ALERT: Irish holidaymakers warned of 'red flags' in hotel beds amid health fears

Irish holidaymakers are being told of little-known bedbug warning signs to look out for on their summer holidays.

The unwanted creepy crawlies could be going unnoticed, which is why bedroom experts from WinstonsBeds.com are sharing tell-tale signs.

Increased travel is one of the reasons more and more people are experiencing infestations at home.

Bedbugs cling on to clothing, luggage and furniture, and can be unknowingly bought into homes from elsewhere, so being aware of infestation signs ahead of summer travels is essential.

Hotels are a hotspot for bedbug activity, as the high volume of guests increases the risk of infestation.

While the pesky bugs are often found in beds, they can also infest sofas, blankets and carpets, so catching them early is important to keep them contained.

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Rebecca Swain from WinstonsBeds.com said: “Realising you have a bedbug infestation in your home can be quite scary, but what's even more terrifying is being infested by them and not even knowing about it.

“Hotels are particularly risky when it comes to spreading bedbug infestations, as the high volume of people coming in and out of the room increases the risk of spreading the critters, who can cling on to clothes and luggage.

“Some bedbug infestation signs can be easy to ignore, while others are more obvious. It is important to be aware of all of the tell-tale signs in order to tackle the infestation as early as possible and minimise the risk of spreading them around your home.

“Some of the common signs which indicate their presence include dark patches on the wall and blood spots on bed sheets.”

Here are signs of a bedbug infestation to look for when booking in to a hotel:

Red stains

Check your hotel bed for any red or rusty coloured stains. These are actually blood stains caused by bedbugs being squashed throughout the night. Though bedbugs are not always visible, these stains are a give away.

Dark spots

Dark spots may be visible in a hotel bed or along the walls. Surprisingly, bedbugs don’t just stay in fabrics and will often climb along walls, leaving marks along the way.

Eggs and eggshells

A more obvious sign of a bedbug infestation is spotting their eggs. They tend to be around 1mm in size and are usually a pale yellow colour.

Itchy skin

If you are waking up on holiday with itchy skin, it may be that there is an active infestation in the bed. Not all bite marks show up straight away, but unexplainable itching is a sign there may be critters around.

Bad smells

Bedbug infestations usually cause a musty odour, which comes from the bug’s scent glands. If you are smelling something unfamiliar, check the hotel bed and mattress for other signs of infestation.