In the big scheme of things, how serious is a bed bug problem ?
My wife and I were on a UK Coach holiday last week in Blackpool (ie contract with the coach company not the hotel). The hotel we selected was changed a few weeks before the holiday, we were unhappy but accepted rather than lose the holiday.
After 2 days I started getting red lumps on my arms, then they were all over my chest, back, toes etc. At the same time blood spots were appearing on the sheets on my wife's side of the bed. Finally I looked under the bed and found an insect trap, and then I found live and dead bed bugs. We have experience of these from 30+ years ago, and the nightmare has returned !

The hotel moved us straight away for the final night in another room, and we carefully packed all our luggage, left it packed, and didn't sleep at all, just laid on the bed itching. The hotel owner came across as really sincere, embarrassed etc, and we agreed to keep quiet about the problem. He said it had been 4 years since he had seen or heard of a bed bug. We gave him one and took a few photos.
On returning home I searched info on the internet, terrified we might have brought them home. One of the first search items was a report on the same hotel from August 2007. The manager had totally lied to us ! I was also incensed that the report I read on trip advisor about the August 2007 problem was answered by the deputy manager in a very "clever" fashion - saying that the hotel doesn't order in bed bugs, it is the guests that infect the hotel !

I rang Consumer Direct, now with over 40 red lumps, and they advised me to ring a personal injury lawyer, and I would be entitled to all my holiday costs returned plus a sum for my "injuries" and possible future problems if I have brought them home (which may well not show up for a year?).

I am not really compensation minded, but am really angry that I was made a fool of. There would have been a riot if I had told the other people on my coach party. I rang the owner of the coach company, who I have always found to be a very decent chap, and who I don't want to sue. He too was horrified and said he would get back to me the same day or first thing the next, after speaking with the hotel owner.
Three days later..... not a word !

Now I am really getting angry. I think he has bought himself time, I put off ringing Blackpool enviromental health, seeing my doctor, but I do have photos of my lumps which are now fading.

Should I leave it, see a solicitor, or put my complaints in writing. I don't believe the coach firm is a member of any trade organisation.