Lucy Wales
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino Frances August 2019
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I was told that this is part of the way and not their problem...Could not sleep
Bitten all over
Found live bed bug
Took photo, captured bug in container & took video footage of it on bed
Staff at albergue won’t wake up to help me
Need to boil my belongings
Took bed bug precautions pre & during my trip
Inspected bed yesterday upon arrival
Camino Frances Hostel
Santibanez de Valdeiglesias
They didn’t seem bothered- a concern
They gladly let me hot wash and hot dry my clothes
First half is true. Too many people in a place like this increase the possibility of such problems. Second half is not. In my oppinion they have to take care of de-buging the place-all of it. Since they sleep people in it they have responcibilities.In any case no need for panic, it is annoying situation but not dangerousI was told that this is part of the way and not their problem...
I wouldn't assume that they won't be taking measures, just because they didn't get as excited or concerned as you expected. For you it was a new and unpleasant experience. For them it was a regular event but one they will (hopefully) deal with. At that time, using the hot drier was the key thing to do.They didn’t seem bothered- a concern
They gladly let me hot wash and hot dry my clothes
Well, I'm afraid nearly every hotel/albergue might haven been reported by now at least ones.Here, by the way, is a registry you can use to find out if the hotel you are going to stay in has been reported:
bedbugs
The largest Global Bed Bug Registry on the web with over 19,000 user-submitted reports! Search or submit reports about encounters with bedbugs in hotels, hostels and private accommodation around the world. Join our bed bug community and get the bed bug information and help you need!registry.bedbugs.net
Not in my case. Over 200 bites once and around 50 on next Camino. Both times gear treated with permethrinPermethrin on your gear keeps them from easily hitchhiking and moving down-Camino. DEET keeps them from biting skin. ...
Not in my case. Over 200 bites once and around 50 on next Camino. Both times gear treated with permethrin
It is what it is...
I'm sure they bite me and not my gear, that's for sure. So I guess permethrin was working just as it shouldReally? That was a big surprise, huh? I wonder if you got a bad lot of permethrin?
I wouldn't assume that they won't be taking measures, just because they didn't get as excited or concerned as you expected. For you it was a new and unpleasant experience. For them it was a regular event but one they will (hopefully) deal with. At that time, using the hot drier was the key thing to do.
Since, internet exists, it seems that some people feels they are judges and executioners. But let me tell you something. The persons that run the Albergue Camino Frances are all responsible people and one of them is well known by everybody here, and he is Jose Luis from JACOTRANS (he is one of the owners), who do a brilliant work with his company with his team and in the albergue Camino Frances with his team for many many years. One beg bug that came for sure with other pilgrims the days before and now the albergue, accoding to Lucy is the baddest place on Earth! This is So Sick. Albergue Camino de Santiago is being open for many years with a brilliant performance every season with any bed bugs problems. Maybe the Hospitalero wasn´t clever in the protocol because they never had had that problem before. Please, more common sense. Try to spread love, not Lava. Get into their Boots, and Buen Camino.CAMINO FRANCES HOSTEL in SANTIBANEZ DE VALDEIGLESIA DID NOT CARE! I insisted on the washing and drying, not them. Their washer and dryer were only 40degrees, therefore futile regarding bed bugs. I did not get excited or angry about it. In fact, I was more concerned for other future pilgrims than myself.
On the contrary, I could not have been met with a better, more responsible, loving, caring reception than at GAUCELMO IN RABANAL yesterday night.
On arrival I told them about my problem as I was totally covered in bites. They kicked into action....
-They isolated me immediately.
-They gave me clean clothes to change into
-They completely emptied my backpack and put it with my boots in a sealed black bag in the sun with killer spray over night
-They washed all of my clothes and belongings with stitching
-They tumbled dried everything at 69degrees
-They made me a lovely cup of tea
-They were kind and proactive
-They gave me plastic bags to put all of my other things in
-They were responsible
-They followed the process in the hospitalero guidebook
-They took the matter very seriously
-They cared about me, other pilgrims and minimising risk in their albergue
-BRILLIANT!!! Wonderful Camino Angels
-The total opposite to CAMINO FRANCES HOSTEL in SANTIBANEZ DE VALDEIGLESIA
WHERE THERE IS CLEARLY A BED BUG PROBLEM
The irony is that the uncaring hostel cost €10, which they would not refund, and the priceless service at GAUCELMO was donativo.
CAMINO FRANCES HOSTEL in SANTIBANEZ DE VALDEIGLESIA DID NOT CARE! I insisted on the washing and drying, not them. Their washer and dryer were only 40degrees, therefore futile regarding bed bugs. I did not get excited or angry about it. In fact, I was more concerned for other future pilgrims than myself.
On the contrary, I could not have been met with a better, more responsible, loving, caring reception than at GAUCELMO IN RABANAL yesterday night.
On arrival I told them about my problem as I was totally covered in bites. They kicked into action....
The irony is that the uncaring hostel cost €10, which they would not refund, and the priceless service at GAUCELMO was donativo.
Not in my case. Over 200 bites once and around 50 on next Camino. Both times gear treated with permethrin
I'm not surprised that you got bit despite treating your things with permethrin.Really? That was a big surprise, huh? I wonder if you got a bad lot of permethrin?
A hot Steam Gun kills them inmediatly, with no dangerous chemicals. As you see in this video, if you use Permethrin in a open space, they will have the time to walk to a safe place before they die. The Hot Steam Gun kills also the eggs and little nymphs.I'm not surprised that you got bit despite treating your things with permethrin.
Permethrin is NOT a deterrent to bedbugs, nor will it kill them immediately on contact. So bedbugs can get into your sleeping bag or sleep sack and bite you.
HOWEVER, bedbugs will die after being exposed to permethrin treated gear over a couple of hours.
THEREFORE the reason to treat your gear with permethrin isn't to keep from getting bitten, but to keep from transporting bedbugs to the next albergue or to your home.
You can see how permethrin affects bedbugs in this video.
Yes, but I'm not going to carry a hot steam gun on the Camino!A hot Steam Gun kills them inmediatly, with no dangerous chemicals. As you see in this video, if you use Permethrin in a open space, they will have the time to walk to a safe place before they die. The Hot Steam Gun kills also the eggs and little nymphs.
My takeaway: Things looked worse at the end.You can see how permethrin affects bedbugs in this video.
Cool video. I found myself yelling "die, bedbugs, die!" ... inside my head. The music is a nice touch.I'm not surprised that you got bit despite treating your things with permethrin.
Permethrin is NOT a deterrent to bedbugs, nor will it kill them immediately on contact. So bedbugs can get into your sleeping bag or sleep sack and bite you.
HOWEVER, bedbugs will die after being exposed to permethrin treated gear over a couple of hours.
THEREFORE the reason to treat your gear with permethrin isn't to keep from getting bitten, but to keep from transporting bedbugs to the next albergue or to your home.
You can see how permethrin affects bedbugs in this video.
I was bit 2014 and 2016 -Frances. Treated my gear with permethrin both times. I was biten up both times. It is interesting to see people's advice on the subject. We're leaving in a month for Sevilla to start the Via de la Plata and I don't think I'm going to bother with the precautions. On both of my Caminos we traveled with an impromptu group. Of the six of us, including my wife, I was the only one to show the outward manifestations of being bitten. We all slept near each other, had our packs near each other in the Albergues, and marched together. Chances are just about everyone out on the Frances- covered with bites or not- has an equal chance of transporting the bugs along the Camino from bed to bed. In addition, unless you actually see a bug in an Albergue, don't be so sure your bites came from the albergue you just departed - it can take a couple of days before the welts rise.Not in my case. Over 200 bites once and around 50 on next Camino. Both times gear treated with permethrin
It is what it is...
So I think you just got new endearment for your wifey...
My wife tells me the bugs "just love you"!
...
I had that feeling exact experience at Guacelmo. They turned a bad day into a great day., thanks to the caring hospitaleros.CAMINO FRANCES HOSTEL in SANTIBANEZ DE VALDEIGLESIA DID NOT CARE! I insisted on the washing and drying, not them. Their washer and dryer were only 40degrees, therefore futile regarding bed bugs. I did not get excited or angry about it. In fact, I was more concerned for other future pilgrims than myself.
On the contrary, I could not have been met with a better, more responsible, loving, caring reception than at GAUCELMO IN RABANAL yesterday night.
On arrival I told them about my problem as I was totally covered in bites. They kicked into action....
-They isolated me immediately.
-They gave me clean clothes to change into
-They completely emptied my backpack and put it with my boots in a sealed black bag in the sun with killer spray over night
-They washed all of my clothes and belongings with stitching
-They tumbled dried everything at 69degrees
-They made me a lovely cup of tea
-They were kind and proactive
-They gave me plastic bags to put all of my other things in
-They were responsible
-They followed the process in the hospitalero guidebook
-They took the matter very seriously
-They cared about me, other pilgrims and minimising risk in their albergue
-BRILLIANT!!! Wonderful Camino Angels
-The total opposite to CAMINO FRANCES HOSTEL in SANTIBANEZ DE VALDEIGLESIA
WHERE THERE IS CLEARLY A BED BUG PROBLEM
The irony is that the uncaring hostel cost €10, which they would not refund, and the priceless service at GAUCELMO was donativo.
I can't agree more with everything that you wrote!I certainly sympathize with all who have been bitten--especially those that are bedbug magnets. I am the same way with mosquitoes. But, bedbugs, like mosquitoes in the USA mountain ranges, are ubiquitous. They are just part of the downside of travel. The bites are little more than annoying for most people and allergy danger to a few--too much scratching can open them to infection for all.
No lodging wants them and they do much behind the scenes to keep the infestations in check and protect pilgrims. But pilgrims are the vector that bring bedbugs downstream. I know it is easy to blame the 'innkeeper', or the quality of lodging, but housekeeping in five star hotels fight as do our hospitaleros. And they do not have a flow of infested pilgrim equipment coming in at 60 per day. If we need to place blame, it belongs on that loving 'camino family' just ahead of us, not the albergue.
So, chinches, being a fact-of-camino, what can we do? (and others may want to amend this list)
I am not sure that reporting does much good. The infestations are too fluid so any information is dated. Just assume bugs are everywhere and take precautions. I have found calamine lotion to be the medicine for itchy bites--i have been bitten but am not a magnet. YMMV.
- Treat our gear with permethrin, so there is far less bedbug hitchhiking. And, my treated equipment helps a little bit to mitigate the overall problem as well as gives me knowledge that I am not being bitten by the very bugs I am transporting!!
- Watch your pack handling. Never onto a bed. Bedbugs like hiding and cracks; I use a carabiner and strap to my packs grabhandle to hang from one of the bedposts. Others use a large garbage bag to cover the pack then put pack on the floor.
- Use (high percentage) DEET on open skin to protect against the bites.
- Inspect bed for bloodspots, and cracks and seams for bugs. If you find them, tell the hospitalero and leave for another lodging.
- Report bites and bugs to hospitalero, they may not reflect your level of panic and annoyance, but they do care.
- And nothing is certain-- except that bedbugs have been human companions forever.
We have to remember that it is our responsibility to NOT spread the bedbugs. If you have any unexplained bites it's best to assume that they could be from bedbugs, and take care of your gear before continuing on to the next albergue.But pilgrims are the vector that bring bedbugs downstream.
A Wise Pilgrim.I certainly sympathize with all who have been bitten--especially those that are bedbug magnets. I am the same way with mosquitoes. But, bedbugs, like mosquitoes in the USA mountain ranges, are ubiquitous. They are just part of the downside of travel. The bites are little more than annoying for most people and allergy danger to a few--too much scratching can open them to infection for all.
No lodging wants them and they do much behind the scenes to keep the infestations in check and protect pilgrims. But pilgrims are the vector that bring bedbugs downstream. I know it is easy to blame the 'innkeeper', or the quality of lodging, but housekeeping in five star hotels fight as do our hospitaleros. And they do not have a flow of infested pilgrim equipment coming in at 60 per day. If we need to place blame, it belongs on that loving 'camino family' just ahead of us, not the albergue.
So, chinches, being a fact-of-camino, what can we do? (and others may want to amend this list)
I am not sure that reporting does much good. The infestations are too fluid so any information is dated. Just assume bugs are everywhere and take precautions. I have found calamine lotion to be the medicine for itchy bites--i have been bitten but am not a magnet. YMMV.
- Treat our gear with permethrin, so there is far less bedbug hitchhiking. And, my treated equipment helps a little bit to mitigate the overall problem as well as gives me knowledge that I am not being bitten by the very bugs I am transporting!!
- Watch your pack handling. Never onto a bed. Bedbugs like hiding and cracks; I use a carabiner and strap to my packs grabhandle to hang from one of the bedposts. Others use a large garbage bag to cover the pack then put pack on the floor.
- Use (high percentage) DEET on open skin to protect against the bites.
- Inspect bed for bloodspots, and cracks and seams for bugs. If you find them, tell the hospitalero and leave for another lodging.
- Report bites and bugs to hospitalero, they may not reflect your level of panic and annoyance, but they do care.
- And nothing is certain-- except that bedbugs have been human companions forever.
Watch your pack handling. Never onto a bed. Bedbugs like hiding and cracks; I use a carabiner and strap to my packs grabhandle to hang from one of the bedposts. Others use a large garbage bag to cover the pack then put pack on the floor.
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