Bed bug alert at san Anton Abad in Villafranca Montes de Oca

[Helen from Montreal]

I was bitten up the night of Sept 21 and caught a live bed bug, that I slipped into a baggie and brought to the management as we were leaving. He said two things: the pilgrims bring them in, and they "disinfect every day." No apologies. I wasn't going to post on the blog, thinking that maybe it was an isolated situation (left the night before by the previous guest?) but then we ran into some Camino friends 2 days later in Burgos. One had been bitten up in the same albergue 2 nights later, including on the eye (ouch!) and had had to move into the lounge to get some sleep. The other person caught a few live bugs and did not get much sleep either. They had been staying in a different room from me, so not an isolated incident, in other words.

 

[SYates]

Sigh - disinfecting simply doesn't kill bed bugs as they are not an infection but an infestation. Sorry to hear that this otherwise nice albergue has been invaded by them and that the management seems to be, shall we say, less than eager to deal with them. Buen Camino, SY

PS In one point they are right, it is us, the pilgrims, that taxi them from albergue to albergue ...

 

[C clearly]

He said two things: the pilgrims bring them in, and they "disinfect every day." No apologies.

What he said was true. However, a "we're sorry" statement might have been nice as a courtesy.

thinking that maybe it was an isolated situation

On the Camino there is no such thing as an isolated bedbug situation.

In some ways, I didn't find that to be the friendliest albergue, but it is very comfortable, clean and well managed. I expect they have a rigorous routine and would have fewer bedbugs than the average one! I would stay there again even though I am a bedbug magnet.

 

[BonitaHolland]

We stayed on 22nd Sep and checked our beds carefully but found no sign of any infestation. The staff were very friendly and the food was great, I had rabbit stew. You can rent a blanket for €1 if you're cold. There's a lovely sun terrace and great tapas in the bar. A large sunny area to dry clothing makes life easier. All in all a very good Albergue

 

[sillydoll]

Its not an albergue thing - its a pilgrim thing!
A pilgrim in our amaWalkers group was bitten on legs and arms and we only stay in hotels or pensions. Because she couldn't remember exactly where she was bitten, we let places in two towns know and they were very grateful. One Casa Rural closed the room so that exterminators could come in to check it. She was sharing a room but her room mate wasn't bitten so I guess it was a bug carried in by a pilgrim.

 

[Helen from Montreal]

Yes, of course pilgrims bring them in (and carry them out, too), but if left unchecked once they come in for a visit--be it hostel, pension, albergue, or 5-star hotel--they can spread. In our case, I was not reporting bites, but a live bug in my bed. The bites turned up later. Our bags were heavily treated with permethrin before our trip, so fingers crossed we are not carrying any with us.....