Nicola Stone, 20, was unable to hold hands with her partner due to severity of the painful bites
BY MARK HODGE 23rd January 2017, 1:50 pm
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/2684600/brit-couples-romantic-getaway-to-portugal-ruined-as-bed-bug-infestation-in-bloodstained-sheets-leaves-woman-covered-in-itchy-bites/
A YOUNG British couple’s romantic holiday was ruined by flesh-eating bed bugs.
Nicola Stone, 20, was bitten from head to toe by the menacing mites leaving her with itchy and painful bites during her ten-day break to Lisbon.
Nicola was covered in dozens of itchy and painful bug bites DAILY RECORD
Nicola was covered in dozens of itchy and painful bug bites
The bed bug infestation ruined her holiday with her partner Jerry DAILY RECORD
The bed bug infestation ruined her holiday with her partner Jerry
The torturous sores left the tourist, from South Queensferry near Edinburgh, unable to hold her partner Jerry’s hand while touring the sights in the Portuguese capital.
After two nights at the Hello Lisbon Santos Apartments, Nicola developed a “pin prick” on her arm which she ignored.
But the following morning she woke up with the aching bites and a bed covered in blood and bug poo.
She described the bites as “itchy, painful and hot”.
Speaking with the Daily Record, she said: “It was only after we saw the chemist that we realised little black dots which kept appearing on the sheets was bed bug excrement.
“There was also blood on the sheets which they had dripped as they walked around the bed.
“We decided to check Tripadvisor to see if it had happened before. A guy who had been there a few weeks before us had the same problem.”
The 20-year-old also revealed that when she lifted the mattress she found several dried out bug skeletons.
After alerting staff, they were moved room and had their clothes washed.
But the damage was already done.
Nicola was forced to sight-see in long-sleeved tops and couldn’t wear flip flops as her feet were so badly bitten.
The 20-year-old woke with the aching sores and found blood and bug poo on her bed
She was also unable told hold Jerry’s hand because of the excruciating sores.
Nicola’s itching kept her tossing and turning meaning the pair struggled to get a good night’s sleep for the rest of the holiday.
Upon their return they received a refund of £549 through booking agent Lastminute.com after contacting Citizens Advice.
A Hello Lisbon spokesman said: “There was a problem identified in one of our properties. The property is closed until the end of the month to solve the situation without causing harm to more guests.
“Besides the refund, when the problem was reported to us, the guests were immediately accommodated in other property of Hello Lisbon.”
Lastminute.com’s spokeswoman said: “The experience and the safety of our customers is our number one priority. We regret the impact this has had on Ms Stone’s holiday.”
