After my confession of getting bed bugs myself, I thought I would at least post some tips on how to prevent bed bugs when traveling from the research I did after getting them in Asia.
Prevent bed bugs before they attack: Click here to buy pre-trip supplies!
In the last ten years, bed bug infestations have quadrupled. It's not just hostels either, as 4-5 star hotels are getting hit with the same problem too.
Bed bugs do not discriminate, and the traveler is the most susceptible to getting a case of them.
Since most countries in the world have outlawed the chemical DDT, bed bugs are coming back in a whole new way!
There isn't a full proof way of detecting bed bugs in a room. I know that's not what you wanted to hear.
They can be hiding anywhere, strike anytime, and it almost takes a case of them infecting someone before you can diagnose what it was.
Bed bugs can live as long as 18 months without having to feed.
Odds are, you might have stayed in a bug infested room already, but nothing happened because they weren't out on the prowl the night you slept.
That being said, you can still check for signs.
A good traveler should always ask to see the room first, but before you go straight to the bathroom once you hit the light, go to the bed first.
The bugs are nocturnal and only move around when it's dark, so the best time for seeing signs (or one) of them is right after the light is turned on.
Things to look for when inspecting a room:
Check under the bed mattress first. Look for stains of black or brown fecal matter. You will typically find this around their nesting area. Be sure also to check out the mattress tag; they love to hide there for some reason.
Check the sheets and pillowcases by pulling them back. Try to see signs of small blood stains that they leave after feeding.
Check the back of the headboard for nesting areas as well. You may also see translucent light brown skins in this area.
Check along the walls for cracks where you might see signs of fecal matter. Most bed bugs nest in an area of 10-15ft from the bed.
If the room has furniture (couch or chairs) lift the cushions and inspect for the same signs as above. Bed bugs can just as easily nest there.
Tips on how to avoid bed bugs:
Inspection on your part is the best thing. Hotels/hostels aren't going to tell you on a scale of 1-10 if there are bed bugs in the room they're trying to sell you.
Never leave your bag or suitcase on the floor or bed. Always store bags at an elevated area, and if the room has a nightstand or luggage rack, use it. Even on top of the TV is better than nothing.
If you suspect an infestation, immediately grab all your stuff and go to the front counter. Inform the management of what you saw and request a room change or refund.
I would go with the refund as to me if one room is infested, then I assume the whole place is. The place your staying isn't worth the risk of getting torn up. If you don't believe me, see the other article I wrote here.
Note: if you paid $5 for your room in some 3rd world-country… just leave. Getting angry with the owner and making demands will do you little good.
What to do if you get infested:
Don't mistake mosquito bites for bed bugs.
Bed bug bites usually come in rows of three and will not have a blood dot in the middle of the bite like a mosquito bite would leave. When in doubt, ask!
HEAT, HEAT, and more HEAT! Wash your clothes and anything you can afford to get wet in the hottest water you can find.
I boiled water and dipped all my clothes into the pot 3x.
Bed bugs can take temperatures up to 100°F (38°c), so you need your water to be at least 120°F (49°c) plus.
It's the only 100% way of making sure you rid your clothes of them and not take any home with you.
Don't bother with freezing or chemicals. Freezing them only puts the bug into hibernation and chemicals are sketchy at best. If chemicals are your only option to seek a professional.
He'll have access to the good stuff that you can't get over the counter.
See a doctor and get some meds to help with the healing.
It will speed up the recovery time of the bites, and it's better than having to walk around, say Thailand, in the middle of the summer with a long sleeve shirt.
Try to convince yourself afterward that every time you go to sleep, something is not eating you.
It took me three months before I could get a good nights sleep after I got bitten, and it was all psychological.
Links to sites with useful info on this subject:
Planning a trip? Go Backpacking uses and recommends:
- G Adventures for small group tours
- Skyscanner for researching flights
- Hostelworld for booking hostels
- Airbnb for renting rooms and homes
- Rail Europe for train passes
- World Nomads for travel insurance
How do you get a box of DDT these days in the US, as I thought it was banned? Bed bugs are on the rise because of this and would kill to know how ya got some. Please fill us in because if you get bed bugs, odds are you could care less about some birds as your itching you back 24/7 for 2 weeks! :)
Something I've never run across thankfully but just watching the video makes me uneasy. Took 2 weeks to heal?
Thank you very much for this. I don't travel much, but there are bed bugs here in the West, too. I've read that black pepper can repel bugs. Have you heard that?
Elizabeth- No I haven't heard that before and not sure if it would work but I guess it might. To be honest though I don't want to repel the little creatures… I want them all dead! lol
Totally grossed out, but good to know. I've been lucky thus far. whew
buddy, DDT is not something you want to go around using like Lysol, its an endocrine (hormone) disrupter, carcinogen and a whole host of other bad things. It was banned for a reason.
Good thing your experience thought you something huh? Everybody hates insects and they strikes usually when we are unconscious and that made them a silent killer (lol). Anyways, the result of your research is so interesting and very effective. Thank you for sharing it to us. I hope that I will not experience what you have experience I will totally freak out if that happens.
Bed bugs are nothing new in Spain, so don’t believe the stories that they came into Spain recently with French hitch-hikers! I travelled in Spain as a hitch hiker in the Franco era, and the first important word in Spanish I learned was “chinchas” (bed bugs). After a horrible night at a pension in Barcelona, where my girlfriend and I were eaten alive by bugs, we vowed “never again” so, when we arrived at a pension the first thing we did was to brazenly ask: “No chinchas?” . If we found any we immediately left, refusing to pay. Now, if it’s very late and you have nowhere elso to go, the answer is this: sleep with the light on. The bugs are noctural and won’t come out to bother you! If light bothers you, then take eye shades witgh you…
Hi,
As an Norwegian who just moved to El Salador I must say it takes some time to get used to all the bugs. There is a lot more here.
Really interesting article. Keep up the good work.
i’m just going to pack a blow torch and set the whole place on fire