Sleep tight, don't let the bedbugs bite...

[Mal]

Anyone got stories about encountering bedbugs in hotels? I have one that I will post at a later stage, but curious what others have encountered.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using AustFreqFly

 

[psi999]

A story id rather forget.

August 2008, Paris (reasonably upmarket hotel) woke in the morning to find the once clean white sheets were literally covered top to bottom in blood spots.

Not really knowing what it was (naive?) and having an early train booked we just packed and left.

Around 3 days (in Austria) later the wife broke out head to toe in red spots - found a doctor and confirmed that she had received a reaction to what he diagnosed as 'bed bugs'.

I always check hotel bedding before sleeping now, particularity the underside (under the seams is where they like to hide)..... not an experience id like to repeat.

Edit: great - off to New York next week, 'beg bug' capital of the world - now im on edge!!

 

[Mal]

Sorry for the reminder - but thanks for the story.

Here's mine.

Stayed in a hotel for 3 nights. On the third night was out exploring in forests (and spending time sitting on dirt etc). Later that night noticed some red splotches on my legs, backside, small of my back and on my arms. Looked at them and thought they were pretty strange, but put them down to an allergic reaction to the soil / mud / plants I was around and/or bites from various insects.

At no time did I see blood on the sheets, never saw a bedbug, never saw any indication that the bed was affected. Honestly don't know if it was infected with bed bugs, or I did have an allergic reaction/insect bites.

Moved hotels.

After the first night, noticed splotches of blood on the bed. At this point had Bedbugs in mind - but dismissed that thought and presumed it was me scratching at my splotches. After second night was itching considerably more. noticed an insect on my leg when lying in bed in the morning. Third night had pretty much come to the conclusion that bedbugs were around, Carefully examined the creases in the sheets, mattress area etc and didn't really see anything. Slept, but woke up numerous times while sleeping and checked the sheets etc. Found one insect - seemed like a bedbug (but a very tiny one), so bagged it into a glad sandwich bag, and returned to sleep (lol ... yep, I slept in the bed - very poorly - but still stuck around). Woke up again a bit later. Found another bed bug. Bagged it. Was wondering how many were around!

Woke up properly in the morning and found a massive (full adult) bed bug lying on the floor next to the bed. Again collected it. Carefully examined around where that bedbug was and noticed blood spots on the bed head - and slightly hollowed out areas that looked like an insect had bored into it.

Packed my bag, and went down to reception. Quietly gave the sample bag to the Asst. Manager, and said "I think my room hasbed bugs". He was very calm (not really sure he knew what they were!?), and gave me a new room. This one had a washing machine in it.

So I decontaminated all of my belongings - although couldn't see any bedbugs. They weren't in suitcase that I could see, none obviously on clothes etc. Bought a domestic insecticide that had some protection against bedbugs. Washed out my suitcase under very hot water, washed all of my clothes at 95 deg, sprayed my bag with insecticide etc etc. A really fun task. Carefully inspected everything and couldn't see any bedbugs or eggs.

Now I'm puzzling... Did I have 2 bed bug infections in a row? Did I bring them from hotel 1 to hotel 2 or was hotel 2 already infected? Did hotel 1 have bedbugs - again, I never saw any blood, but the marks were there.

Hopefully have the little critters under control ...

 

[psi999]

Sorry for the reminder - but thanks for the story.

No problems at all, happy to share my experience to help others.

Out of interests sake i snapped a few pics off at the time (insurance purposes, if required... but cleared up after a week or so) - These are the types of spots you are looking for:

We didn't have a chance to decontaminate our belongings but aired all clothing / baggage then continued on for another 4 weeks keeping a careful eye on symptoms to reoccur... we were spared.

Upon return to Australia everything went straight into the wash and baggage stored outside (until able to be cleaned).

 

[VirginiaF]

You guys care to share with us the names of these establishments? Obviously they could have sorted these problems out by now, but you never know. As you would also never know no matter where you stay. I guess inspection of bed head, mattress and sheets is the first thing to do (can't say I did any of that in my last three establishments last week). Old habits die slow.

 

[haydensydney]

Thankfully, I don't have a bedbug story. But I'm aware that it's only a matter of time...

Meanwhile, I will read your horror stories with glee...

FYI - This is what they look like if anyone is interested... *vomit*

 

[Mal]

You guys care to share with us the names of these establishments? Obviously they could have sorted these problems out by now, but you never know. As you would also never know no matter where you stay. I guess inspection of bed head, mattress and sheets is the first thing to do (can't say I did any of that in my last three establishments last week). Old habits die slow.

I'm not going to share names of the particular hotels involved, but both are part of large chains. Hotel 1 starts with "N", Hotel 2 is relatively downmarket, but starts with B.

The important thing to always keep in mind with hotels is to never leave luggage on beds, or the carpet. That's how bed bugs can get into your luggage easily. I'm not sure they tend to hang around on bed clothes - perhaps they do, but by keeping your bag away you can assist with not getting hitch-hikers.

My red marks were different to the ones above, but did match pattern of BedBug bites (lines / clusters of bites). I'm just very surprised that there was no blood on the sheets at Hotel 1. I am still leaning towards it being another type of insect bite and that hotel 1 was clean... But still don't know.

 

[notzac]

You guys care to share with us the names of these establishments?

The problem is it's completely random - and not generally the properties' fault. I was reading an article somewhere that suggested it tends to be the mid to upper priced hotels that get bed bugs, on account of the guests that they get who tend to be more well-travelled.

 

[psi999]

I'm not going to share names of the particular hotels involved, but both are part of large chains. Hotel 1 starts with "N", Hotel 2 is relatively downmarket, but starts with B.

The important thing to always keep in mind with hotels is to never leave luggage on beds, or the carpet. That's how bed bugs can get into your luggage easily. I'm not sure they tend to hang around on bed clothes - perhaps they do, but by keeping your bag away you can assist with not getting hitch-hikers.

My red marks were different to the ones above, but did match pattern of BedBug bites (lines / clusters of bites). I'm just very surprised that there was no blood on the sheets at Hotel 1. I am still leaning towards it being another type of insect bite and that hotel 1 was clean... But still don't know.

I'm with Mal, would hate to trash the reputation of a hotel years later for what could have been an isolated incident.

(I'll just say it was within 2 minutes walk of the arc de triomphe - so very central Paris)

On a side note... certainly never thought id be sharing my 'bed bug' experiences on AFF

 

[openseat]

Errr... I want to say thanks hayden, but now I have the visual of those things running around the bed at night.

Thankfully, I don't have a bedbug story. But I'm aware that it's only a matter of time...

Meanwhile, I will read your horror stories with glee...

FYI - This is what they look like if anyone is interested... *vomit*

 

[Mal]

Errr... I want to say thanks hayden, but now I have the visual of those things running around the bed at night.

They're just like warm fuzzy coughroaches that want to hang around you. And yes the adult ones do look like that...

I am still checking (regularly) for any signs of bed bugs, and while I am now sleeping much better than I was ... It really isn't an experience I wish to go through again. BUT - Bed Bugs are on the increase world wide, so it is possible that you will eventually run into them.

BTW, anyone seen Giant Microbes products before? They're good fun to make light humour of the situation:

GIANTmicrobes | Bed Bug (Cimex lectularius)

(I was given a couple of their products by a friend a couple of years ago ... Thinking of travelling with a bedbug!)

 

[tuapekastar]

I believe I may have copped them in a small way once or twice in the past and not recognised it as such. No recollection where, but I think I'll print haydensydney's post and take it with me when travelling for identification purposes. :shock:

 

[blackcat20]

Ewww. 5 weeks travelling across 22 states of the US and no bed bugs... Either very lucky or they don't like the taste of alcohol. Pity I can't say the same for the mozzies.

While I was in NYC there were some people protesting outside a hotel with a large inflatable bedbug...

 

[Jude Starr]

Have never encountered them in my travels yet (touch wood). A friend of mine was in the US earlier in the year, and as part of his travels was going to NYC at thw height of their lastest outbreak. He was advised to keep his luggage etc in the bathroom (apparently the little beggars don't care for cold tiles).

I read somewhere that part of the issue with outbreaks is that most of the hotels all got their laundry done at the same big laundry place, and that is suspected to be the source of the spread. Don't know how true it is though.

 

[awilcockson]

Wow, I never new that bed bugs actually existed as a real organism.

Bed bug - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Nasty! Not exactly a friendly reproductive method they perform either

 

[Tortuga]

I'm feeling itchy now.. Thankfully never had them, but stayed in a hostel that was infested.. Once I discovered this from other travellers I was out the door within an hour. Gives me the chills, also hate mosquitoes :evil:

 

[Toula92122]

I managed to pick up a dose of the bed bugs and took them home with me. It was a nightmare. It took about 2 months for the pest control people to diagnose what the issue was and that was even after I managed to kill one during my sleep and present to them.

I was probably feasted on every 7 days or so for those 2 months. They never went near my husband sleeping in the same bed as me. Apparently they normally like the smell of one person and as long as they have that person to feast on they will leave everyone else alone. I suspected from the start it was bed bugs so luckily I did not move into another room to sleep so keep the bugs in the one location. I saw a Dr, then a Dermatologist, neither of which was able to diagnose my bites as bed bugs. The bites would be extremely itchy for 5 days or so and just start to calm down as the next feast started.

As for the fumigation process, had to remove everything from our apt. to have it specially treated. All clothing, etc. had to be washed on hot water, we kept all our belongings outside in plastic bags for 10 days or so in the heat or kill of any possible bugs.

Now I always keep my suitcase zipped when I am at a hotel. If there is room I will put my bag in the bathroom. I never leave anything on the floor, dirty clothes are immediately put into a wash bag and zipped away.

 

[parsonstrish]

I became aware of the outbreak in states prior to '10 trip. I bought zip bags and everything goes in that, I pull the sheets from bed prior to use, examine under the sheeting and matress covers, and headboards, I do not put cases on bed or floor. There are bedbug reports abt. where they have been found in States. One hotel I had booked last yr. did have them so I rebooked elsewhere.
Prior to this o/s trip I bought bedbug spray from globalbagtag in UK. Whether it works or not, gave me peace of mind as well as all the other precautions I put into place.

 

[markis10]

Wow, I never new that bed bugs actually existed as a real organism.

Bed bug - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Nasty! Not exactly a friendly reproductive method they perform either

Next time you go to Brisbane drinks and decide to stay the night in town, dont stay near the venue, despite a 2 year difference in the timeline there seems to be an issue:

Bed Bugs - BEST WESTERN Astor Metropole Hotel, Brisbane Traveller Reviews - TripAdvisor

Bed bugs bug guests - Yahoo!7

 

[tuppaware]

Yes... I got them on a recent trip to Shanghai in a 5 star hotel .
Needless to say I was unhappy!