Found bed bug on body in Spain - electronics? Hotel compensation?

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Found bed bug on body in Spain - electronics? Hotel compensation?

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SimoneFrank

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Joined: Jun '09
Posts: 36

Posted 4 months ago
Sat Jun 27 2009 16:56:18
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Hi,

We are new to the forum. Travelling as a party of three in spain, we all got bit (thought it was mosquito bites). No sign of infestatoin at all in the room...but I woke up the second morning with my nail all bloody and found a squished dead bud bug on my stomach when I got ready to shower.

What should we do about ipods, computers, etc? I do not want to take them home wit hme.
We threw away the suitcases and almost everything we own - althouh I ordered a packtite for my return.

What should we do about cell phones, ipods and laptops though?

Any thoughts on what hotels should and will do?

Thanks for any advice! Am in Madrid right now.

Simone
bedbugsbad

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Joined: Sep '08
Posts: 69

Posted 4 months ago
Sat Jun 27 2009 17:15:36
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Simone,

In general, from what I have read, most hotels are going to deny deny deny. The good ones may comp you the room fees and pay for your laundry and drycleaning. This is coming from all the reviews and postings I have seen on the Bedbugregistry.com and tripadvisor. I have never seen someone post that a hotel paid for any other out of pocket expenses. But, maybe they have and as part of the deal the person wasn't allowed to discuss the settlement...

The odds of them being in the items you mention are low but this is not to say impossible. People on this forum have used a number of methods - thermal, vapona (sp?) pest strips, mothballs - none of which are guaranteed either to work or not damage your stuff. If I were you I would do one or both of the following - either have a PCO inspect or a BB detection dog go over the items.

Disclaimer - I had a DVR/cable box blow up in my house and was so freaked out at getting a refurb unit that came from someone else's house that I decided not to replace it and now have only basic cable. Bedbugs make you look at everything in a totally different light.

BBbad
bugeyedpea

newbite
Joined: Jun '09
Posts: 10

Posted 4 months ago
Sun Jun 28 2009 16:32:03
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Having just been through a similar experience myself I know how traumatic it can be. It sounds like you've taken pretty drastic measures to ensure you don't take them home with you. Don't have an answer about the electronics unfortunately. After my exposure, I'm keeping my laptop in a ziploc bag when not in use, I threw out the mouse and laptop bag. I don't know what I'll do with the other peripherals and ipod (currently in a ziploc bag not being used).

The manager of the hotel I stayed at investigated and acknowledged the bed bugs. (However in my case I saw them so it would have been hard not to). The hotel refunded me for the nights I stayed and gave me some reward points (not likely to be used anytime soon I'm afraid). The manager offered to reimburse me for replacement bags. Personally the last thing on my mind has been compensation. What would have helped me the most would have been a pro-active response as soon as I reported the problem to the front desk and assistance to help me prevent taking the problem home with me. The anxiety of that is the killer. (I read elsewhere where the hotel provided a change of clothes and replacement luggage on the spot. Another thought ... why don't hotels have PackTites on standby?)

This was a reputable hotel chain, the hotel was not fully booked, and I don't believe they knew they were sending me to be a bed bug buffet. So while I'm still really p*ssed this happened, what can I do but learn from it and take steps to avoid it happening in future?
MyWorstFear

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Joined: Sep '08
Posts: 317

Posted 4 months ago
Sun Jun 28 2009 17:16:28
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. So while I'm still really p*ssed this happened, what can I do but learn from it and take steps to avoid it happening in future?

Bugeyedpea, please take a moment to report this on the bed bug registry so other travelers will know in advance the name and location of the hotel you stayed at that had bed bugs. Their website is here and you do not have to leave your name: http://bedbugregistry.com/ If the hotel doesn't take the proper steps to insure that the bugs don't spread to other rooms, then more people will be exposed to them and the spread of these monsters will continue. I believe it is only right to warn others so they can make informed decisions.

It's good you recognized the problem and hopefully didn't take any home with you!
SimoneFrank

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Joined: Jun '09
Posts: 36

Posted 4 months ago
Mon Jun 29 2009 11:50:12
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We are back. The hotel was freaked out and wanted the bug we caught to give to pest control...but they only gave us one free night.

We bought a new plastic type suitcase to bring back the few items we brought back (a few clothes we had dry cleaned).

If one has a suitcase that is 100% hard plastic, how should it be treated upon return? (I would like to keep this suitcase for future travel as it seems a very good bed-bug repellant style.

It's a Samsonite Aeris - we wanted to buy a cheap duffle bag and throw it away upon returning but the Aeris was massively on sale and cost the same.

Should I just throw it away?

I also cant' figure out what to do with toiletries?

Simone
SimoneFrank

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Joined: Jun '09
Posts: 36

Posted 4 months ago
Mon Jun 29 2009 11:51:20
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Also, does anyone have a suggestion on where to order a paktite from?
They seem sold out on many sites.

Simone
SimoneFrank

junior member
Joined: Jun '09
Posts: 36

Posted 4 months ago
Mon Jun 29 2009 11:53:20
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Also, what spray will work best on a graphite suitcase?

Thanks!

Simone
bed-bugscouk

oldtimer
Joined: Apr '07
Posts: 896

Posted 4 months ago
Mon Jun 29 2009 12:01:43
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Hi Simone,

I would also suggest taking a little time out to look at www.bedbugbeware.com to learn how to check hotel rooms before you spend the night. That way you can avoid exposure in the first place.

Good luck on getting back bed bug free.

David
bugeyedpea

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Joined: Jun '09
Posts: 10

Posted 4 months ago
Mon Jun 29 2009 14:30:39
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Also, does anyone have a suggestion on where to order a paktite from?
They seem sold out on many sites.

I just ordered mine from North Shore Care Supply. Use the link in the Useful Stuff area of this site. They ship to Canada but I'm probably going to have to pay a bundle for broker's fees, duties and taxes. Oh well ...

UPDATE: They may have them in stock but my order was cancelled. Product not approved in Canada so cannot ship there :-(
SimoneFrank

junior member
Joined: Jun '09
Posts: 36

Posted 4 months ago
Tue Jun 30 2009 12:37:35
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bed-bugscouk - 1 day ago »
Hi Simone,
I would also suggest taking a little time out to look at www.bedbugbeware.com to learn how to check hotel rooms before you spend the night. That way you can avoid exposure in the first place.
Good luck on getting back bed bug free.
David

I did check. We always check. We saw no signs at all!
But I had a big bloody bug squished under my nail that we gave to them (we have photos). It was definitely a bed bug. A number of my friends had bed bugs, so I know what they look like.

I actually woke up with so much blood on my hand, I said, "I must hav cut myself - there's all this blood on my thumb and under my nail. Weird." Then I found the bug stuck on my stomach and really felt like vomtiing.

We looked though.

We both only had two bites at that time.

Simone
bed-bugscouk

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Joined: Apr '07
Posts: 896

Posted 4 months ago
Tue Jun 30 2009 12:46:46
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Hi Simone,

If it is any consolation if you looked and saw nothing the risk of you taking them home again is minimal particularly with only 2 bites.

The chances are if they have not come through from an adjoining room they are very recent arrivals.

From experience I can confirm that its more than possible to do a full room screen on a hotel only to get one or two arrive a few days later. It can be a very difficult issue for hotels to keep on top of and is likely to remain that way until we get the high risk monitors on the production line a few months. The good news is the hotels we have had in field trials have really managed to get to grips with the system and weekly checks seem to keep the matter under much better control and can result in chemical free control.

David
SimoneFrank

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Joined: Jun '09
Posts: 36

Posted 4 months ago
Wed Jul 1 2009 1:01:53
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Hi David,

I have two new bites since returning home :(
I got two bites a week ago in the hotel (and so did my boyfriend.)

A PCO with a dog is coming to our apoartment tomorrow - but is it going to be too soon for them to find anything? Is there any point in trying to do anyting until they get worse ??

I just feel like the PCO/dog will find nothing even if we have one or two from the trip...

Also, I am curious how weekly checks and better monitoring can end up making there be chemical free control?? If they find a few, and then kill them, there still could be instars and new ones a few weeks later right??

Thanks!
Simone
Nobugsonme

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Joined: Mar '07
Posts: 5,736

Posted 4 months ago
Wed Jul 1 2009 1:35:54
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You can get Packtites at NorthShore Care Supply and enter coupon code BBFREE to get free shipping.

There are other sources listed in the Useful Stuff page, including the manufacturer -- though it looks like the manufacturer itself may be OS at the moment.