What is your specific routine when staying in a hotel?

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What is your specific routine when staying in a hotel?

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worrywart1

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Joined: Jul '09
Posts: 29

Posted 6 months ago
Mon Aug 24 2009 10:07:54
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I've read the travel FAQs and other various ideas on what to do/not do when staying in a hotel, including one website that said to get hotel staff to help you move the headboard of the bed to inspect if necessary (do people really do that?). We travel fairly often including my husband traveling for business, and I'm curious: what is your specific routine when staying at a hotel? How long do you take inspecting the room and what does your inspection consist of? Do you carry luggage or use ziploc bags? What about when you fly? What precautions do you take about your bags?

I know a lot more now than I did when we took our recent vacation, but I am feeling fearful about traveling again. (I know it's possible there could be an early infestation of bugs in a room and we not detect them, but I guess that is one of the chances you take when you go about living your life.) I'm just curious what "reasonable" precautions people take and specifically what routines you have developed.
Bklynchica

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Joined: Aug '09
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Posted 6 months ago
Wed Aug 26 2009 16:05:52
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I'll be staying in a hotel in October and plan to ditch the suitcase idea completely. I think suitcases are antiquated in this age of bed bugs. I will be using an airtight storage container for my luggage. I will also pack extremely lightly to make it easier to wash everything right away when I get home.

I will inspect the mattress, under all the covers and sheets, around the baseboard (I'd ask a friend for help removing it if that seems like an option,) and all around the bed frame. If ANY evidence of bed bugs is found (not even a bug itself, but streaking, and so on) I will change rooms. I would also then put the hotel on bedbugregistry.com and I would tell management that I was doing so and they had better take care of the problem.
momto2boys

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Joined: Jun '09
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Posted 6 months ago
Wed Aug 26 2009 16:42:50
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Check headboard, picture frames, bedside tables, in between mattress and boxspring, matress seams, sheets for staining. Of course if I saw any I'd leave. I pack in XL ziploc bags, no suitcase. When we get home I wash everything and throw the bags away. I keep the baby in bed with us so I don't have to bring the playpen. My routine may change now that I have a packtite. I might start using a washable duffle, put everything in a contracter bag in the car if I'm driving, then treat with the packtite when I get home and wash the clothes and bag. I also never put my luggage on or near the bed. I keep it in the bathroom if possible. I don't let my kids bring any pillows or stuffed animals with us to rooms. Maybe I'm a mean mom, but luckily neither of them are too attached to any "lovey" or anything.
BugsInTO

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Joined: Aug '08
Posts: 212

Posted 6 months ago
Wed Aug 26 2009 17:49:02
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Hi
Take magnifying glasses, tape and flashlights to help with the room inspection.

Avoid taking things that will be difficult to decontaminate when you get back, or take special precautions with them. I bought a pair of cheap, washable running shoes and only wore those while at the hotel.

We were travelling by car, so we changed into clean clothes out of ziplocs before getting back into our car from the hotel.
DrFrank

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Joined: Jul '09
Posts: 122

Posted 6 months ago
Wed Aug 26 2009 23:56:21
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I check over the room like the other folks. I pack 55 gallon drum liners to encase the luggage, and smaller bags to keep my shoes, dirty clothes, etc in.

I use a small duffle bag when I can, so I can throw it in the dryer when I get home.