155 BEDBUGS BITES
BEDBUGS, 155 bites = bitten by at least 30 bugs
Both booking.com and the hotel are hiding, though admitted claims. Medical records exist.
While staying at Blue Istanbul Hotel 1st – 4th June, 2025, I fell victim to bedbugs. 155 bites translates bitten by at least 30 bugs – this is excessive and this means the hotel is heavily infected and severely neglecting their duties to keep place clean and healthy. In my country, a thorough examination would follow and probably the permit of the hotel would be suspended immediately – owner and manager(s) may be forbidden to practice hotel-management in future. Now I have to take medication for over two weeks, avoid sun and much water – and I have to put another, ongoing medical treatment on hold because of this.
More details:
- Upon returning home on 5th June, I contacted booking – they informed the hotel too
- No response from hotel – this is telling
- booking.com admits my complaint and offers voucher, which is just worth of my time I wasted on the first medical visit (no medication, no doctor fee included!): EUR 35. Or for medication I paid this amount alone. I made a fair and detailed calculation – lower than on recommendation by a travel legal and insurance advisor, he put compensation claim at EUR 250 to 400.
- Due to the bedbug bites, I had to cancel other medical treatments on 6th, 10th, 12th June (proofs, documented)
- In addition, there is a list of problems with the hotel – my score would be 5/10 without the bedbug health hazard
- The hotel has a 8.7/10 (87%) rating currently on booking.com, on Google 3.2/5 (64%) currently–
In many European countries the hotel would be closed by now (temporary), and fined at least EUR 2000, and hotel would face now a lawsuit. Hotel manager counterattacks with accusations - typical, and cannot support his arguments.
Upon returning home I certainly reported the hotel at the relevant Turkish authorities (not one), which I would do anywhere in Europe in such a case, as you are a hotspot for epidemy. The fact that they have not come back to me until now (three weeks) is very much telling of them and Turkey. A member of the Turkish consulate scolded me angrily that 155 bites is normal anywhere, even in Europe! NO, it is not! (Phone recording is available, dear Turkish consulate staff.) In Europe things may work a bit differently. Finally, I am considering to share the story with several media outlets in Europe. 1-2 bites tolerable, but 155 is excessive.