Are we walking into a bed bug ambush?

[Kevin623]

Made a booking last week for about 7 nights in cosy-looking apartment in Kyoto for our trip next month. Then tonight, as I was doing some planning on what to bring for our trip, I revisited the listing to check on their amenities and saw a very alarming review from a guest who stayed there this month (the review was not there when I made my booking). which I have copy+pasted at the bottom of this post.

I have just sent the host (which appears to be a management company rather than the actual owner) a message to ask what's going on and am waiting on a reply. But in the meantime, what do you guys think I should do? The listing has a 'Strict' cancellation policy so with our booking still being several weeks out, if I cancel right now I would only get 50% back (minus the service fee too).

Thanks in advance.

"STEER CLEAR. PESTS. The place is located in an old apartment building with poor lighting and tiny elevator. A family of 4 with 3 luggages needed to take two trips. The listing is dusty and smaller than it appears in the airbnb photos. It is also noisy at night. Still, we would have stayed the full duration since we paid almost $2K USD for four nights. After the first night, my son who slept in the futon in the living room woke up with multiple insect bites on the exposed area of his skin: face, arms and neck. My husband sat briefly on that futon and also suffered insect bites. We contacted the host (ran by middle man company) and asked for an alternate accommodation. They said there were none. They gave us anti-itch cream and offered to spray the bed with insecticides. We cannot suffer this for another three night so we checked into a hotel. We visited the host's agency who work across the street from the listing and the manager apologized for out inconvenience and promised a refund. Upon our return to the US, airbnb informed us that the host will not refund as we cannot prove the insect bites are from the listing. I guess you better find the bugs and take a picture if you ever have this problem. I even offered to accept a 50% refund and host will not even entertain a partial refund. Airbnb tried to mediate the situation and offered a $170 refund. This is less than 10% of our 4 night stay. This is my first bad experience with airbnb and I will take much more care in choosing a listing from airbnb. I sincerely hope that no one else suffer our fate when vacationing"

[Sandra126]

fleas will do this too, ordinary dog and cat fleas. Unlikely though in accommodation which doesn't see pets. I suggest before you carry bags indoors to take off the sheets and check the seams of the futon for the little tell-tale specks which you will see if there is an insect infestation. Google it, and you will see what I mean. Should be quite simple. Personally I would do my best to stay elsewhere as the fact that they say they will ''clean properly'' and spray doesn't solve the issue. Check and double check all the folds and seams!

[Kevin623]

Exactly what I was thinking about the "spray" solution, Sandra! If all I was losing was the service fee I probably would cancel and find an alternative, but with their 'Strict' cancellation policy I'd be out 50% of our 7-night rental fee as well, and since we're not made out of money we might just have to take our chances. But we'll definitely check extra carefully the moment we check in on the first night.

[Sandra126]

Just realise Julia and I answered simultaneously, apologies for saying the same thing! The bugs themselves only appear at night as they feel the warmth of a human, but the spots will be there all the time.

[Kevin623]

Great minds think alike! We'll be arriving pretty late on our first night, probably around 7.30pm.....so the bugs will either be there to give us a warm welcome, or they won't 😃

[Sandra126]

I have also stayed in a bedbug place, NOT airbnb, in Bangkok late 1980s. I was bitten really thoroughly, so just to warrant that you have the proof, take pictures of a bare leg or something BEFORE you go to bed.  Just in case you have to raise proof and more proof. I'm sure you'll be fine, and it will be a great adventure!

[Karla128]

Agree with Kevin, and yes, if the owner has pets. It could be fleas. 

Right, almost forgot....   I was there last Apral .... was bitten by mosquito .... very very huge pink razed on my hand and legs, arms. It takes week to go away... after that, I Cary my mosquito devise..

life gets easier....lol....

[Kevin623]

As an update, we are into Day 5 of our stay in this AirBnb and I'm pleased (and relieved) to report that there are no signs of any pests/insects/bedbugs.

[Sarah977]

@Kevin623 How considerate of you to get back on here and give an update. There was a post on here the other day where a host said her guest saw two ladybugs on the windowsill, which he pointed out to host, the guest was totally freaked out about it and cancelled and left the next morning. Then he wrote a review saying the place was "full of bugs". 

So while it's definitely reasonable to be cautious and talk to the host about a concern before booking, all reviews can not always be believed.

Have a wonderful holiday.

[Lisa1129]

I had a similar situation in Galveston where the host listed a property but didn’t give an accurate picture of his place.  He only took pictures of the half wall up, the bathroom with seat down and shower curtain closed etc.  the bathtub was black from idk what?  The toilet seat was taped and the floors were dirty!  The sheets were filthy and stained.  We walked in and out but I’m penalized and not refunded the whole amount!  If Airbnb is going to compete with hotels, cx policy needs improving!

[Catherine827]

I always check the bed, and look to see if mattress protectors are in place. I like the idea to take a photo and email it to yourself straight away, for “currency - time stamping.” You could also take photos and have the date added into your image, but the email, legitimises the process. If you are very unhappy with the cleanliness of the space, to the point you believe it to be unhygienic,  also time stamp photos with an email. But also you travel with some itch cream or antihistamine, if acceptable through immigration & customs of the country.