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Bed Bug Nightmare: Family's Holiday From Hell
31 Jul
Summary
- Man suffered over 120 severe bed bug bites during a resort vacation.
- Initial ant infestation led to family sleeping in car and bites.
- Resort offered apology and moved family after severe insect issues.
A planned holiday for a family from Oxford, U.K., devolved into a "holiday from hell" due to severe insect infestations. Upon arrival at Haven's Devon Cliffs Holiday Park on July 13, 2026, the family encountered an ant problem, leading to one night where the fiancée and children slept in the car. The following morning, the father woke to approximately 120 bed bug bites covering him from head to toe.
Relocated to a different caravan, the family found it to be in poor condition with stains and cobwebs. Their clothing, laundered by the resort due to bed bug concerns, was shrunk from high-heat washing. By July 15, 2026, the bites were so severe that medical attention was sought, with doctors confirming them as extreme bed bug bites and prescribing medication that made driving impossible, leaving the family stranded.
A spokesperson for the resort expressed deep apologies for the family's experience, stating immediate action was taken to relocate them and that an independent pest control specialist has since inspected and treated the affected caravan. Despite the resort offering extended accommodation free of charge, the family experienced significant distress, with the father describing a breakdown on the beach and expressing a strong desire to return home.
