Struggling to sleep away from home for the holidays? This best-selling memory foam mattress topper works magic on any tired mattress

I rarely sleep as well as I do in my own bed. Unfortunately, I can't bring my mattress with me everywhere I go − but I can bring my mattress topper. Thinner and lighter than a mattress, a topper is far easier to transport. It's the ideal sleep solution for short-term stays over the holiday season.

I love visiting my parents, but I hate staying in the guest room. It's the worst bed in the house: a firm, inflexible innerspring with coils that creak when I move in the night. I've started taking my memory foam mattress topper with me when I go home for the holidays. That way, I can enhance the thermoregulation and pressure relief of their mattress, so I feel like I'm in my own bed again. If you struggle to sleep away from home, then a mattress topper is a total no-brainer – and the Linenspa Memory Foam Mattress Topper might be your perfect match.

As H&G's resident Sleep Editor, I lead a team of expert testers in the search to find the world's best mattress toppers. Together, we've tested a total of 12 models to suit every style of sleeper and fit every size of budget. Out of all the toppers we've tested, the Linenspa Memory Foam Mattress Topper is by far the most affordable. At full price, a Queen goes for $84.99. For your money, you get soft and squishy pressure relief, excellent motion isolation, and surprisingly good thermoregulation.

Linenspa Memory Foam Mattress Topper | $84.99 at Amazon

This is one of Linenspa's best-selling mattress toppers, with more than 18,000 verified five-star reviews.

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Why the Linenspa Mattress Topper is so good

Here at Homes & Gardens, we assess each mattress topper against the same criteria: pressure relief; thermoregulation; motion isolation; and edge support. Only those that perform across the board make it into our buying guides. I'm pleased to report that the Linenspa Memory Foam Mattress Topper excels in all areas, outpacing its tried-and-tested competitors at a fraction of the price.

The Linenspa Memory Foam Mattress Topper is available in all the standard sizes, from Twin through to California King. You can buy the topper on its own, but I recommend you buy it with the matching cover to guard against sweat, spills, and stains. The Linenspa Memory Foam Mattress Topper comes in three thicknesses − 2 inch, 3 inch, and 4 inch – to suit diverse sleep styles. In my experience, thicker, softer toppers feel more comfortable for side sleepers who need extra cushioning, while thinner, firm toppers are more suitable for back and stomach sleepers. If you're wondering 'how thick should my mattress topper be?', you can always consult our expert guide.

• Pressure relief: how memory foam looks and feels depends on its density. High-density memory foam feels firm and supportive, where low-density memory foam feels soft and squishy. To me, the Linenspa Memory Foam Mattress Topper feels like a true medium. It's soft enough to cushion my hips and shoulders when I lay on my side, but not so soft that I start sinking into the mattress. When I lay on my back, I could feel my hips sink into the surface, but my lower back still felt supported, keeping my spine straight. Laying on my stomach didn't feel quite as comfortable − I needed a firmer surface to keep my chest from sinking into the mattress.
• Thermoregulation: it's true that early iterations of memory foam tended to trap heat, but the mattress industry has made major strides in recent years. The Linenspa Memory Foam Mattress Topper is filled with gel memory foam, dotted with gel beads to dissipate heat, wick moisture, and block odors. That's good news for hot sleepers, summer nights, and anyone sleeping in a room without AC. If you suffer from night sweats or hot flashes, then you could always pair it with a set of the best cooling sheets. The Linenspa Memory Foam Mattress Topper feels cool without feeling cold. I started testing this topper during a cold snap, and I was worried I wouldn't be able to get warm, but the effect isn't that extreme.

• Motion isolation: if you share a bed with a pet or partner, you need a mattress with minimal motion transfer. That way, you won't wake each other up when you switch positions or get into or out of bed in the night. Luckily, memory foam is made to absorb motion. I lay down on one side of the Linenspa Memory Foam Mattress Topper and asked my sister to toss and turn over on the other side. I couldn't feel her movement on my side of the bed: there was none of the bobbing and bouncing you get from an innerspring mattress. The downside of motion isolation is that it makes it a little harder to move around the mattress. That's something to bear in mind if you struggle with mobility: you might appreciate a bit of bounce to send you on your way.
• Edge support: if you like to sit or sleep on the side of the bed, or you struggle with mobility, then you need a mattress with decent edge support to create a solid, supportive surface. I've tested some mattress toppers where I had to brace my feet against the ground to stop myself from sliding off. I didn't have that problem with the Linenspa Memory Foam Mattress Topper. I could sit comfortably on the side of the topper to tie my shoes or apply lotion.

• Practical points: the Linenspa Memory Foam Mattress Topper arrived compressed and packaged in a cardboard box. I rolled out the topper, cut the plastic, and left it to inflate for 48 hours. That's the timeframe Linenspa recommends, but I found the topper was almost fully inflated within the first few hours. Don't worry if you haven't slept with a mattress topper before: Linenspa provides a sheet of detailed instructions to help you get started. If you notice an unpleasant, chemical sort of smell, that's the mattress off-gassing. It should dissipate within 24 hours, but I suggest you open a window and close the door to speed up the process. Annoyingly, the Linenspa Memory Foam Mattress Topper does not come with corner straps or a grip pad. All you need to do to secure the topper is tuck it in tightly beneath your fitted sheet. For more security, you could always learn how to keep your mattress topper from sliding.

Linenspa Memory Foam Mattress Topper | $84.99 at Amazon

If you're looking to get better sleep, this is the easiest and most affordable mattress upgrade you'll find.

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If the Linenspa Memory Foam Mattress Topper doesn't quite meet your needs, don't worry – I've got plenty more suggestions up my sleeve. I recommend one of the best cooling mattress toppers for hot sleepers and the best organic mattress toppers for eco-conscious shoppers.