Brits travelling to Spain urged to check hotel beds

Bed bugs spread easily and feed on human and animal blood (Image: Getty)

Following reports that Spain’s largest airport in Madrid, Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas, was fumigated last week for ticks, cockroaches, and bedbugs, both airport workers and some travellers have reportedly been bitten by these troublesome pests. Bed bugs spread easily by hitchhiking on luggage and clothing, moving between rooms or units, and can also be present on used furniture or in shared spaces like public transport, cinemas, gyms, and offices. These blood-sucking bugs can rapidly and often infest hotels by spreading between rooms through luggage, clothing, and shared furniture, making thorough room inspections massively important for travellers.

Aena, which manages Madrid-Barajas Airport, has denied any widespread bed bug infestation, stating that inspections found only limited insect presence and that ongoing cleaning and prevention measures are in place. Martin Seeley, the CEO and mattress expert at MattressNextDay, said: "If you believe you have brought bed bugs home from your holiday, it’s important to deal with the infestation straight away. These small, flat pip-like insects feed on human blood, leaving behind itchy bites and potentially triggering allergic reactions.

Make sure you check the hotel room for bed bugs when you first enter (Image: Getty)

"However, what many people are unaware of is that they’re able to survive for up to a year without feeding on any blood, making it easy for a single bed bug to quickly escalate into a full-blown infestation.

"What's more, female bed bugs lay 200-500 eggs over two months in batches of 10 to 50, allowing them to breed much quicker than you’d like to believe. The eggs themselves are sticky and can attach to furniture, clothing and other items, spreading them further too."

Martin’s top tips to avoid bringing bed bugs home from holidays start with inspecting your hotel room as soon as you arrive, the Mirror reported.

Check the mattress, bedding, headboard, and nearby areas for dark spots, rust-coloured stains, eggs, or live bed bugs before settling in.

Always keep your luggage off the bed to prevent bed bugs from crawling into your belongings. Avoid storing clothes in hotel drawers, instead, use wardrobes to reduce the risk of bed bugs getting into your garments.

Keeping your hotel room tidy and clutter-free is important because bed bugs thrive in messy environments. Be sure to keep clothes off the floor and store dirty laundry sealed in a bag.

Each morning, air out your mattress by pulling back the bedding to let it cool and dry, since bed bugs prefer warmer conditions.

Once home, unpack your suitcase on the floor, away from your bedroom to spot any stowaways more easily. Finally, wash and dry all clothes, including those you didn’t wear, on high heat, and thoroughly vacuum your luggage, paying special attention to seams and pockets, then dispose of the vacuum bag immediately.