EXCLUSIVE – Our dream £4k holiday in the Caribbean was ruined by BED BUGS: Shocking photos reveal how NHS midwife and her partner were repeatedly bitten by pests while staying in luxury hotel
An NHS midwife on a dream holiday with her partner saw their holiday in the Caribbean ruined after bed bugs plagued their hotel for a week.
Stephanie Winfield, 33, and Carl Snowden, 39, flew to the Dominican Republic earlier this month for a two-week holiday worth £4,000 and were looking forward to sun, sea and cocktails.
But instead of an idyllic break, they had a nightmare when they had to change rooms three times at the supposedly five-star Riu Palace Bavaro hotel in Punta Cana.
Tiler Carl remained bedridden for three days after being covered in sores and unable to go on a field trip, forcing Stephanie to go alone, and even now, two weeks after returning home, he still has the scars.
At one point, Stephanie was also left locked in the bathroom after the handle fell off the door and a light fixture also fell from the ceiling, narrowly missing them.
Stephanie Winfield, 33, and Carl Snowden, 39, (pictured together) flew to the Dominican Republic for a £4,000 two-week holiday earlier this month and were looking forward to sun, sea and cocktails
But their vacation was ruined after bed bugs plagued their hotel for a week. Carl remained bedridden for three days after being covered in sores and unable to go on a field trip
“Carl got off worse with the bed bugs, he had them all over his arms and legs and even now he still has the scars and we’ve been back for over two weeks,” Stephanie said. His bites are depicted
At one point, Stephanie was also left locked in the bathroom after the handle fell off the door and a light fixture also fell from the ceiling, narrowly missing them. She’s in the picture with Carl
The couple was forced to spend more than 0 on creams and antibiotics to treat the bites after hotel staff shrugged off their complaints and handed them spray repellent.
While a mattress in a so-called ‘VIP room’ they were given was covered in ‘bodily fluids’ while the staff merely changed the sheets instead of the offending item.
Furious Stephanie, from Doncaster, told MailOnline: ‘It was supposed to be our first holiday together, we’ve only been seeing each other since December and it was ruined.
“It was my birthday there too, but it was awful because Carl was covered in bites and had so much cream on the bites that he didn’t want to go out because people were watching us.
“We spent $100 on creams and sprays and I doubt we’ll get that back – it wasn’t a chap holiday either, we paid £4,000 for the two of us and it was advertised as five star but it wasn’t worth more than two.
“Carl got off worse with the bed bugs, he had them all over his arms and legs and even now he still has the scars and we’ve been back for over two weeks.
‘We complained to the rep and they said we weren’t the first people to bring this up but the hotel and TUI were useless. I haven’t even had an answer from TUI.’
The couple’s first room had mold and rust in it, and they were then moved again, but the door handle fell off and the light cut off the ceiling.
The couple was forced to spend more than $100 on creams and antibiotics to treat the bites after hotel staff shrugged off their complaints and handed them spray repellent. During the journey, they are pictured together
Stephanie (pictured) told MailOnline: ‘It was my birthday there too but it was awful because Carl was covered in bites and had so much cream on the bites he didn’t want to go out because people were watching us’
The couple’s first room had mold and rust in it, and they were then moved again, but the door handle fell off and the light cut off the ceiling. Carl is pictured during the holidays
The couple (pictured) had a nightmare when they had to change rooms three times at the supposedly five-star Riu Palace Bavaro hotel in Punta Cana.
Stephanie said, ‘We went to the front desk with the handle and light and showed them and told them about the bed bugs, but they didn’t really do anything at first.
‘Only after we insisted they moved us to the third room which they said was a VIP room but the bed bugs were still there and body fluids were on the mattress.
“They just changed the sheets and gave us a can of RAID, but it didn’t really help. All in all it was a very disappointing holiday which was a real shame as we wanted it to be special.’
Stephanie was also critical of the flight from Britain, saying: ‘TUI didn’t really look after us – it was an eight hour flight and we were only served one drink, which is ridiculous.
“I’ve been all over the world and last year I went with Virgin and it was great, but this was a horrible experience.
“When I asked the crew if we could have another drink, they just laughed and said, ‘You’re not going to die,’ and never came back. How poor is that?
‘I have been in contact with TUI but have not heard anything and I will think carefully about calling on them again next holiday.
‘
Their horrible vacation came just days after another British couple staying at a TUI resort in the Dominican Republic complained about seeing a body on the floor and people having sex in the pool.
Alan Stevens spent £3,000 on his holiday with his wife at the Riu Republica Hotel and was later offered £200 in vouchers as compensation, which he labeled a ‘joke’.
Stephanie (pictured with Carl) said, “They just changed the sheets and gave us a can of RAID, but it didn’t really help. All in all it was a very disappointing holiday which was a real shame as we wanted it to be special.’
Stephanie was also critical of the flight from Britain, saying: ‘TUI didn’t really look after us – it was an eight hour flight and we were only served one drink, which is ridiculous
On TripAdvisor the hotel is rated ‘very good’ with four stars, but in recent days several visitors have left complaints about the condition of the rooms, with a lot of noticeable mold and dirty mattresses. Carl is pictured at the resort
On TripAdvisor the hotel is rated ‘very good’ with four stars, but in recent days several visitors have left complaints about the condition of the rooms, with a lot of noticeable mold and dirty mattresses.
A recent visitor named Ian wrote: ‘Avoid at all costs. Possibly one of the worst hotels I’ve ever stayed at. Dirty, unhygienic and outdated.
‘Check the mattresses, because most of them are filthy and covered in mould. The room stank of damp. I had to change rooms twice.
“The sheets had rust stains on them, a clear indication of bed bugs. They also carried bodily fluids. No blood and no urine, I might add.’
TUI has been contacted for comment.