Articles by Alison Barretta, Freelance reviewer and writer

Freelance writer and editor Alison is an expert mattress tester for Tom's Guide, and hails from Philadelphia, USA. Alison has reviewed a wide range of mattresses, pillows and other sleep accessories for Tom's Guide, putting the latest hybrid, memory foam and cooling mattresses from Casper, Nectar, Awara, Brooklinen and other leading brands through their paces. Alison has been sharing buying advice and retail news for over a decade. When she isn't reviewing mattresses, other home products or hunting for great deals to save you money, Alison can be found teaching/training in martial arts, fawning over skincare, and indulging in her quarantine-borne hobby: cooking.

Articles by: Alison Barretta

Tempur-Pedic mattress with price drop flag overlaid

Tempur-Pedic's memorial day sale ends today – rare chance to save big across the range

By Alison Barretta published 29 May 23

Tempur-Pedic's Memorial Day sale boasts markdowns across its entire range, but you'd better hurry before prices rise again...

Shop or skip: Is Memorial Day a good time to buy a mattress?

By Alison Barretta published 27 May 23

Planning to refresh your sleep setup before summer begins? Plenty of Memorial Day mattress sales are live – find out if they're worth browsing.

Nectar original with Act Fast graphic overlaid

Our favorite memory foam mattress is now cheaper than it was on Black Friday

By Alison Barretta published 5 May 23

Nectar's Spring Flash Sale drops its best-selling memory foam mattress to the cheapest price we've seen for it

Group of Saatva mattresses on a sunny patio

Which is the best Saatva mattress? Everything you need to know

By Alison Barretta last updated 8 May 23

Our guide to Saatva mattresses will help you find the best one for your needs and budget.

Saatva Foam Mattress Topper review 2023

By Alison Barretta published 19 March 23

The Saatva Foam Mattress Topper is a quality choice for anyone seeking luxury comfort for less — but it's not without its limitations. Here's what we learned after three weeks of sleeping on it.

Saatva Classic mattresses, with Price Drop flag overlaid

Should I buy a mattress in the Presidents' Day sales?

By Alison Barretta published 20 February 23

Presidents' Day mattress sales are here, and they're abundant. Before you browse, here's what you need to know in order to secure the best deal.

Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt mattress on a platform bed

Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt mattress review 2023

By Alison Barretta published 19 February 23

We put the premium Tempur-Adapt mattress through its paces. Here's what we found out after three weeks of sleeping on it.

Tuft & Needle Essential Platform Bed Frame, Zinus 4" box spring

Box spring vs platform bed: which one is right for your mattress?

By Alison Barretta published 31 January 23

Deciding between a box spring vs platform bed? Here's what you need to know about these popular bed types.

What is a platform bed: a lifestyle image of the Nectar Platform Bed with a Nectar mattress on top of it

What is a platform bed and do I need one?

By Alison Barretta published 29 January 23

Your bed frame can influence the comfort of your mattress – so what is a platform bed, and do you need one? We explain...

Woman lying on her stomach on a Saatva mattress, with price drop graphic overlaid

The 3 best after Christmas mattress sales to revamp your sleep in the new year

By Alison Barretta published 26 December 22

New year, new mattress? Shop the best after Christmas mattress sales and save.

Child hanging his stocking up by the fireplace

Help your kids fall asleep easily on Christmas Eve with these 4 expert tips

By Alison Barretta published 23 December 22

If your child is too excited to fall asleep on Christmas Eve, follow these four expert tips to help lull them into a peaceful holiday slumber.

Sealy mattress sales, deals and promo codes

Best Sealy mattress sales and deals in June 2023

By Millie Fender published 29 November 22

The best Sealy mattress sales on Posturepedic mattresses and cooling hybrids, no promo code needed.

I test mattresses for a living and I'd buy these 3 on Cyber Monday

By Alison Barretta last updated 28 November 22

Cyber Monday mattress sales are live and there are plenty of deals to be found – but these three are most deserving of your attention...

A man in a blue shirt goes mattress shopping

How to spot a Black Friday mattress bargain: 5 tips to follow to help you save

By Paul Dimery published 25 November 22

Follow our expert tips for spotting a Black Friday mattress bargain from a dud.

Lucid Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper on top of a Lucid mattress

Lucid Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper review 2023

By Alison Barretta published 23 November 22

The Lucid Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper is one of the most cost-effective ways to make your bed extremely plush. Here's how we fared after sleeping on it for two weeks...

best mattress topper: Casper Comfy Mattress Topper, featuring a woman resting on her back enjoying said topper on her bed

The best memory foam mattress topper in 2023

By Casey Clark last updated 7 December 22

We rate and compare the best memory foam mattress toppers across all budgets and sizes.

A woman sleeps happily with her arm raised on a comfortable white mattress

How to sleep better on an uncomfortable mattress – 7 easy hacks

By Claire Davies last updated 10 March 23

Broken sleep isn't fun, so try these easy hacks to make your mattress instantly more comfortable.

Lineup of Saatva mattresses on a sunny balcony by the sea, with Black Friday price flag overlaid

3 Black Friday mattress shopping hacks to save you more money

By Alison Barretta published 20 November 22

Don't browse this year's Black Friday mattress sales until you check out these three money-saving shopping hacks.

Best mattress on Amazon under $400 featuring a woman and dog sitting on top of a Molblly 10 inch Gel Memory Foam Mattress

The best mattress on Amazon under $400 to help you sleep better for less

By Casey Clark, Alison Barretta published 18 November 22

The best mattress on Amazon under $400 can offer you quality sleep at a fraction of the cost of more expensive models. Here are five top picks we recommend...

Nectar mattress and box, with a Black Friday deals tag overlaid

Should you buy a mattress on Black Friday? We reveal all

By Alison Barretta published 7 November 22

Is Black Friday really the best time of year to buy a mattress? In a word, yes – but there are things to know to make sure you get the best bargain.

Loom & Leaf mattress review 2023

By Alison Barretta published 6 November 22

Saatva's Loom & Leaf mattress doesn't come cheap, but it does offer a high return on investment. Here's what we discovered after weeks of sleeping on this luxury foam mattress.

One of the best cheap mattress toppers, the Linenspa Memory Foam Mattress Topper on a bed

The best cheap mattress toppers under $50 in 2023

By Casey Clark, Alison Barretta last updated 15 December 22

Find a cheap mattress topper under $50 that will help provide a more restful night's sleep.

Tempur mattress on a bed with 'lowest price' flag overlaid

Tempur-Pedic mattress sales and deals for June: last few days to claim the Memorial Day deals

By Claire Davies last updated 2 June 23

The extended Memorial Day sale offers a rare chance to save big on these luxurious beds – here's a rundown of the best Tempur-Pedic mattress deals to shop.

Lineup of Saatva mattresses on a sunny balcony by the sea, with Lowest price flag overlaid

Saatva mattress sales and deals 2023: our special code for $375 this Memorial Day

By Claire Davies last updated 29 May 23

The Memorial Day Saatva mattress sales is live... but we have a special link that'll get you a bigger discount.

DreamCloud sales and deals for June: prices drop to lowest we've seen

By Claire Davies last updated 19 May 23

Unmissable Memorial Day DreamCloud deal drops prices to $100 less than you'd usually pay.

Other versions of this page are available with specific content for the following regions: