to worry about cockroaches in the Canary Islands?

[RainbowBriteRules]

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.

[missxdivine]

We've been to Lanzarote loads of times, but last year was the only time we encountered cockroaches. Avoid Bluebay and you should be fine. They were pouring out of the walls

[Bloodybridget]

A couple of years ago I was waiting to speak to a receptionist at my GP practice and saw a large cockroach making its way across the floor in front of the desk. I told the staff (quietly) and a minute later a bloke came out dressed in a full hazard suit to deal with it - made me laugh!

[DropZoneOne]

Had one in my room in Kos last year, climbed into my empty wine glass. Also in a cheap hotel in London in the bath.

None in the Canaries though! I've been to Tenerife, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura about 10 times.

The Kos incident did make me rinse out drinks cups before going to bed.

[WhenISnappedAndFarted]

I went to Fuertaventura last year and didn’t see any, also been to Tenerife before and never saw any either

[ddodprob]

I’ve been to the canaries a good few tomes - and have seen them in3 to 5 hotels (assume it’s the same likelihood of seeing a spider in England). They are a thing and the flying ones are terrifying - but, and know this sounds weird, you do just get in with it- call reception and they rid

[Cherries101]

Scorpions too

[Torvi]

I've been going to lanzarote around 4 times a year for the last 10 years and have rarely seen any. Just had 3 weeks there over Christmas and didn't see a single one!

[FruitCider]

Cockroaches are just large bugs, I regularly step over them during meds rounds....

[ApolloandDaphne]

I am not long back from Tenerife. Didn't see a single one.

[jq28]

Ok iv been Tenerife for the last 3 years and I saw maybe one at night each time scuttling down the road.
I am a massive baby and I detest them but it wouldn't stop me going there again Iv never seen one in a hotel or room.

[madeyemoodysmum]

Tenerife in the 90s. Everywhere. In our room in the kitchen area. I slept with my sheet up to my neck. Awful!!

Never been back but it was a budget place as I was young.

[hennipenni]

Gran Caneria in the 90’s for our honeymoon, place was infested in them, in the bathroom, on the shower curtains, round the pool etc. You would walk on the paths at night and hear them crunch under your feet, at night you’d hear them flying and knocking against the window shutters, never had one in the bedroom though. My husband put his shoe on one night to go out and found one in there.

Spoke to the locals who said it was a bad year for them due the excessive heat that summer, they were coming down from the mountains.

Been to lanzarote a few times and only ever seen the odd one.

[camelfinger]

I agree that Las Americas in Tenerife in the 90s was cockroach city. The ones I’ve seen in the UK (hospital) are much smaller and slower so they don’t bother me.

[HeartsTrumpDiamonds]

The ones that fly REALLY freak me out.

[RollaCola84]

Fuertaventura every spring for the last ten years for us, never seen one.

[Imsosorryalan1]

I've been to Lanzarote or Tenerife in December for the last 10 years and can count on one hand the number I've seen. I've never seen any in hotels, restaurants or bars, the couple I've seen were at night on the pavement.

[Imsosorryalan1]

Saw more in Majorca last year, we revisited magaluf after a number of years and they were crawling all around our feet as we sat in a restaurant 🤮

[Mari50]

Have been to most of the Canary Islands over the years, have seen cockroaches in varying amounts. Fuerteventura was probably the worst but I’m sure they were clearing the drains or similar as there were literally hundreds (think something from I’m a celebrity) pouring out of the drains as we were walking to the beach.
Also had some in the room sneakily waiting behind the headboard on one holiday- spotted the feckers antennae!
Had a few in Gran Canaria as well, minimal in lanzarote and Tenerife. Just buy some spray or stand on them. Worst time was when I was in the shower and lifted my shampoo bottle to find an enormous cockroach underneath. That was awful because I was naked and felt especially vulnerable!! Haha but that was also in Australia where the spiders and snakes are more of a worry than the ‘roaches....

[Celticrose]

Been to Gran Canaria once and Lanzarote a few fair times. Have never seen a cockroach once. Did find a cricket once in my shoe but that was in Majorca I think.

[RainbowBriteRules]

Ewwwwww the thought of them crawling all around my feet.

Ontopofthesunset, honestly yes I rule out visiting most of the world because of insects, spiders etc. It’s not the only factor; I mean there are places I wouldn’t go because of their human rights issues etc.

[cloudtree]

Loads in Gran Canaria.

[Rosieandtwinkle]

First night in Lanzarote there was one crawling up the shower curtain.....whilst I was showering! Still shudder just thinking about it.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Saw none in Tenerife (though when we went it was late Oct)

Years ago we went to Cyprus and found one in the bathroom as soon as we went in the room, they are impossible to kill! I was afraid I was going to get them in my suitcase .

Once in Turkey there was scores of butterflies on the back of the curtain, I had to get them all out with a glass and beermat . No way could I sleep with them in my room (though they are much prettier than cockroaches !)

[RebelWitchFace]

I'm so sorry but your answer really made me giggle.
Image in my head :

Husband: right, affordable,lots for the kids, dates we want should i book?
OP: wait... I'm just googling the bug situation.
Husband: what?
OP: nope they have ants and spiders and mosquitoes and..(whispers) cockroaches. Let's look for something else.




Back in the real (I swear I'm not actually a dick) world.. it must suck to try and find something acceptable that doesn't have you worrying so much. Have you been to places you worried about? Did you manage to enjoy yourself in the end?
What I'm trying to figure out is if you'd truly enjoy the holiday or spend most of the time worrying, looking around and waiting for the other shoe (cockroach) to drop.

[BertrandRussell]

Just wondering what people’s attitude would be to a man who insisted in being carried over a path because a cockroach might touch his shoe.........