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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:
Maddy70 · 13/08/2025 09:29

I live in Spain its hot. The battle with cockroaches is constant. If they have given you spray. Put some down any obvious cracks in bathroom and kitchen area before going to bed. And tell reception every time you see one , so they can come and get rid. They hate the light so if you can keep lights on in bathrooms they won't come

As for the dining room , it's hot .. perfectly normal.

Do as the Spanish do. Get yourself a fan 🪭 they are essential

MixedBananas · 13/08/2025 12:03

My Dad worked at a food factory in the UK and roaches were all up in that place. Roaches live in every continent expect the north pole and southern pole. So no it isn't just a foreign problem.

3 star is bad to me and I would have very low expectations. I stayed at a 5* self catering ppace in the indian ocean and we had men come twice in our stay to spray the entry ways and we still had 1 roach encounter and a handful of lizards in the rental. I didn't mind the geckos but the roach was massive and i was annoyed the Geckos didn't feast on it. But it is to be expected as roaches live everywhere despite deep cleans and spraying chemicals.

Sunbed hoggers why not stay in the UK and sunbath on the balcony or garden what a depressive "holiday" can't think of anything more depressing. Go abroad and see the culture the scenery go to local beaches and explore. Omg.

BooBooDoodle · 13/08/2025 13:49

We used to do AI in Spain. The resorts are really drab and run down and we found wherever we went, staff were rude and couldn’t be arsed. They were stinky and full of grubs. Sunbeds were always an issue. The last 6 years we’ve been coming to Turkey (here now). Slightly more expensive but so much better. 5*+ resorts. Cannot fault a single time we’ve been here and most resorts have waterparks on site and their own beaches. Don’t have to worry about sunbeds either. More than plenty around the 5 different pools they have and they have sun lawns full of them under palm trees. It’s worth the extra.

FlipFlopVibe · 13/08/2025 18:12

I will never go on holiday in July/August for this reason, it’s an absolute rip off for what you get. We go in May usually right at the start of the season, you can get some bargains.
This year as Easter was so late in April we went then, paid £2000 for family of 4, 5* ultra AI (a la carte dining, branded drinks etc) for 9 nights. It was fabulous!

whirlyhead · 13/08/2025 18:32

I live in Spain and hardly ever see any cockroaches but they are common I know - I’ve seen them in Malaga and Marbella scuttling around restaurant floors and in my hotel room in California once!

I probably see more rats here as my cats love rats… joyous…

Retiredearly61 · 13/08/2025 21:19

FlipFlopVibe · 13/08/2025 18:12

I will never go on holiday in July/August for this reason, it’s an absolute rip off for what you get. We go in May usually right at the start of the season, you can get some bargains.
This year as Easter was so late in April we went then, paid £2000 for family of 4, 5* ultra AI (a la carte dining, branded drinks etc) for 9 nights. It was fabulous!

Where did you go and what was the weather like so early please

FlipFlopVibe · 13/08/2025 21:25

Retiredearly61 · 13/08/2025 21:19

Where did you go and what was the weather like so early please

Show quote history

We went to Fethiye in Turkey, was mid 20’s every day from third week of April

HaggardyOldSkin · 13/08/2025 21:37

I did a “cheap” AI in canaries a couple of years ago. It was nothing compared to the 5 star places we have been to but it was clean and pleasant. No cockroaches in sight. The things that made it not as good as the five star was the much smaller selection of food, no gym or fitness room type thing, more basic hotel. It was brilliant though and I’d rate it just as highly as some of the supposed five star places as we paid a lot less but had a great time. Plus there was mini golf which is always a good thing.

Original poster
Bugsandbeds · 14/08/2025 11:28

Thanks for all your comments.....if it were up to me I'd holiday in the UK every year but DH wanted somewhere abroad, hot and AI and I can't have my way all the time!

As I said before, we definitely won't be doing it again or at the least will go 4*+ self catering or a villa ☺️

OP posts:
Petitchat · 14/08/2025 11:45

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 😂

My parents have lived in Southern Spain for years and have Spanish friends.

Apparently, cockroaches don't mean dirty or unclean over there, they're as common as our flies.

Did you know that at a certain time of year cockroaches can fly?
Also, If you chop one in half (as I did with a toilet brush) it runs off in separate directions because they have two hearts
😁
You can imagine my panic......

PrincessHoneysuckle · 14/08/2025 12:12

I only go to hotels with 4.5 or above on TA

FlipFlopVibe · 14/08/2025 18:39

Bugsandbeds · 14/08/2025 11:28

Thanks for all your comments.....if it were up to me I'd holiday in the UK every year but DH wanted somewhere abroad, hot and AI and I can't have my way all the time!

As I said before, we definitely won't be doing it again or at the least will go 4*+ self catering or a villa ☺️

Self catering is usually some of the poorer accommodation, instead look for a renowned chain with consistently good reviews. The Liberty hotels are excellent as are the Delphins, both chains are in Turkey. The standard is exceptionally high. Don’t write off AI, it’s a brilliant way to experience new foods and really feel like you are being spoilt on your holidays instead of either cooking yourself or constantly getting your purse out

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