According to a new study by the British company MattressNextDay, several of Europe’s most popular tourist destinations record a high number of complaints about bed bugs, dirty beds, and poor sleeping conditions in accommodation.
The study, whose results were published by the Daily Mail, analysed 12.9 million hotel reviews on TripAdvisor across 59 popular European destinations. The aim was to identify cities and tourist areas where visitors most frequently report issues related to bed cleanliness and bed bug infestations.
Rome at the top
At the top of the ranking is Rome, with 31.37 complaints per 1,000 reviews, making it the worst-performing destination in the study.
Particularly noteworthy is Greece’s strong presence in the top three.
According to the research, Kavos in Corfu ranks second with 19.05 complaints per 1,000 reviews, while Athens follows in third place with 18.96 complaints per 1,000 reviews.
The top 10 also includes some of Europe’s most popular city-break destinations, such as Amsterdam, Paris, and Brussels.
Top 10 destinations with the most complaints about bed bugs and dirty beds
- Rome, Italy
- Kavos (Corfu), Greece
- Athens, Greece
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Paris, France
- Brussels, Belgium
- Venice, Italy
- Budapest, Hungary
- Florence, Italy
- Bucharest, Romania
What travellers should watch out for
MattressNextDay CEO Martin Seeley warns that even a single bed bug can lead to a larger infestation at home, as they can easily hide in clothes, luggage, and fabric items.
Experts advise travellers to carefully inspect mattresses—especially seams and labels—as well as bed frames, headboards, and nearby furniture.
Signs such as small dark spots, stains, shed skins, or clusters of eggs may indicate the presence of bed bugs.
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