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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to worry about cockroaches in the Canary Islands?

158 replies

RainbowBriteRules · 12/01/2019 20:18

Looking at all inclusive family holidays. They are all so expensive in the school holidays! Some good deals in the Canary Islands in particular Lanzarote and Tenerife. I’m not sure if I can do it though with the cockroaches. Google either tells me not to worry, I’ll hardly see any or that they are everywhere! Has anyone been and did you see lots? I have visions of being unable to sleep with them in our hotel room.

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Busybusybust · 12/01/2019 20:43

Saw one in Gran Canaria.

BringItOn88 · 12/01/2019 20:44

I was in Lanzarote last year and the old cockroach I saw was when we were packing to come home and one jumped out of my suitcase

RainbowBriteRules · 12/01/2019 20:44

August

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hammeringinmyhead · 12/01/2019 20:45

Found one in my pillow case in Lanzarote.

RainbowBriteRules · 12/01/2019 20:45

BringIt that is not reassuring Grin.

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Onwardsagain · 12/01/2019 20:45

Stayed in a cheap as chips apartment once in Tenerife and there were cockroaches everywhere. We sprayed so much insect repellent I started to hallucinate 🤪

I've however been back several times since in much nicer accommodation and can't remember seeing any.

Tartsamazeballs · 12/01/2019 20:47

We went to Lanzarote in may and didn't see any. Didn't see any in Tenerife when we went in 2012 either. As an aside Lanzarote is so boring there's naff all to do lol, go to Tenerife it's much nicer 😂

OneStepSideways · 12/01/2019 20:48

Some hotels you see lots others none at all. The more expensive hotels are more likely to be regularly fumigated and cleaned as they don't want to get bad reviews! The main thing is not to leave used sanitary towels/baby wipes/nappies in bathroom bins, it attracts them! And leave the bathroom light on at night as they don't like light. Also if there's an ammonia block in the plughole don't remove it, it deters them from coming out of the drains.

And most importantly don't step on them, as sometimes crushed ones release a swarm of baby ones that scuttle all over the floor (it happened to me! Not a sight you want to see at 4am!!)

Put bleach down the loo and keep it clean as they're attracted to traces of bodily fluids.

Also don't leave food/crumbs out.

Cockroaches are part of life in much of the world, you can't avoid them but you can take steps to minimise them.

Insecticides don't work so if a room is over-run with them ask to be moved!

If you switch the light on in the night and spot some, bang the wall/furniture and they will all disappear back into their hidey holes (usually in the wall cavity). Don't leave sweaty/dirty clothes on the floor.

They don't bite and they won't climb on you, they're not attracted to body heat, just bodily fluids on surfaces and food.

bobstersmum · 12/01/2019 20:51

Went to tenerife about 27 years ago las americas and I remember seeing absolutely loads, they were big too. Went to lanzarote and only saw one.

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 12/01/2019 20:54

I'm severely allergic to the fuckers.

Will be avoiding Tenerife from now on.

MissWimpyDimple · 12/01/2019 20:54

Yes. Just seen them in fuerteventura. Bit massive though and no issue.

Satsumaeater · 12/01/2019 20:56

I hate creepy crawly things. I've only been to Tenerife once and I am sure I would have remembered if there had been cockroaches. I'd not even realised the Canary Islands were known for them!

Maybe the north of the island (we stayed in Puerto de la Cruz) isn't as bad?

southnownorth · 12/01/2019 20:56

I have been to Gran Canaria and Lanzarote. Only seen one tiny one in Gran Canaria.

RainbowBriteRules · 12/01/2019 20:57

Ugh. DH and the kids really want to go but I just don’t think I can’t face it. Plus I know they wouldn’t bother DH but if we did see loads the kids would hate it.

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HildaZelda · 12/01/2019 20:58

I once had to share a shower with one in Majorca. He wouldn't get out, so I got in.

funmummy48 · 12/01/2019 20:58

I went to Tenerife last April. I saw one & it was dead. I've visited the Canaries several times and have never really noticed them, that's the only reason I remember seeing one in Tenerife. 😉

RainbowBriteRules · 12/01/2019 20:58

Sorry to anyone who I have just scared about their holiday in the Canaries!

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RainbowBriteRules · 12/01/2019 20:59

In Majorca? FFS that is also where we were looking. Maybe we should stay at home. Really don’t want to pay ££££s to spend my holiday with cockroaches.

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ManicUnicorn · 12/01/2019 21:00

Been to Tenerife loads of times, Adeje, Las America's and Los Cristianos and never saw one. Went to Lanzarote once and it was infested, you could hear them scurrying around in the dark at night.

Not sure why that is?

RainbowBriteRules · 12/01/2019 21:02

Skuttling Confused. At night Envy. Eeeek.

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ChiefClerkDrumknott · 12/01/2019 21:03

I went on a cruise around the Canaries and (separately) spent a week in Lanzarote with a day in Fuertoventura and never saw a single one! Both times were in March so perhaps seasonal? Did see some cool looking lizards and some amazing ravens though 😁

MooseBeTimeForSnow · 12/01/2019 21:04

Big oil tanker. Middle of the ocean. Turned on the galley (kitchen) lights in the middle of the night.

Cue a few of the buggers scuttling out of sight.

Not like I could run screaming for the hills ...

lotusbell · 12/01/2019 21:05

I went to Fuerteventura last August, didn't realise when we booked that the hotel didn't have AC. Bathroom had no windows, and roaches kept coming in through vents and plugs, I think. Meant we had to keep the bathroom door shut which wasn't great for ventilation. Didn't enjoy it really but they did only seem to come out at night.

sparepantsandtoothbrush · 12/01/2019 21:07

Been to Lanzarote 3 times and seen about 4 cockroaches. I think it would be daft not to book somewhere just in case! And as for there being nothing to do in Lanzarote...what?! Last time we went the kids were 9 and 11 and we were busy the whole 2 weeks

MrsSpenserGregson · 12/01/2019 21:07

I have been to the Tenerife twice, Gran Canaria once, and Lanzarote three times, most recently last year. I have never seen a single cockroach there.

Italy, on the other hand ..... millions of the fuckers.

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