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Are these bedbug bites?

12 replies

Shittybedbugs · 28/07/2026 16:25

We are in France, we stayed in Normandy and were fine.

On Saturday nigh we arrived arrived at our next accommodation a place I call Shithole, in Arzon, Brittany. It jas great reviews, all 10, but very few, considering it is always booked up.

Walked in and it stunk. DD went up to het bedroom and it was covered in mould - on the ceiling, top of the walls, behind yhe bedside table, tops of doors, skirting boards and in the closet.

Our room had been freshly painted - but there was mould on the skirting boards.

I found opened bread and chocolate in the kitchen cupboard, also a bag of shopping- whisky, pasta, olive oil, etc, abandoned.

Then I noticed the smoke alarm mounting was there, nut no smoke alarm. By this time DD was crying, saying she couldn't sleep in her room for six nights.

DH contacted Booking.com, the chat agent said they were trying to contact the host. By this time it was 1am.

DH tried to find somewhere and we found a place we could move into the next morning.

It got worse - the toilet and stair lights were hanging on their wires, there was filth EVERYWHERE, cobwebs EVERYWHERE. Mould around front and back doors.

We had no alternative other than dleep in the car which we SHOULD have done.

We were told bed linen was provided, but there was a note saying the bed covers were for decoration only and for 'hygiene ' reasons we needed our own bedding.

We decided to sleep in our clothes, on our towels on top of the bed. Dd slept in her clothes, on a towel, on the sofa. I refused to let our cases upstairs.

I bagged all our clothes and the towels, in a black plastic, bin bag (DH thought me ridiculous), and washed it and tumble dried it in the new place.

We all got showers, and DH noticed some bites. Over the next day the little ones grew HUGE. HE IS COVERED - chest,, back, arms and legs - he is the ONLY one who slept without clothes - just boxers.

I am really hoping someone tells they are not bedbugs. They have little blisters and itch like mad

Are these bedbug bites?
Are these bedbug bites?
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Shittybedbugs · 28/07/2026 16:48

Anyone?

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Shittybedbugs · 28/07/2026 18:20

Anyone at all?

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Grapefruitsofwrath · 28/07/2026 18:22

Bedbugs bite in a straight line

Gerbills · 28/07/2026 18:28

You can’t know what bites are for sure but at least you haven’t taken them home with you. Err on the side of caution - cases straight in a freezer if you have one big enough. If not, throw the cases away, clothes straight in plastic bags and into a very hot wash. If the clothes are cheap primary style things you’ve just got for your holidays I’d be tempted to just throw the lot.

Get your husband to strip down to his boxers when you get home and go in for plastic bags, then get straight into a shower. Then the rest of you strip and put clothes straight into the plastic bags as soon as you’re into the house. Put everything in a very hot wash and then shower yourselves. You do not want them in your home.

Gerbills · 28/07/2026 18:30

It could be fleas or an allergy too, but better safe than sorry.

VideoVox · 28/07/2026 21:55

Those don’t look like bed bug bites. They tend to be in a line of 2 to 4 and only an inch or so apart. I’d say more likely mosquitoes or similar. Could also be fleas.

Shittybedbugs · 29/07/2026 09:26

VideoVox · 28/07/2026 21:55

Those don’t look like bed bug bites. They tend to be in a line of 2 to 4 and only an inch or so apart. I’d say more likely mosquitoes or similar. Could also be fleas.

They are in lines and there are no solitary ones, too many to photograph but examples below.

I really hope they are not bedbugs though.

Are these bedbug bites?
Are these bedbug bites?
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Shittybedbugs · 29/07/2026 09:28

Gerbills · 28/07/2026 18:28

You can’t know what bites are for sure but at least you haven’t taken them home with you. Err on the side of caution - cases straight in a freezer if you have one big enough. If not, throw the cases away, clothes straight in plastic bags and into a very hot wash. If the clothes are cheap primary style things you’ve just got for your holidays I’d be tempted to just throw the lot.

Get your husband to strip down to his boxers when you get home and go in for plastic bags, then get straight into a shower. Then the rest of you strip and put clothes straight into the plastic bags as soon as you’re into the house. Put everything in a very hot wash and then shower yourselves. You do not want them in your home.

Edited

I quarantined everything we wore and washed it on hot, then tumble dried it a few times. We all showered as soon as we arrived where we are now, as the place was so smelly, that we wanted to get the stench off if us.

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Shittybedbugs · 29/07/2026 09:39

The ones in previous photos are on the back, these are his tummy.

Are these bedbug bites?
Are these bedbug bites?
Are these bedbug bites?
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VideoVox · 29/07/2026 09:41

Those recent pics do look more bed-buggy. I think you’ll be fine as you’ve been so careful with washing everything.

I have the misfortune of encountering bed bugs a few times in the past (young, backpacking). Even though I was clueless about not spreading them they never came with me.

WeeDote · 29/07/2026 10:00

They look more like flea bites to me, I react to them like that too and have had them in lines before

Shittybedbugs · 29/07/2026 14:49

Thanks all, we didn't see fleas there, I am usually a magnet for them. No fresh ones, they only occurred after that one night.

Trying to fight Booking.com, but seems a futile task (not for the bites as no proof they occured there). The mould, eaten food, dodgy electrics, etc mean it was unsafe to stay.

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