A new study based on 12.9 million TripAdvisor reviews across 59 popular European destinations says Rome is Europe’s worst city for hotel bedbug complaints, and by a wide margin. The Italian capital logged 31.37 complaints about bedbugs and dirty mattresses per 1,000 reviews, the only city in the survey to pass 30.
The findings suggest the problem is not limited to budget lodging. Two more Italian cities also ranked among the top 10, Venice placed seventh with 12.66 complaints per 1,000 reviews, and Florence was ninth with 10.43. The report says the issue extends across hotel categories, including luxury properties, even as many high-end hotels still receive praise for cleanliness and service.
The research was conducted by mattress company MattressNextDay and cited reviews from TripAdvisor and traveler forums, including Rick Steves’ community. Travelers described waking up with hundreds of bites, finding live insects on bedding, and facing unhelpful hotel staff while trying to secure refunds and pay for medical and laundry costs. The study also notes that last year Paris dominated headlines over bedbugs, but Rome now ranks first in Europe.
MattressNextDay chief executive Martin Seely warned that the biggest mistake travelers make is putting their suitcase on the bed as soon as they enter a room. He advised keeping luggage off the floor and away from upholstered furniture, preferably on a luggage rack or in the bathtub, while quickly checking mattress seams, corners, and edges for dark spots or live insects. The study says a single undetected female bedbug can lay 200 to 500 eggs in two months, and travelers are urged to read recent reviews and check resources like TripAdvisor and the Global Bed Bug Registry before booking.
