Bed Bug Report - cancel reservation?
 

I have reservations in June at the Arran House in London. Happened to notice someone on Trip Advisor reporting bed bugs. Most of the other recent reviews seem to be favorable; however, the room mentioned with the bed bugs is likely to be the one we would get based on our reservation.
Should I cancel? Suggestions?

ONE report out of how many describes "bed bugs?"

What was done about it?

Do we know, for certain, that is what it was?

How credible do you think that report is? A phone call might be worth the time and money if only to get the establishment's reaction to this first-hand.

And if that isn't to your liking I would start looking elsewhere.

When most reviews are favorable and one isn't I would ignore it. Maybe THEY brought the bugs.

Hello mama_mia, I am not discounting your concern about bed bugs and they certainly have become a problem worldwide from what I have read. However may I say a favorite SF hotel of mine on TripAdvisor had one poster stating the hotel had bedbugs. Friends who were going to meet me in SF and planned to stay at the same hotel read the TA post and of course were concerned.

Long story short, no bedbugs! I have no idea if the poster on TA had a grudge against the SF hotel or if they brought bedbugs into their room (and if they had I would think the bedbugs would have been in other rooms in the hotel which was not the case) or whatever.

I would contact the hotel to ask them about this..I sure wouldn't cancel due to one posters comments on Trip Advisor. Best regards.

I agree with Loveitaly, I'd also send that post and see what they say.

I'm wondering if the individual really saw a bedbug. "We saw one every morning when we woke up." To my recollection, on one of the TV news magazines it was reported that they are not visible in normal daylight, are nocturnal, they hide, and you never, ever, see just one. How many people know what a bedbug looks like?

I know if I saw just one, and was sure of what it was, I would be complaining like mad immediately and not just note a complaint on a comment card after a three night stay.

In that all the other reviews are overwhelmingly positive, I wouldn't worry about it.

The bedbug situation can be solved within 24 hours as soon as a hotel is advised that there is a problem. How old was the Trip Advisor report?

I had the same problem not too long ago but for a Paris hotel. After consulting this forum I decided to change hotels for peace of mind.

Hi MM,

Good advice above.

Call the hotel and tell them about the report.

"We saw one every morning when we woke up."..."We were not bitten, but non-the-less they were there".

Highly unlikely that they saw a single bed bug. They come in hordes.

Highly unlikely that it was a bed bug if they weren't bitten.

((I))

Yes, if there were bed-bugs, they'd have been bitten.
If they only saw one, it was probably a small beetle or something similar.
I suspect malice, myself. The owners must have annoyed them in some way.

True: if they weren't bitten, etc, it was not likely a bedbug. Famously, the first you know of bedbugs is the bite, then you have to go hunting to find them or their evidence. Of course, it's unpleasant to have bugs in the bed, but the average insect is not the problem a bedbug is.

False: A Bedbug situation can be cleared up in 24 hours. If the (reliable, I think) news stories I have seen recently are right, it can take a lot of perseverence and effort to erase bedbugs from a property - often including destroying furnishings ann carpets, etc.

I wonder if there is a London health department site or such that reports real occurrences? Did the poster mention whether they had filed a complaint officially, or only here?

IF you should encounter bedbugs anywhere, remember that you can bring them home with you, if you're in a truly infested place. How do we imagine the bugs arrive at a good hotel: it's in the baggage of a guest. And that's how they could end up in your house!

Thanks to all who replied. It was a recent post--the traveler had stayed in early March. I will bring the post to the hotel's attention and give them a chance to reply.

Regarding getting rid of bedbugs in 24 hours, generally if you remove the offending mattress and other upholstered items, use the toxic products and put in a new mattress, etc., the problem is often solved. Of course, if the entire building is afflicted, that's another problem.

A chance to reply? How? With <b>The Bedbug Letter</b>? (Google it.)

Well to shed more light on what seems to be a very potential problem on bedbugs in London hotels:

when i stayed in London in February 2007 the papers were talking about a bed bug infestation in some hotels - enough so that it made the news.

It said to look for little black spots on the frame when entering the room as this is a sign there could be bed bugs. Even upscdale Mayfair hotels were cited.

So in London to not have to say Let the Bed Bugs Bite exam the bed frame.

The infestation may have ended however but the OP apparently have reason to be cautious.

Generally, I treat stories I hear in the media, on tripadvisor, on fodors etc with some sceptism and don't rely on a single source without doing my own research to check it out.

I make an exception for bed bug stories. If I read a report from anyone that there has been a bedbug problem at a hotel, I don't go there. The report might have been incorrect, but I don't want to take the risk. Those critters are very difficult to get rid of - and I'm totally grossed out by the thought.

Having stated my &quot;exception to the be sceptical about reports&quot; rule, I am now about to make an exception to my exception. The posts here suggest that the story repoted about the Arran Hotel sounded somewhat inconsistent with a bedbug infestation. In the circumstances, I might still keep the reservation.

Posh London hotel faces lawsuit over bedbug attack - USATODAY.comA London hotel that counts itself among the world's most luxurious and prestigious ... The bed bug attack occurred as the couple was in London for an annual ...
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Bed Bugs || HotelChatterWe can't help but wonder--is this the newest bed bug trend? Luxury hotel infestations? Related Stories: · Exclusive London hotel sued over bedbug attack ...
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dukey says:Do we know, for certain, that is what it was? (re: bedbugs)...

Dukey, how would one have any question whether what they have is bedbugs or not? You must not have been watching the news reports and seeing the complaints about bedbugs recently. The bites are very obvious, and infestation causes many people to have to get rid of all their furniture, clothing, and even move from their apartments after they bring the bugs home with them from a trip. Staying in a hotel that had a bedbug infested room is NOT a chance I would ever suggest anyone should take. I certainly would not. When I check into a room, regardless of what kind of hotel it is, I always check for bedbugs before I even bring the bags inside. It is a very serious epidemic. Once you get bedbugs, it is nearly impossible to get rid of them -- they can lay dormant for a year without a blood meal. Then, when they get a live person or animal present, they become active again.

Kerouak said:Regarding getting rid of bedbugs in 24 hours, generally if you remove the offending mattress and other upholstered items, use the toxic products and put in a new mattress, etc., the problem is often solved. &gt;&gt;

that is absolutely incorrect. bedbugs also infest the seams of wooden furniture, picture frames, mirror frames, wall to wall carpeting edges. they get in everywhere, and will lay dormant without a blood meal for a year or more. getting rid of them is VERY DIFFICULT and takes a long time, and repeated treatments. it isn't just a matter of getting rid of the mattress and the fabric covered furniture. it involves EVERYTHING in the room that the bugs can hide in the cracks of. And they travel easily.

You CAN see them if you pick up the back of the headboard or look under the mattress in the seams.

You also have to beware of FLEA INFESTATION. You can bring FLEAS home in your luggage too. And also body lice can linger on bedding from a previous guest (that would be a hard one to explain to your wife if you are away on a business trip and bring body lice home because you sat on the blanket or bed spread! LOL! how many spouses would believe you got it that way! LOL!)

I was 18, I moved into an apartment on Beacon hill. I was going to buy a bed when my next door new neighbors introduced themslves, two young students who said they were getting a new bed and gave me one.Well they brought it into my apartment. I went crazy with itch for hours and saw nothing, so I went into the toilet put out the light, grabbed the bar of soap , put the light on, and wow! there were thes little red things swarming for cover. I expected one littl thing.
Imoved the bed and mattress at 3Am out on the curb and slept in the tub. The next morn I called the landlord and told him what happened and he brought in an exterminator. Luckily he said, I had very little furniture and no wallpaper or anything yet on my walls.

Unfortunately I've stayed in a place with bed-bugs (hostel in Belgium over 20 years ago). We NEVER saw the little buggers, but knew they were there because we woke up with little red bumps from the bites.

We had to stay there 2 nights. I didn't get any sleep the second night because I was swatting at any itch or perceived sensation on my skin all night long.

Mama-mia: Report back on what you find. I'd be interested to know, because I've stayed at Arran House before (back in 1996) and liked it a lot. I've often thought I might stay there again next time I go to London.

Backpacking thru India long ago - cheap hotel we woke up to find big huge black bugs covering the entire floor!

Rooster, to answer your question...I am sorry but I guess I am just stupid enough to think that the person who reported this probelm as being &quot;bedbugs&quot; might have been incorrect. But perhaps this was the only accurate report about that establishment on TripAdvisor.

Perhaps a lot of other people were bitten and didn't report it.

And I guess I should be skeptical of someone like the OP who is convinced that the room they are going to get is going to be the exact same one that was reported about.

I'm sorry if my judgement level doesn't meet expectations but that's the way I see it and my advice to the OP would not change.

Mama-if there is ANY city in Europe where I would expect to find bedbugs in the hotel rooms, it would be London-in my many decades of being in the UK, particularly England, I can tell you, good housekeeping is NOT their strong suit!

But bedbugs infestations are not caused by poor housekeeping. If someone brings them in, it doesn't matter how clean your rooms are; and hotels have hordes of new people coming in every day.

No, disagree. Because of the possibility of infestation, hotels have to be extra vigilant not to let a small problem become a larger one-there are telltale signs of bedbugs-small blood spots on the sheets, for example-a hotel has to then do what it needs to do-changing mattresses, getting rid of the bed coverings, etc., in order for the problem not to spread. England's hotel housekeeping (and Scotland's for that matter) leave MUCH to be desired.

An interesting site, although it may contribute to sleeplessness:

www.bedbugger.com

I have upcoming reservations at the Arran house, and I saw the tripadvisor review. I contacted the Arran myself, regarding my concerns. The manager immediately wrote back, saying they saw it too, and have throughly checked and have found no evidence. They called in the exterminators also. I also contacted the person who wrote the review, and she said they had no bites, until 9 days later! Maybe, the bugs came from some other place. I have seen no other reviews since regarding this troublesome problem, but will keep a keen eye on it before my trip there.

Are bed bugs that difficult to kill? I have encountered them a couple of times during my college years. I buy a conventional pest spray from the supermarket. Close the window and spray half the can in the room and spray everywhere. Close the door and try to stay out for most of the day. Get back in the room and hoover bed and any general area seem to have done the trick.

Don't know if someone else has thought this or made the comment, but I'm always suspicious that a single post with bad information (like bed bugs) comes from a competitor or the jilted mistress of the manager.

&gt;...or the jilted mistress of the manager.

Or the jilted toy boy.

((I))

England's hotel housekeeping (and Scotland's for that matter) leave MUCH to be desired.

Really?
I wonder how many hotels in England and Scotland that daft besom has actually visited.
In fact I wonder if he/she has ever visited the British Isles at all/

Take reports of bed bugs seriously, especially in London hotels. I stayed at a hotel in London in November, and, yes, there were bed bugs. They bit me and I did not know it. I was travelling alone and the bites were on my back. My husband noticed them when I got back.

However, the bugs are small, flat and get into everything, including your clothes, and they came home in my luggage. We had the exterminator in ASAP--$ 400.00 later and a new mattress and box spring ($ 1200.00)we have no more bugs...but we were lucky. In just the few hours I was home before the bites were discovered, many of the bugs had come free of the suitcase and got into the bed, box spring, several chairs etc. Thank goodness I felt too tired to unpack my clothes. I had just opened the cases to take out a few gifts. Once we dicovered the bugs, we immediatley put the bags, my purse, outter garments, shoes etc into trash bags and sealed them.

The exterminator found bugs in several locations..they can travel quite extensively. They only eat blood and food is not an attractant. It takes vigilence on the part of housekeeping to detect them and the honesty of the hotelier to admit there is a problem and close the rooms to use, remove bedding etc and have the place properly sprayed. The exterminator, who knew his stuff, said that most hotels used to routinely spray against bugs but have stopped-cost cutting, chemicals are bad syndrome etc. His company had many contracts for hotel spraying, but most have discontinued the practice...which has lead to the spread of bugs, lice, fleas etc. in general. The same spray will kill bed bugs and the other crawlies too.

24hrs will not get rid of the bugs, it may be necessary to remove a great deal of furniture and personal belongings. The inside of closets, bureaus, nightstands need to be emptied so they can be sprayed. Only extreme heat or freezing will kill them, besides the chemicals. I bwashed countless loads of clothes and bedding in boiling hot water-a lot of clothes did not survive the boil. I had to freeze my stuffed animals for a month to kill any bugs or eggs (and were they mad!)

I say all this just to stress, unconfirmed-possible false report or not etc- the price you'd pay if the hotel DID have bugs is not worth it. London is having a bed bug problem and the likelihood is good that the poster was correct. Bites after nine days at home may be the result of bugs brought home in the luggage....oh, did I mention we had to have the car sprayed, too. He picked me up at the airport...

Pandajudy (My stuffed Panda ended up the the freezer, and he's just beginning to speak to me!)

Well. I can see why your stuffed panda is having a slow time thawing up to your relationship.