Bed Bugs... do you worry about them?
 

With all these latest reports about bed bug infestations on the rise, i am curious if anyone has had issues with bed bugs in a hotel. I have never run into them.

Some people have told me they always keep their luggage zipped to prevent against them getting in. Anyone take similar precautions?

No precautions and no encounters.

Don't ever really stay in New York, so never had a problem! ;)

Ugh, yes!! I'm from NYC and it is the topic du jour EVERYWHERE. I can't count the number of articles and emails that get forwarded to me on the topic, and it's always on the local news since there is always a new report (the Times Sq movie theater, the Victoria's Secret on Lexington Ave, the Brooklyn DA's office).

It's always top of mind in a paranoid way since I and many others are taking all the precautions we can. And my behavior is manifested in travel too. Now, I always, put my suitcase on the luggage rack in hotel rooms, and I always keep them zipped up.

That said, I've never seen them -- in NYC or anywhere else. But, it's more the knowledge that they COULD be out there!!

they can get through zippers:

from

http://webcache.googleusercontent.co...&ct=clnk&gl=us

CHOOSE THE RIGHT LUGGAGE

Bed bugs like fabrics more than metals and plastics. And bed bugs are small enough to squeeze through closed zippers. This is why experts recommend using hard luggage that closes tight instead of soft luggage with zippers.

I worry incessantly about them. Have avoided all travel to NYC for a couple years bin part due to the issue. Once you bring these suckers home it's hell to get rid of them.

Also avoid staying at hotels by any major international airport and cheeck the mattress and bed of every room I check into - no matter where it is.

I don't worry overmuch and have never had them. However; I know two people who have had problems. Sadly, if my reading is correct neither looking at mattresses nor zipping luggage will accomplish much to prevent them. I suspect it is only a matter of time...

There is a website which lists specific hotels and apartment buildings where bedbug infestations have occurred: http://www.bedbugregistry.com.

I do have some concern when I travel, but other than a visual check of the mattress in a hotel, I don't take any other precautions.

Well even if they can't get through your luggage, they can still stay with your clothes. That's why they recommend once you get home after a trip, immediately wash everything in hot cycle in the washer and dryer.

I haven't been overly worried - surprising, as I"m the type to obsess over things at times. And they're reported to be more on the rise here in Ohio as well. When it's on my mind, I'll do a quick check of the matress but that's about it. Probably should take some precautions as mentioned in the link above. I do generally throw all my clothes into the washer straight from my luggage anyway so I guess that helps.

If you manage a hotel and want to grab business from competitors, you know what to do....

Traveled all over the world, never seen 'em. Don't know anyone who has seen them. Not worried, knock on wood. Apparently they don't like the south and wouldn't survive here anyway. With all the hysteria, a few hotels in New Orleans had claims of people reporting bedbugs, but no confirmed bedbug has ever been found. No telling if the claims were made to extort some settlement money out of the hotels or we're just talking weak minds who picked up a mosquito bite while strolling on the riverwalk, then got hysterical when it started to itch a little. I don't travel to New York, but it doesn't sound like it would do any good to have special luggage. They are going home when people do things like buy shoes and underwear...ugh. Assuming all of these reports are true. It could be just another "summer of the shark attacks" except everyone got bored with shark stories. You cannot wash your Victoria's Secret underwear in hot water, you might as throw it away. In fact, that's true of many good clothes.

I'm not sure that is correct. A couple of the largest universities in Texas have reported infestations in some dorm rooms.

Here are some references:
http://reslife.tamu.edu/ua/info/pestControl/bedbugs/
http://www.housing.ufl.edu/facilities/bedbugs.php
http://www.utexas.edu/student/housin...heet_10-07.pdf
http://www.utexas.edu/student/housin...ures_10-09.pdf
http://thermal-remediation.com/bed-bugs/overview.aspx

Not ever having seen one, I was somewhat surprised to learn that they are fairly large...1/4 to 5/8 inch long (roughly 7 to 10 mm).

I didn't know that. I thought they were itty bitty little bloodsuckers.

And in NYC they really are having problems, including some of the big media companies' offices having them/having to be cleaned out. It's not total hysteria.

Cheers.

Just don't stay overnight in NYC - fly in, do what needs to be done, and fly out.