I finally narrowed it down to a two apartments which fit my needs and budget! Before booking, I searched for as many reviews as I could find (SlowTrav, TripAdvisor, Fodors) and found only two reviews for Apartment #1, and none for Apartment #2.

For Apt #1, one review was pretty good . However, the other review complained about finding bedbugs. For us, this really eliminates Apt #1 as bedbugs can ruin the trip. We were really leaning on Apt #1 too! Apt #2 is not as nice AND we could not find any reviews for Apartment #2 - it could have bedbugs, you never know, but we don't know. We are taking a chance booking an apartment without reading any reviews.,

- Would you automatically rule out a good apartment because of one bad review, especially on bedbugs?
- Would you book an apartment without reading any reviews on it first?

First question: Yes

Second question: Depends. It may be relatively new to the rental market. Why not post a query on the usual sites including here to see if anyone knows the apartment? I received good feedback on a Paris apartment by doing that.

Which was the latest review for #1? If it's not the one with bedbugs then the bedbug problem has been solved. Assuming of course it was bedbugs in the first place and not some other form of insect life that was mistaken for bedbugs.

I'd never decide anything on the basis of TA reviews. And even less on the basis of there not being any.

TA is in business to make money by publishing tittle-tattle. The more absurd the lies its whingeing contributors invent, the more publicity it gets.

You've got no idea whether the "bedbugs" story was made up by a competitor, whether the complainant was just talking about a fly or whether a disgruntled customer invented them because she wasn't treated with the cringeing deference she thought herself entitled to.

In any case, bedbugs just aren't the subject of mass hysteria in Europe they seem to have become in the US.

<i>In any case, bedbugs just aren't the subject of mass hysteria in Europe they seem to have become in the US.</i>

Until you meet friends in Europe who have had bed bugs. You should have seen their reaction when I showed a rash that looked like bites on my arm and thought it might be bed bugs from the Turkish rug we purchased in Istanbul. They got bedbugs from using a first class couchette.

On the other hand, it may be that U.S. posters are little more worried about them than European posters on this forum.

I live and holiday in Europe....I've never heard anyone talk about bedbugs until I used this forum

The only connecting factor with all stories about bed bugs is "Americans"

Personally any mention of bed bugs makes me run for the hills. Could the reviewer be mistaken or could the review have been posted by a competitor? Perhaps, but why take the chance. Surely there are other apartments available?

Also I have taken to leaving my luggage in the bathroom and inspecting any room very carefully for any signs of bed bugs before I even begin to unpack. Paranoid? Maybe but bed bugs scare me more than just about any other insect, simply because if you take them back home with you, they are a pain in the neck to get rid of.

I would definitely stay away from an apartment with a reported history of bed bugs. As the last poster said, why take a chance?

One bad report buried among dozens of good ones, not such a cause for concern. As has been pointed out, some people have an experience that doesn't their expectations and they feel perfectly ok about making stuff up.

One bad report out of two, is a little more worrying. The place may be fine, but unless there is something special about it, why risk it?

The real problem with bed bugs is not that you might get a few bites, but the risk (admittedly small) that you might bring them home. They are extremely hard to kill, can survive up to six months without eating and the pesticide that is commonly used to get rid of them is a) toxic and b) not 100% effective.

From yesterday's SF Chronicle:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...MN6L1FMHRI.DTL

People generally do not admit to having bedbugs. I know that most of my daughter's friends do not know that she fought an infestation for more than a year. Our friends in Paris did not mention the fact either to their friends. If they spoke about it with us, it is because we raised a possibility that they dreaded--i.e. another infestation.

what I meant was that I've heard no-one who's been on holiday mention it, just as I know no-one who's been mugged

If I ever found bedbugs in my home the room would hve to be sealed off and a fumigator called in. This happened to a friend of mine when I stayed with her many years ago.
You first notice little dots of blood ( or bedbug faeces) on the sheets.
I have been told bedbugs love clean pastures and jump off the host onto new victims all the time. That is why our doctors and nurses are always finding them! Can't be avoided as the patients bring them in everyday.

To answer your question Kittycatangel - I would definitely alert the letting agent and ask if the problem was dealt with.

well, I would never rent an apt. that had only two reviews and one of them said it had bedbugs, assuming the review sounded believable. Why run the risk, there are plenty of apartments out there.

yes, I would book an apt without reading reviews, I've never read a review on any of the ones I have rented. Most apts don't have reviews about them.