That time my cheap hostel in Barcelona gave me bed bugs and a week of regret

Honestly, I booked a 12 euro a night place in the Gothic Quarter thinking I was being smart with my money. Woke up on day 3 with bites all up my arms and back, and the owner just shrugged and said "it happens." Tbh, I spent the next 4 days washing everything in hot water at a laundromat and sleeping on a park bench near the beach. The hostel didn't even offer a refund, so I ended up paying more for laundry and emergency lodging than a decent hotel would've cost. Has anyone else dealt with a bad hostel booking and found a way to spot the signs before checking in?

2 comments

2 Comments

simon_coleman1mo ago

Check reviews specifically for bed bug mentions before booking anything.

rayy831mo ago

Learned this the HARD way after booking a "charming historic hotel" that turned out to be a historic home for bed bugs. Spent the whole trip scratching like a raccoon with fleas while my girlfriend gave me THAT look from across the room. Now I'm THAT guy scrolling through reviews at 2am looking for words like "rash" or "itching" because apparently I enjoy ruining my own vacations. The worst part is finding a 3 year old review that says "saw a bug" and STILL convincing myself it'll be fine this time. My travel routine is basically just anxiety with extra steps now.