Holiday cottage- possible flea infestation

[SatsumaDog]

Second night in a holiday cottage. Woken in the night by insane itching on tops of feet,
ankles and lower legs. Had to take an oral antihistamine to sleep a few hours. This morning I had multiple bites to both legs/ankes/feet and a few on one arm. Probably around 20-25 in total. I have noticed very small jumpy insects landing on me and other family members since in multiple rooms. No one else has been bitten as badly as me.

Facts:—

• Cottage allows dogs, although asks they are not allowed in bedrooms.
• Rural location near the sea
• House has many housemartins nesting in the eaves
• Since arriving have done a couple of walks down to the sea via a short woodland path
• We are here for 2 weeks
• We have stayed in a this and other cottages owned by the same family over the years with no similar issues
• We love this area and will be very likely to return
• We do not intend to ask for money back or any kind of compensation
• Googling photos of bites, mine could be fleas but it’s hard to tell.

AIBU to inform the owner? Is this likely fleas or similar and if so, what could reasonably be done? Do fleas just go eventually (if indeed this is what they are) or does something have to be done about them? Will my life be a misery for 2 weeks if this is fleas? Could it just be sand flies or similar? Never had this issue before but the weather has been exceptionally warm.

I won’t be mentioning the area or the owner.
I have no desire to damage their business.

Ugh, poor you.

A flea infestation of that level will have taken a while to build up - the owners really should have been on top of it.

It is fair enough to expect a refund / compensation, OP, and doesn't have to mean you fall out with them.

Sympathies. I had a similar experience a few years ago in a certain Suffolk coastal town. It's one of the reasons why I tend to avoid 'dog friendly' accommodation.

In my family I'm always the one to get bitten by fleas or anything else around they must just like me, I think it's just if you get an allergic reaction to the bites some people don't react so hardly notice them. Just recovering from getting bitten by I know not what on the little finger and my whole hand was swollen up, up to the wrist.

Will you have to vacate for a day after pest control to let whatever it is they use disperse?

Please don't use the awful term 'cur'. He shouldn't say that. It's not the dog's fault that nobody treated it for fleas.

This is one of the reasons I will never book somewhere that allows pets.

Assertiveness isn’t aggression
You're dealing with a business - it’s a financial transaction. You can claim your money back and it won’t cause ‘a scene’ or mean you’re being ‘difficult’. It’s just a straightforward, normal, business conversation between provider and consumer / service and customer

Exactly this

I totally get not wanting to wreck a much-awaited family holiday, but unfortunately OP's has been largely wrecked, and while wobblies and tantrums aren't necessary a calm but assertive conversation about money may be wise

Unfortunately the property owner has taken a big risk allowing dogs at all, but whether their backs are financially against the wall or not really isn't the guests' problem. Also, since it's now the main summer season, I only hope the place will be thoroughly checked before anyone else suffers this, and that they won't just try to pass it off with "Ooooo we thought it was sorted"

A flea infestation of that level will have taken a while to build up - the owners really should have been on top of it

Edited to add I know nothing about the life cycle of fleas, @Tabarnak, but did wonder about this myself, and what it may mean about what other guests have encountered

"We are due to see the owner tomorrow. None of his other cottages are free this week so there’s nowhere else to move to."
The owner could/should offer to book you into a hotel if they were bothered.

He can use what language he wishes. Very few dogs read Mumsnet and even fewer understand subtle shades of meaning.

I’m a fairly laid back person but I would be absolutely raging about this OP - not just having your holiday ruined, but even more for having the worry of taking the problem back home with you.

I’m a dog person, and I get that fleas happen - but the owner absolutely needs to ramp up his response to this. I’m amazed he’s not worrying about you transferring to another cottage.

When you get home, call your local pest controller and have your car and everything in it treated.

Put a piece of plain white paper on the floor and look to see what jumps on, it's a really easy indicator.

Also @SatsumaDog- don’t under-estimate how much money it will take you to clear this issue if you are unlucky enough to transfer it home with you …

OP I hope you are now settled into your new, flea-free accommodation.

I have to agree with everyone who has said you have to see this in a more business like way - the owner, AFAIK, isn't family, you aren't there as a freebie. It's a business transaction, you are paying good money and your stay has been utterly ruined because what was offered wasn't fit for purpose.

If holiday lets allow dogs then they must be deep cleaned after each doggie stay, that's so basic. If the fleas have come from the House Martins that's worse! Either way the owner is offering accommodation that is currently unfit for habitation. You are entitled to a refund of your money at the very, very least.

The owner definitely owes you some money back for the inconvenience and for the cost of your antibiotics and any other lotions and potions you’ve had to buy due to the fleas.

The house has probably had them for ages but if mostly pet owners stay the fleas will go straight for the dogs and really leave owners alone and most pet owners would assume their pets flea defence has failed and get a new one form the vets rather than thinking it was the cottage.

Yet another reason I never book pet accommodation. Really the owner should be flea bombing the place between each quest and work the cost into the price.

Second the D earth get the food grade stuff it’s fine for humans but shreds fleas insides.

Grim, it sounds like it was totally infested if socks were that covered.

If you are concerned about taking them to the next house then have a google for home made flea traps and set up in the new house for the remaining time you are there to be on the safe side. The landlord should be sending traps to you via Amazon though at the earliest opportunity if they want to avoid taking out a second house. Sticky paper, small light, inexpensive.

Saucer of warm water with some washing up liquid so they get trapped in the water. Stick a small candle in the middle or if you have a small spot light shine it on the saucer. Leave overnight and see if anything lands.
But it sounds like you are totally allergic to [like me] so you'll be the earliest indicator probably.

You can definitely transfer fleas if you become the temporary host ie. there's no suitable cat or dog around in preference. Total BS that you can't. How many books have you read re olden times and there are references to fleas in clothes. I would take the opportunity to absolutely fry the washing machine in the new house this week and wash anything else as soon as you get home. Stick suitcases outside in a garage or shed and clean thoroughly before they come indoors. Most luggage isn't insect friendly though, it's not soft enough to lay eggs in.

Hope your birthday wasn't totally ruined in the end but I suspect it was. I think a birthday month is in order.