terrible bed bug infestation at Fauzi Azar Inn, Nazareth, Israel

A lot of positive things can be said about the hostel, for me, however, all of them are outweighed by the fact that at least one of the dorms had a terrible infestation of bed bugs when I was there. Admittedly, staff made an effort to take care of the problem as soon as possible. They also paid to have our clothes laundered and reimbursed our money. I do not wish to discredit anyone and I believe that a case of bed bugs can happen to any hostel, but the infestation was so bad that I'm sure it must have gone on for weeks. I obtained 150+ bites in one night, one other fellow couldn't sleep at all due to the bugs. To make matters, worse the manager was really rude about it and kept insisting that it was one of us who brought the bugs in although, firstly, every corner of the room was infested, and, secondly, we all came from different hostels all over Israel. Although I found the place clean in general, the fact that the infestation could become this bad must be due to inappropriate hygiene.

I wouldn't go there again and would not recommend it to anyone!

Bed bugs ARE brought to hotels, hostels etc. by guests. I am not saying it was you, but these insects do not come on their own Bed bugs do not come from bad hygiene. Someone picks them up and then transports them to their next hotel. NO hotel wants them and all will work to eliminate them. The fact that they laundered your clothes and reimbursed you tells me they made a real effort and your posting is really unfair.

I am completely aware that travellers bring bed bugs into hostels and I understand that it's a difficult situation for the staff and the management. I also know that they are not necessarily linked to bad hygiene. But what I also know is that it takes time for an infestation to grow this bad. If someone had just recently brought them in, there'd be only a few. However, the whole room was swarming with them. For an infestation to get that bad, the problem has to ignored for a good long while. And that, to my mind, demonstrates a lack of hygiene, as both affected guests and signs of the bugs must have been grossly ignored.

In my opinion, having my clothes laundered is not necessarily something they did out of good will. Surely, they could not have let me move on and infest other places. In addition, that does not compensate for the fact that I even had difficulty finding a bed afterwards because people feared I carried the bugs as I had so obviously been exposed to them.

Furthermore, I've talked to some travellers who stayed there just three days after I have and who have been bitten as well. It follows that the infested room has been reopened for business although the bugs are still there.
Again, just as in my case, the management pretended to be unaware of the problem and tried to blame it on mosquitoes.

Treating bed bugs ain't that easy. Some are resistant to pesticides and some of the strong pesticides which may be used are dangerous for humans. It now appears that the series of tourists who died mysteriously in Thailand may have been poisoned by the anti-bug pesticide that was used. Even in New York City they have bed bugs.

Has anyone been to Fawzi Azer recently?
Is it OK to go there as a person who doens't like bed bugs?
Thanks,
Ilya