Page 2 | Bed bugs in hotel.

Original poster

Imdunfer · 05/09/2026 15:50

DarkchocolateAndtea · 05/09/2026 15:48

You need a refund, it isn't acceptable to leave a hotel with bites like that.

But if it was the person before me that took them in, or the room has had non reactive people in it since, they can't know until someone reports being bitten. It's their reaction now which counts for me, they have to fumigate the room.

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Original poster

Imdunfer · 05/09/2026 15:54

I'm going to be in A&E later if the 2nd antibiotics at 6pm doesn't sort this out!

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Original poster

Imdunfer · 05/09/2026 16:06

Hotel have closed the room, so at least nobody else is going to be eaten alive.

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moonraker0 · 05/09/2026 16:18

whymadam · 05/09/2026 08:50

You get what you pay for. Lesson learned. Good luck, OP, you've got a big task ahead.

Unfortunately bed bugs don’t get the memo that they mustn’t frequent five star hotels. I’ve worked in a few different hotels and the constant turnover of guests means nowhere is immune from them.

Original poster

Imdunfer · 05/09/2026 18:57

GaspingGekko · 05/09/2026 15:50

I'm not sure why some PPs are talking about it being a budget hotel thing. My leg was horrifically bitten by bed bugs in an expensive brand hotel a few weeks ago.

Did you put your suitcase on the bed at all? I've read that this is often how they end up taken home.
I was really nervous, left the suitcase outside, washed all clothes immediately on a hot cycle, and thankfully we don't seem to have them in our home. But we were only there for one night.

We let the hotel know so they could address the issue. I think it's worth considering asking for some compensation, especially if they are in your home now.

I didn't have my suitcase on the bed at any time, but it was on the floor and so were my clothes.

I actually feel sorry for the hotel. They specialise in cheap coach holidays that are an absolute boon to people without much money who can't/don't drive.. They're low margin and this isn't their fault unless people have reported it before and there's no sign of that. As you say, these bugs are no respecters of hotel stars.

I also think my reaction is extreme but then I'm a bundle of autoimmune overreaction and this is nothing new.

Good news is that second pill does seem to have started it backtracking. Fingers crossed.

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Pherian · 05/09/2026 20:08

Imdunfer · 05/09/2026 08:47

I don't know yet, I'm picking up some really strong insecticide this morning and I'm going to be spraying everywhere they can have spread to.

I didn't know I'd been bitten until after I got home. Apparently it can take days for your system to react. I definitely had bites on my back as I was scratching it while I was away but I thought I just had an itch and didn't look in the mirror. It's a huge cluster of bites, much worse than my leg. I'm actually going to show it to the chemist this morning as it's getting more and more red.

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You need to put everything you had in that room clothingbwise into a hot wash. Your suitcase should not come into the house. Please look up how to deal with them because insecticide will only kill the live ones.

AChickenNamedDoris · 05/09/2026 20:23

My mum has had bed bugs in her house for around two years now. She's had countless professional treatments from a few different companies, she's had her beds and sofa steamed repeatedly, numerous chemical treatments and even a full house heat treatment. Shes still fighting a losing battle to eliminate every last one. Having done my research I know she's not alone either. Having Bedbugs is no joke and not something where you can just do a deep clean or spray around something you bought over the counter. Its expensive and they're extremely difficult to eliminate. The worse the infestation, the harder it is. You need to learn what they look like, where they hide, what signs to look for. The minute you see any signs, get a professional company in that specialises in Bedbugs. Don't waste time messing about with sprays etc, that won't help you.

Pallisers · 05/09/2026 20:48

I think you are safer presuming that you brought them back and acting accordingly rather than presuming you are reacting to bites from a couple of days ago. I hope it is the latter but if I were you I'd presume not just in case. They are way easier to get rid of if the infestation isn't established. I speak from bitter experience.

Daisychainsandglitter · 05/09/2026 22:44

YANBU this was a recent photo of me after staying in a premier plus room in a newer premier inn.

Daisychainsandglitter · 05/09/2026 22:49

Your bites do look bad OP. I hope you manage to get them sorted!!

Sozzler · 05/09/2026 23:26

Just a heads up, if you have home emergency cover as an add on to your home insurance, you may be able to claim the cost to get a specialist in. I am with LV and I know I am covered for pest infestations. I hope you start feeling better soon and have managed to get rid of the little critters before they made themselves at home in your house, This is always a big fear of mine whenever we stay in any hotel, not just budget ones.

Desmodici · Yesterday 07:23

I used to host foreign students, and one lot brought bed bugs with them - found the evidence when I was changing sheets.
As far as I could tell, they hadn't spread out of the spare room. I paid a local pest controller £70 (about seven years ago). He sprayed just that room and I had no further problems.

Deathinvegas · Yesterday 08:37

It might not be bed bugs it might be fleas. Do you know if the hotel allows dogs? Fleas would be much better as I don’t think they can breed on humans. Do you have pets?
If you have brought bed bugs home the best thing to do is get the council in they’ll treat your home at a reasonable price.

PeopleWatching17 · Yesterday 08:59

Imdunfer · 05/09/2026 15:26

It's definitely bites you can see the hole in the middle of them. I can't think what else it can have been, it was while I was asleep or I would have seen them and felt them.

I have a very over reactive immune system which may account for the initial redness, but they're infected now. I've started the antibiotics and it's strong stuff, 4 times a day on an empty stomach, so I expect that will get on top of it.

I’m no expert, but are you sure it’s bedbugs? They don’t look like bedbug bites. I’ve had them and the spots were smaller, closer together and more numerous, in patches. My skin reacts like yours has, to mosquitoes, horse flies and what some people call ‘mud wasps’ (!)
Good luck 🍀

OhJacintaWhatNow · Yesterday 09:07

My daughter squished a bug in her bed, then showed out to me. It looked like a bed bug so I brought it to the reception to show the manager. Unfortunately, I squished it even further and presented them with a brown smear. With a bit of nudging the smear turned vaguely insect like again, so despite not being able to definitively id it, they erred on the side of caution. We were moved to another room (we had only been in there an hour after we checked in), gave us £100 refund and a meal and drinks in the restaurant. This was despite me fussing that I couldn't be absolutely sure, and we just wanted a new room. They sealed the room on their system and called exterminators. This was a holiday inn express - they're budget, right?

It was handled perfectly and thankfully, it stopped my 12yo DD freaking out further as she was in a bit of a state 🙄😬

Original poster

Imdunfer · Yesterday 09:07

Pallisers · 05/09/2026 20:48

I think you are safer presuming that you brought them back and acting accordingly rather than presuming you are reacting to bites from a couple of days ago. I hope it is the latter but if I were you I'd presume not just in case. They are way easier to get rid of if the infestation isn't established. I speak from bitter experience.

What do you think I should do?

I didn't know the spots on my face were bug bites until others came up on my body, which was after of got home and after I'd unpacked my case. I thought I'd just had to much chocolate and to many crisps on holiday. The timing of my reaction is that if the first I saw were from the first night, then the others have appeared banned on the same timing for nights 2 to 4. Google suggests my reaction time is spot on, on intended.

I've sprayed everything I can think of.

I can hardly ring Rentokill, I can imagine the conversation.

Have you looked for eggs, larvae and adults on all your stuff? Yes.
Have you had any new bites since you got home? No

Well what do you need us for then?

It's pretty clear even from this thread that plenty of people are sleeping in hotel rooms with bed bugs in them and not taking them home.

I'm more worried about whether the antibiotics I'm on are strong enough. The main circles are a fair bit less angry red than they were, but this morning the pink around those really angry circles is spreading and slightly raised, so it looks like I've got cellulitis now.

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tsmainsqueeze · Yesterday 09:10

Imdunfer · 05/09/2026 08:09

I came back from a short stay in a budget hotel with bites all over me. Picture below (when it clears).

I only mention budget not because it wasn't clean, it was, but because I didn't spend much money and I'm not looking for compensation.

I've told the hotel but now I'm wondering if I should have told them I wanted some money back. I've already told them I don't, but what would you have done?

IABU. I should have asked for a hefty refund

IANBU Hotels everywhere are struggling with bed bug problems, it's not their fault.

Could they be flea bites ?
They tend to be in a cluster.

Original poster

Imdunfer · Yesterday 09:11

PeopleWatching17 · Yesterday 08:59

I’m no expert, but are you sure it’s bedbugs? They don’t look like bedbug bites. I’ve had them and the spots were smaller, closer together and more numerous, in patches. My skin reacts like yours has, to mosquitoes, horse flies and what some people call ‘mud wasps’ (!)
Good luck 🍀

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Yes. They look exactly like photographs of bed bug bites (I have other clusters closer together), including from others on this thread. Chemist thought they were bed bug bites. Nothing else fits the situation.

What do you think it might be, I can't think of anything else?

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Original poster

Imdunfer · Yesterday 09:12

tsmainsqueeze · Yesterday 09:10

Could they be flea bites ?
They tend to be in a cluster.

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The holes are way to big for flea bites and I've e never reacted like that to fleas (I have cats, so I know!).

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Original poster

Imdunfer · Yesterday 09:14

Sozzler · 05/09/2026 23:26

Just a heads up, if you have home emergency cover as an add on to your home insurance, you may be able to claim the cost to get a specialist in. I am with LV and I know I am covered for pest infestations. I hope you start feeling better soon and have managed to get rid of the little critters before they made themselves at home in your house, This is always a big fear of mine whenever we stay in any hotel, not just budget ones.

Good to know thank you. We do have emergency cover, well check it out if we end up needing it.

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Duchoftheterrace · Yesterday 09:14

whymadam · 05/09/2026 08:50

You get what you pay for. Lesson learned. Good luck, OP, you've got a big task ahead.

Daft comment and misleading. Bed bugs are travelling about on people's luggage all the time and they aren't discriminating about how clean the hotels are, or how much they cost.

OhJacintaWhatNow · Yesterday 09:15

I would draw a line in biro around the red and monitor it. If it is clearly spreading, you probably would need to contact the ooh GP- it might be a stronger antibiotics pill - or it might need an iv for 24hrs? They do like that line around it first though... MIL used to get cellulitis a lot, it sucks...

TheOnlyWayIsIlford · Yesterday 09:21

whymadam · 05/09/2026 08:50

You get what you pay for. Lesson learned. Good luck, OP, you've got a big task ahead.

Upmarket / expensive hotels get bed bugs too.

Original poster

Imdunfer · Yesterday 09:26

OhJacintaWhatNow · Yesterday 09:15

I would draw a line in biro around the red and monitor it. If it is clearly spreading, you probably would need to contact the ooh GP- it might be a stronger antibiotics pill - or it might need an iv for 24hrs? They do like that line around it first though... MIL used to get cellulitis a lot, it sucks...

I've already done that 😊

The angry red has reduced its colour. I've just looked up flucloxacillin and Google says that 24 hours in the bugs start dying and they release toxins which inflame the surrounding skin. That fits exactly with what's happening, but rest assured there are two pairs of eagle eyes watching and I'll be in A&E quicker than a rat up a drainpipe if it looks as if it's going out of control.

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whymadam · Yesterday 09:46

Duchoftheterrace · Yesterday 09:14

Daft comment and misleading. Bed bugs are travelling about on people's luggage all the time and they aren't discriminating about how clean the hotels are, or how much they cost.

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Not entirely daft - do the research. Older hotels, hostels, shelters, or other places not necessarily thoroughly tidied and deep cleaned on a regular basis give bedbugs a chance to gain a foothold and carry on undisturbed. Don't give 'em a chance to get established, because they are absolute buggers.