I just think it's really cool that there's such a thing as a bed-bug sniffing dog.

Mike

How well does this website work? I didn't even know about it, and I'm on FT practically every day. How does the regular joe schmoe know about it? The power in the website is if people know about it...

I originally learned of it from a "Joe Shmoe". It's not a green light but rather a caution light. As you've observed not everyone knows about it. But it is a fairly active site. If there isn't a report for a property it doesn't mean the property is clean it just means there are no reports. Think of it as the Better Business Bureau for bed bugs. You can't learn a whole lot unless there have been negative reports.

Of course, this is fine and dandy because you are presuming you will never carry bedbugs. Otherwise, are you happy to sleep on the street that night? It wouldn't be ethical to go to another hotel now would it?

I think it might just be reasonable (if a little draconian, but in the 'public interest') to be 'tested' for bedbugs (no idea about the false detection rate, which would be a critical parameter, as would the negative predictive value), and then if positive, one gets allocated a designated type of room, which then gets debugged post stay and one agrees to have luggage/clothes debugged. Now, who pays for all this? Hotel (through an insurance scheme) or guest -- with T&C on accepting to book a room?

tb

I must say I would certainly like to know if I had bed bugs before check-in. If I had them at check-in chances are I'd have then at check-out, too. So if I were infested, I'd be able to have my clothing laundered (perhaps hotels would have de-bugging laundries) and I could replace my bag. This would decrease the chances I'd take them home with me. And at least I'd know that my home may be infested so I could get my home treated.

I'm not an expert, but I did encounter bedbugs repeatedly in Asia in the 80s and never took the bugs with me. As long as a person does not leave their luggage or clothing on the bed, carpeted floor, overstuffed chair, or luggage rack, the chance of taking bugs home is nearly nil.

If you are bitten (look for bites in straight lines, or sometimes circles) bag up any sleepwear into that handy plastic laundry bag hanging in the closet and either discard or wash and dry on high heat immediately on return home.

deleted, company policy

Just had the dreaded experience with one in Marriott London Plaza Parade Maida Vale. Very nice hotel and was not expecting it! The person I was sharing the room with was covered in red bites on his thigh after the first night. I found one in the sheets and was able to capture it under a glass for the manager after taking a picture first of course. They are not helping me at all though. Marriott's response is pitiful at best.

Well, what was the professional opinion? It's been 3 weeks without a response.

Make sure to report to bedbugregistry.com

From the reports that I read above, the facts state that there ARE NOT bed bugs at this hotel

In fact, the posting of such info, if determined to be a false alarm, could be quite damaging for the hotel. I will go further and ask if the thread title should include these unconfirmed claims at all.

I check the website anytime I go to a hotel. Better safe than sorry. I too check the bed, the matress, which I lift up and check all around it. I keep my bag in the bathroom, seems the bedbugs dont like smooth surfaces. Stay safe!

Bedbugs scare me.

Trained dogs are very, very good at detecting bedbugs - they can detect two chemicals in particular emitted by bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) in parts per trillion. But they are not infallible - part of their effectiveness depends on their training and the currency of that training, the handler, etc. Hotels generally try to avoid using them due to the cost - though some may have contracts with bed bug detection and control companies.

It's also not possible to tell from a bite whether it was administered by a bed bug or other biting insect (yep, cimicids are indeed insects.) People are more likely to detect small brown (from hemoglobin) fecal smears near bedboards, on the sheets, etc. as diagnostic clues.

There are many repellents on the market - none of them are actually certified or verified by independent labs or the US Gov to actually work. Heat does kill 'em, and it's said 115 F / 46 C for ten minutes will kill C. lectularius in all stages - your dryer may be your friend, if your clothing has been sealed in bags and the bugs have not infested your suitcase from contaminated clothing.

You can at least derive a little satisfaction knowing how these buggers reproduce - the male rips into the female's abdominal cavity to traumatically inseminate her, and sometimes even tears into other males. I hope it hurts... :evil grin:

I'd press the Hilton SF for more transparency and if not forthcoming press HH. (If you happened to book with AAA rate or have an AAA card, check out their policy for getting your money back - you have to file within thirty days.)

Smell almonds or over-ripe raspberries in your room? Get the heck outta the room, dude - you've got 'way too much company!

I agree from the detailed description and the response from the hotel I would say the probability is quite low that this was a bedbug incident. I had the unfortunate encounter with these nasty things in a hotel in Montreal and brought them back to my house. It did take about 3-4 months to rid my house of them and about $1000. However, it is not like these things are microscopic. Adult bedbugs are about the size of a apple seed and are quite visible. So the 1st thing this guy should of done was look at the head of the mattress after he pulled back the sheets. If you have bedbugs it is quite obvious.