Travel Influencer's Bedbug Nightmare at UK Hotel Sparks Outrage
This hapless traveler has encountered way more than just a few bumps in the road. Itchy, bleeding red welts across her arms, legs, chest and face are the unsightly parting gifts Hannah Stephenson, a UK content creator, claims to have received after patronizing a Travelodge hotel infested with bedbugs. “Stayed in this hotel for one night, woke up to itching and blood spots on the pillow, SAW the actual bugs,” Stephenson, 31, lamented online alongside images of her terribly bitten body. Stephenson shared shocking snapshots of her skin riddled with bedbug bites after a brief stay at a Travelodge hotel in the UK. TikTok/thecapetownblogThe redhead, garnering over 100,000 virtual views, went on to allege that the establishment, located on Newmarket Road in Cambridge, England, “has done NOTHING” to address her unyielding distress. “I’ve had to go to a family wedding like this, had to buy new clothes to cover the awful bites, been unable to sleep properly for weeks due to the constant itching, had a panic attack,” she captioned the trending post. “Idk @TravelodgeUK I don’t think this s- -t flies???????.” Travelodge UK did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for a comment. The budget hospitality brand did, however, tell the BBC, “We are deeply sorry for Ms Stephenson’s experience and how distressing an incident like this can be.” Reps for Travelodge UK have expressed empathy for Stephenson’s unfortunate situation, according to reports. Getty ImagesBut becoming a buffet for the itty bitty pests isn’t just an irksome bugaboo. Bedbugs, blood-feeding nocturnal ectoparasites, inhabit micro-environments, such as cracks in furniture, mattresses, curtains, carpets, wallpaper and electric outlets in high-traffic hubs like hospitals, homeless shelters and hotels worldwide. Sadly, America is not immune. A Walt Disney World visitor recently filed a lawsuit seeking $50,000, arguing he’d been “bitten numerous times” by the insects during a stay at its All-Star Sports Resort in Florida. On the opposite coast, Los Angeles, California, recently earned the tummy-churning title as the second-worst city for bedbugs in the US, trailing closely behind Chicago, Illinois, which secured the top dishonors.While the vermin’s bite is typically painless, the attacks often cause pruriginous skin lesions, and can trigger longterm ailments, per a recent study. “More severe manifestations include bullous lesions, regional lymphangitis, and secondary skin infections,” warned researchers. Some severe cutaneous lesions have shown signs of severe vasculitis similar to Churg-Strauss syndrome.”Victims of bedbugs can be forced to deal with a myriad of side effects, ranging from itchy bumps to trauma-induced mental illness. Adobe StockUnfortunately, the pangs aren’t just physical. “Associated sleep deprivation and psychological problems are frequent but underestimated,” continued the experts, noting rare occurrences of “chronic blood loss resulting in iron deficiency anemia, which seems associated with cognitive impairment, mental illness and substance abuse,” as well as “severe systemic allergic responses, leading to asthmatic reactions and anaphylaxis.”Stephenson has suffered with skin-crawling bumps from the bugs since July 26. The Brit opted to rent a room at the Travelodge rather than hoofing it back home after an evening out with friends. “It was just a lovely wholesome time of Cambridge sightseeing and pubs, and now it is tarnished by these bedbug bites,” Stephenson told the BBC. “It wasn’t until I saw the blood and the bugs that I realized what had happened.”An admittedly “self-conscious” Stephenson says the bites have precluded her from attending social events and enjoying normal life activities. TikTok/thecapetownblogThe blotchy, irritating lumps, which have spread to her face and caused swelling in her arms, continue to persist even after three weeks. “It’s been difficult. I’ve had to take a lot of antihistamines, which have made me quite drowsy. I’ve been waking up in the night itching,” she groaned. “I have felt very self-conscious. There are certain social events I haven’t gone to, as I was so embarrassed at the way my arms were looking and the way my face looked.”The globetrotter, who’s lived in Asia, Africa and South America, added, “I would never expect this in Cambridge of all places. I am just hoping these bites will go as soon as possible and I will look normal and get on with my life.”Stephenson initially felt “ignored” by Travelodge until she shared her disturbing visuals on the internet, garnering sympathy from social media strangers, commenting, “This is a NIGHTMARE!!,” and “You absolutely need to SUE for this.” Stephenson has reportedly accepted a sum in compensation funds from Travelodge. Stefan – stock.adobe.comThe eye-popping post presumably caught the attention of the hotel, too. Stephenson has since accepted roughly $2,700 (£2,000) in compensation from Travelodge. Still, she wouldn’t wish this ordeal on her “worst enemy,” and hopes the company boosts its cleaning and fumigating standards. A spokesperson for Travelodge said in a statement, “The safety of our customers is our priority; and we maintain stringent, expert-led measures to prevent and manage pest issues.”“In the rare instance that an issue is reported in one of our hotels, we immediately take affected and surrounding rooms out of service for inspection and treatment by independent pest control experts.”
