Travelodge have apologised after a travel blogger was bitten 'more than 100 times' by bedbugs.
Hannah Stephenson stayed at the Newmarket Road branch of Travelodge in Cambridge on July 26 after a day out with a friend.
The 31-year-old said she woke up the following day feeling itchy before discovering her arms were covered in red spots.
After investigating her bedding, Hannah said she spotted blood stains and black dots on her pillow before discovering bed bugs crawling in the bedding.
Horrified, Hannah counted 37 bites on her left hand, with more appearing across her arms, chest, back, face and legs throughout the day.
Hannah reported the issue to reception but said she was simply told to contact customer services by email and was assured the hotel room wouldn't be let again that night.
After calling 111, Hannah was advised to visit a pharmacy where she was given steroid cream and antihistamines to tackle the bites.
Hannah posted photos of her bites online, in a video that racked up more than 76,000 views.
Although the bites have begun to heal she said they remain visible and now look like chickenpox marks.
Travelodge said instances of bed bugs are 'extremely rare' and that housekeeping colleagues are trained to inspect rooms and spot early signs during routine cleaning.
The chain confirmed there were bedbugs present in Hannah's room and said they are retraining the housekeeping team at this hotel.
Travelodge have apologised to Hannah for the 'distressing' incident and claim they have 'resolved the matter to her satisfaction'.
Hannah, from Bassingbourn, Cambridgeshire, said: "I woke up feeling itchy and I started to have lumps forming on my arms.
"When I got up, I saw spots of blood on the pillow and black dots. I looked closer and I actually saw a bug on the pillow.
"I checked the bedding and they were more in the bedding. As the day went on more and more bites started to emerge.
"I counted 37 on my left hand alone but they are too many to count, definitely more than 100, they're really itchy.
"I was horrified and shocked. I didn't expect it from a Travelodge, I always thought they are pretty reliable.
"I went down to the front desk to check out. I told them and the guy said they wouldn't let out the room again that night and told me to email customer services.
"I got a response back saying they will do an investigation, which can last five to eight days.
"By the end of the week I was frustrated. I hadn't heard anything and wasn't even offered a refund for my stay.
"I wanted to give them a chance to sort it out and a week later I made the video.
"I'd like an apology and some compensation because it has caused me a lot of distress. The swelling has gone down. Now it looks like I have chicken pox."
Forced to cover the bite marks with foundation while attending her cousin's wedding on August 5, Hannah said she also had to change outfits and wear a dress with long sleeves.
Hannah said: "I feel really embarrassed, it's summer so it's not easy to cover them up. I wear long sleeve tops to cover the worst of it.
"I felt really embarrassed going to a wedding. They're on my hands, which are hard to cover up, I feel very self-conscious. People are going to think I'm dirty or something.
"I don't usually wear foundation but I went to buy one to cover up for the wedding, I couldn't wear my original outfit which had no sleeves.
"I was always worrying that someone was going to notice my hands. They have improved but they still look really bad.
"People have been horrified, they've said I look like I have a disease. Everyone is saying how bad it looks.
Shocked, Hannah said she didn't expect to get bitten at Travelodge after having travelled around the world without an issue.
Hannah said: "I don't think I'll ever stay at a Travelodge again.
"I want to avoid hotels as much as possible but I can't do that forever. I will always check reviews very closely before I stay anywhere.
"Even after a week I am sitting here scratching now. I've travelled everywhere, Africa, South Asia, and I got it in my home town.
"I use steroid cream twice a day and take scalding hot showers."
A Travelodge spokesperson said: "We are deeply sorry for Ms Stephenson's experience and recognise how distressing an incident like this can be.
"The safety of our customers is our priority and we maintain stringent, expert-led measures to prevent and manage pest issues, including training our housekeeping colleagues to be vigilant and to spot early signs wherever possible.
"Bed bug activity affects the wider hospitality sector and is completely unrelated to hygiene or cleanliness standards.
"In the rare instance that an issue is reported in one of our hotels, we immediately take affected and surrounding
rooms out of service for inspection and treatment by independent pest control experts.
"We have apologised directly to Ms Stephenson and resolved the matter to her satisfaction."
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