I finally stopped booking hostels without reading recent reviews

Got stuck in a place in Barcelona last month that had bed bugs. The listing photos were fine, old reviews were good. But the last 3 reviews all mentioned the bugs. I just didn't scroll down. Wasted a full day dealing with it, moving hostels, washing everything. Cost me $40 extra. Now I sort reviews by newest every time no matter what.

2 comments

2 Comments

janab8221d agoMost Upvoted

Ugh that's brutal, bed bugs are literally my worst nightmare when traveling. I totally feel your pain on wasting a whole day and extra cash, it's such a gut punch when you think you've booked a decent spot. I started doing the same thing after a nightmare hostel in Prague, never again.

jesse_nguyen21d agoMost Upvoted

@janab82 Yeah, that hostel in Prague sounds like a total nightmare (and not the fun kind). What ended up working for me was starting to bring a small flashlight and checking the mattress seams and headboard before I even put my bags down. Also, I invested in a cheap fabric steamer (like $30) that I use on the bed frame and luggage rack as soon as I check in - kills bed bugs and their eggs instantly with the heat. It feels a bit over-the-top, but after one bad experience in a hotel in Barcelona I never want to go through that again. And always keep your luggage on a metal rack, never on the floor or bed, because those little guys can't climb metal. Hope you never have to deal with that again either, seriously wipes out your whole trip vibe.