HostelPeti

Bedding: what to look for

Bedding is the category where students most often over-pack or buy too early. Rooms range from a bare cot to a fully made bed, so measure first and buy second. The types below cover a cot that needs a mattress, sheets that fit a narrow bed, and nights that are colder or buggier than you expected.

Single-bed mattress or topper

Some rooms come with only a bare cot or a thin, well-used mattress. A foldable mattress, or a topper over the existing one, can make the bed usable.

Check before you buy

  • Measure the cot (length and width) and buy to that size rather than a generic "single" label.
  • Foldable or roll-packed types are easier to carry on a train or bus.
  • A removable, washable cover is worth having in a shared room.
  • Read the listed thickness, material and the seller’s return terms before ordering.

Skip or avoid

  • Buying before you have seen the room; it may already have a mattress.
  • A mattress wider than the cot, which will sag over the edge.

Most useful for: Hostel · PG with meals · PG, no meals · Working PG

Shop: search Amazon.in for single-bed mattress or topperAmazon.in search results. No commission is earned at present.

Single bedsheets and pillow covers

Two sets let you wash one while using the other, so the bed is never bare on laundry day.

Check before you buy

  • Single size that fits your measured cot, with enough extra to tuck under the mattress.
  • Cotton or cotton-blend sheets feel cooler in warm, humid cities.
  • Darker or patterned sheets show marks less between washes.
  • Fitted sheets with elastic corners stay put on thin mattresses.

Skip or avoid

  • Double-bed sizes that bunch up on a narrow cot.

Most useful for: Hostel · PG with meals · PG, no meals · Working PG

Shop: search Amazon.in for single bedsheets and pillow coversAmazon.in search results. No commission is earned at present.

Pillow and a spare cover

A familiar pillow helps you sleep in a new place. If luggage is tight, a new one bought locally is just as good.

Check before you buy

  • Pick a height and firmness close to what you use at home.
  • A zipped protector keeps hair oil and sweat off the pillow itself.
  • Vacuum-packed pillows save luggage space; give them a day to expand.

Skip or avoid

  • Carrying a heavy home pillow when you could buy one after you arrive.

Most useful for: Hostel · PG with meals · PG, no meals · Working PG

Shop: search Amazon.in for pillow and a spare coverAmazon.in search results. No commission is earned at present.

Blanket, quilt or dohar for the city’s winter

Pack for the city you are moving to, not the one you are leaving. A light dohar can be plenty in one city and far too thin in another.

Check before you buy

  • Look up the new city’s winter temperatures before choosing a weight.
  • A washable blanket, or a quilt with a removable cover, is easier to keep clean.
  • A light dohar is useful for air-conditioned rooms and mild winters.

Skip or avoid

  • A bulky razai you have no space to store; you can buy one locally when winter arrives.

Most useful for: Hostel · PG with meals · PG, no meals · Working PG

Shop: search Amazon.in for blanket, quilt or dohar for the city’s winterAmazon.in search results. No commission is earned at present.

Mosquito net for a single bed

Ground-floor rooms and rooms near trees or water can be hard to sleep in without one.

Check before you buy

  • Check whether the room has hooks; if not, choose a free-standing foldable net.
  • Single-bed size, with a zip or overlapping entry.
  • Fine, intact mesh with no gaps at the seams.

Skip or avoid

  • Nets that need nails or drilling where the rules forbid it.

Keep mosquito coils and vaporisers away from bedding and curtains, and follow the product label.

Most useful for: Hostel · PG with meals · PG, no meals · Working PG

Shop: search Amazon.in for mosquito net for a single bedAmazon.in search results. No commission is earned at present.