 degrees at night and one is in our camper van. When it's really cold in the van the mattress is a rock when you get in but quickly softens up as our bodies warm it. There is no AC in the van when we sleep. In all of these situations we have been really happy with this topper. Never too hot and I am "of the age" when I would be. We've had them all for 3 years. Love them.

I just upgraded from a queen to a king and I love all the extra space.. would never go back unless the room really cannot fit a king (like, banging your shins constantly). My DH's back hurt and he wanted a super expensive adjustable bed, but since Costco will take mattresses back, we ordered the Roseshore Firm from there. We love it! If it hadn't worked out for us I would have tried another Costco mattress because of that return policy. Mattresses are expensive and you don't want to be stuck with something uncomfortable. You can order from Costco.com and return to any store without being a member, I think you just pay something like 3% more.

Twin XL's will be the same length as a king. If you have a king size bed you can lay the comforter lengthwise on the king & see if you need extra length; you do have to buy twin XL sheet for twin xl mattresses. We are in a resort area with golfers & most rental agents require XL twins for golfers because they need the length. Rental agencies usually require bedspreads rather than comforters with bed skirts & shams as shams get lost & bed skirts get torn; bedspreads are easier as far a laundry purposes also.