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Original poster

Cockroaches and sunbed drama

62 replies

Bugsandbeds · 11/08/2025 23:37

I'm currently on holiday with DH, DS & DD, flying home tomorrow after 7 nights away in the Canary Islands.

We spent £2700 for 7 nights, all inclusive, X1 free child place, inclusive of luggage and transfers etc etc. The hotel is listed at 3.8/5 on TripAdvisor and 3* on the travel agents website. Within our budget and looked good based on reviews....always a bit of a mixed bag on TripAdvisor but generally ok.

Well, the dining area is as hot as hell so it's a case of eating 3 meals a day in discomfort unless you've got one of the 5 tables next to the outside window. Ended up eating quickly so we could just get out of there which wasn't an enjoyable experience (shame because the food was overall good and varied). There's been a red warning heat wave for the past 2 days but it was boiling in the dining room before then.

The first two days our room stank of sewage, DH complained and someone came and sprayed something into the air con vent and it improved but the room hasn't smelt the freshest. There's been tiny flies in the bathroom (I've since learnt that they are called sewer flies) and at least 3 or 4 cockroaches in the apartment every day either on the floor or back of the curtains 🤢....explains the massive tin of bug spray under the sink.

First day we got up and went down to the pool area for about half 9, not an available sun bed in sight!....it was like those awful stories you read of crazy Brits fighting over sunbeds. We soon learnt that people were getting up at 6am to put towels out and even sleeping down there to make sure staff didn't clear their towels away (as the signs suggested). On Sunday morning everyone's towels were removed from the sunbeds at 8am and there was hell on....people complaining to reception and the rep, going on about it all day! (DH ended up being one of those crazy Brits and getting up early to put towels out and then coming back to bed for an hour!).

The apartment has been cleaned by housekeeping, beds made up etc all but one day so can't complain about that. However, I've been terrified of waking up to a cockroach on my face the whole time! Our apartment is on the ground floor with a cracked drain cover outside the room and maintenance/service area nearby.

I think what I'm trying to say is I was naive thinking 3 would be OK? or can you never really guarantee anything good unless it's 4 plus. Surely we could expect a bug free room and enough sunbeds for everyone for nearly £3000?!?

Staff are lovely and clearly work very hard and long hours. The whole place is just very tired and needs updating.

Definitely won't be doing this type of AI again, which is a shame as my youngest has had a great time and thought the cockroaches were hilarious 😂

OP posts:
itsgettingweird · 12/08/2025 18:29

And yes I also go foe
hotels where sunbeds are locked up for the night. Although people just then queue for 2 hours and do the sunbed sprint 🤷‍♀️

indoorplantqueen · 12/08/2025 18:33

which canary island are you on? I’ve been to GC twice this year and never seen a cockroach.
the price you paid is cheap for 4 people. When we do AI I will only stay in 4/5 star hotels with at least 4.5 trip advisor reviews. If I can’t afford it then I wouldn’t book it.

Chinsupmeloves · 12/08/2025 18:33

That amount is sadly not at the top of prices for a guaranteed perfect holiday these days.

We've been away quite a few times AI at about same cost and there have been good and bad points. Overall, clean rooms, great food, clean pools, rarely cockroaches, amazing staff but yes hot eating areas, a bit rough around the edges.

However we just planed for any possible issues; hand fans in restaurants, insect repellent, ensure not ground floor, fill any obvious holes with sth and it's all been fine. Xx

NotHooray · 12/08/2025 19:01

We live in a Mediterranean country and the cockroaches are about whether cleanliness is impeccable or not sadly. I sympathise though as I absolutely hate them but have found if I plan ahead and make sure I spray the surrounds of any entry points every few days, we only get the odd one as opposed to when we first moved in and they were so rife they should have been paying rent.

Re no air con in the dining area, that's not great but if the restaurant is very open then I suppose there's not much they can do. The heat at the minute is no joke!

Bunchymcbunchface · 12/08/2025 19:34

Canaries are so overpriced for what they offer. Sorry you had a rubbish holiday.

SparklyGlitterballs · 12/08/2025 19:34

The Canaries are notorious for cockroaches and the roaches don't discriminate between 3 and 5, so I doubt it would have made a difference. Also, your floor level doesn't matter as they can fly. I remember getting in the shower one day in our 3rd floor apartment and when I opened my eyes (with hair all lathered up) there was one on the inside of the shower curtain. I ran naked and screaming out of that bathroom I can tell you! Subsequent visits we always kept windows shut at night and towels rolled up and stuffed at the bottom of doors to try and keep the buggers out, as they're mostly active at night. I haven't been back to the islands for several years now as I have a real dislike of roaches, and I haven't had a holiday where I haven't encountered them.

Mumoftwoandcats · 12/08/2025 19:44

In the Canaries, there are cockroaches in the cleanest of areas. It’s not like here, where they’re only found where it’s dirty. I sympathise though, as I absolutely hate them, so can feel your fear. What a shame you haven’t had the best holiday, you save up all year to spend a fortune and we hope it’s a relaxing time.

Putneydad7 · 12/08/2025 19:55

Bugsandbeds · 11/08/2025 23:37

I'm currently on holiday with DH, DS & DD, flying home tomorrow after 7 nights away in the Canary Islands.

We spent £2700 for 7 nights, all inclusive, X1 free child place, inclusive of luggage and transfers etc etc. The hotel is listed at 3.8/5 on TripAdvisor and 3* on the travel agents website. Within our budget and looked good based on reviews....always a bit of a mixed bag on TripAdvisor but generally ok.

Well, the dining area is as hot as hell so it's a case of eating 3 meals a day in discomfort unless you've got one of the 5 tables next to the outside window. Ended up eating quickly so we could just get out of there which wasn't an enjoyable experience (shame because the food was overall good and varied). There's been a red warning heat wave for the past 2 days but it was boiling in the dining room before then.

The first two days our room stank of sewage, DH complained and someone came and sprayed something into the air con vent and it improved but the room hasn't smelt the freshest. There's been tiny flies in the bathroom (I've since learnt that they are called sewer flies) and at least 3 or 4 cockroaches in the apartment every day either on the floor or back of the curtains 🤢....explains the massive tin of bug spray under the sink.

First day we got up and went down to the pool area for about half 9, not an available sun bed in sight!....it was like those awful stories you read of crazy Brits fighting over sunbeds. We soon learnt that people were getting up at 6am to put towels out and even sleeping down there to make sure staff didn't clear their towels away (as the signs suggested). On Sunday morning everyone's towels were removed from the sunbeds at 8am and there was hell on....people complaining to reception and the rep, going on about it all day! (DH ended up being one of those crazy Brits and getting up early to put towels out and then coming back to bed for an hour!).

The apartment has been cleaned by housekeeping, beds made up etc all but one day so can't complain about that. However, I've been terrified of waking up to a cockroach on my face the whole time! Our apartment is on the ground floor with a cracked drain cover outside the room and maintenance/service area nearby.

I think what I'm trying to say is I was naive thinking 3 would be OK? or can you never really guarantee anything good unless it's 4 plus. Surely we could expect a bug free room and enough sunbeds for everyone for nearly £3000?!?

Staff are lovely and clearly work very hard and long hours. The whole place is just very tired and needs updating.

Definitely won't be doing this type of AI again, which is a shame as my youngest has had a great time and thought the cockroaches were hilarious 😂

I'd go on skyscanner and price up 4 flights to Canary Islands in august and then deduct that from the amount you paid. You can then see how much money the hotel has to put you up for a week and feed you.

fetchacloth · 12/08/2025 20:00

I had this same problem years ago in Tenerife. I went to the local supermarket, bought a couple of bottles of thick bleach and blasted the plugholes with it and didn't see another cockroach or similar for the rest of the week.
I was in a self catering apartment which helped but as PP have said being on the ground floor doesn't help. It does seem that your accommodation has a serious sewerage issue though which I would report to the rep and the holiday company as that's unacceptable.

goingtotown · 12/08/2025 20:45

Avoid taking home cockroaches, inspect your luggage thoroughly, zips, pockets, seams, use a torch to find bugs or eggs. Keep your luggage closed.

Sunshineismyfavourite · 12/08/2025 20:53

3.8 on Trip Advisor would have been enough for me not to book. People are usually and generally honest, I have found, apart from a few moaners who'd complain about everything and anything!

Cockroaches are all over, we had one in a very fancy hotel room in Spain a few years ago so I don't think you're ever that far away from them in extreme heat unfortunately!

Sunbed wars is just typical again and to be expected. I think you got what you paid for tbh, under £3k for 4 people AI is pretty reasonable and you said the food was fine.

Unfortunate but not unsurprising really.

Either try to increase your budget next time or stay in a luxurious SC accommodation or room only hotel and eat out locally as much as you can afford to.

mrssunshinexxx · 12/08/2025 20:57

I’d rather not go than book 3 star. As you say it’s expansive so you don’t want it to be shit

Squishymallows · 12/08/2025 20:57

We went to the canaries end of march. 5 star, didn’t see a cockroach the whole trip. Sorry to sound like I’m showing off but honestly didn’t even know this was a thing here. Didn’t see one

Retiredearly61 · 12/08/2025 21:11

We go to Lanzarote often, 3 times last year, not seen a cockroach in the accommodation for years and years and we don’t book high end. I admit I ask for one floor up but we’ve had ground floor with no issues. What I do see often is stickers on the inside of apartment doors stating they had been fumigated and the company name. Good apartment blocks have insect/cockroach treatments regularly. I think the newer blocks also have the ultrasonic insect repellents built into their electrics. Whatever they are doing it’s working for us at least

SnowFrogJelly · 13/08/2025 01:14

SparklyGlitterballs · 12/08/2025 19:34

The Canaries are notorious for cockroaches and the roaches don't discriminate between 3 and 5, so I doubt it would have made a difference. Also, your floor level doesn't matter as they can fly. I remember getting in the shower one day in our 3rd floor apartment and when I opened my eyes (with hair all lathered up) there was one on the inside of the shower curtain. I ran naked and screaming out of that bathroom I can tell you! Subsequent visits we always kept windows shut at night and towels rolled up and stuffed at the bottom of doors to try and keep the buggers out, as they're mostly active at night. I haven't been back to the islands for several years now as I have a real dislike of roaches, and I haven't had a holiday where I haven't encountered them.

This is so weird I’ve been to the Canaries many times and never once seen one

leahnejade · 13/08/2025 04:19

I stayed in a lovely 2 bedroom new build villa air bnb in Lanzarote near the beach in Matagorda nr Puerto del Carmen with a pool, very clean.
But I was on the ground floor and at night the occasional cockroach (and quite a few other bugs) did appear. Basically I caught them in a glass with a postcard and put them out the front door. I know the people staying next door had the same issue.

The other villas had Spanish Lanzarote residents who lived there full time and had jobs locally so I should’ve tried to ask how they solve the problem.

We had stayed in another older villa nearby and only found a tiny gecko.
Plus stayed another time in a higher up the hill terraced villa - a cat got in the upper balcony door and jumped on me at 3am but no insects except tiny ants.
I just wonder if the new build villa had more ventilation or some flaw so insects could get in. But as the pool was the best I would still stay there again.

leahnejade · 13/08/2025 04:22

Sorry should’ve said the villa’s Spanish neighbours were quite friendly so I’m sure asking about how to avoid bugs would’ve been ok.

Original poster
Bugsandbeds · 13/08/2025 08:39

Retiredearly61 · 12/08/2025 17:19

Can you tell us the complex so we can avoid it

Bluebay in Costa Teguise, Lanzarote

(I now imagine some people will look it up and wonder what on earth I was thinking 😂😂😂)

We're home now, my DS (5) had the time of his life so not all was wasted 😜

OP posts:
itsgettingweird · 13/08/2025 08:46

I lived in the canaries and woke up one day to a huge crab on my patio.

I was grateful for the cockroaches and spiders after that one 😂

Original poster
Bugsandbeds · 13/08/2025 08:48

goingtotown · 12/08/2025 20:45

Avoid taking home cockroaches, inspect your luggage thoroughly, zips, pockets, seams, use a torch to find bugs or eggs. Keep your luggage closed.

Oh god.....I hope not! 😬

OP posts:
Original poster
Bugsandbeds · 13/08/2025 08:48

itsgettingweird · 13/08/2025 08:46

I lived in the canaries and woke up one day to a huge crab on my patio.

I was grateful for the cockroaches and spiders after that one 😂

Did you eat it? 🤣

OP posts:
spoonbillstretford · 13/08/2025 08:52

The only time I've seen cockroaches was in Tenerife, in a ground floor apartment. Dozens of them appearing in the evening. Was always checking my bed and shoes! I was only 20 then and we coped, and it was also very cheap so our expectations were low. I wouldn't tolerate it now.

Gallivant · 13/08/2025 08:57

3.8 on TripAdvisor? What were you thinking!

Gabbycat245 · 13/08/2025 09:17

I've been to Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. Saw loads of roaches in the latter (only on the street, not in the basic accomodation we had) but didn't realise it was a Canaries wide thing! It's totally put me off and I just hope Mallorca isn't the same 🤢

angelos02 · 13/08/2025 09:21

Looong time since I've been to a hotel abroad - just for the sunbed reserving nonsense. Villa all the way - much cheaper than you'd think.

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