Bedbug in La Escuela (bb's Laguna de Castillo)?

[bopper NYC]

La Escuela in Laguna de Castillo. nice place, but this morning saw a fat bedbug walk across my bed.
Washing and drying now in progress.

Nobody was up as I left - if someone wants to email them. It was room 7

In other news - lots of pilgrims. People booking days ahead - larger villages are sending people up and downstream in taxi's.

 

[C clearly]

Have you informed them? You might have brought the bug (somebody did)?

 

[Theatregal]

Are you sure it was a bedbug? It's best to contact them directly rather than ask someone else to call who didn't stay there or see the bug. I'm sure the hospitaleros would want to know as soon as possible so they could do a good check.

 

[Tincatinker]

Given that the little b*ggers grow to a maximum 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long and 1.5–3 mm (0.059–0.118 in) wide as fully mature adults if it was big and fat it wasn't a bed bug.

 

[Tincatinker]

There you go @bopper NYC ; but I hope you're sure you are right. This bit of naming & shaming will sit on the internet for a thousand years. That's why we ask people to inform the hospitalero/as not the whole world. Persistent failure to deal with bugs; multiple infestations - they deserve reporting. I can't find a previous report against this particular Albergue (though they may exist). If you had reported to the operators at the time then maybe your thread title could have been "Albergue deals promptly with Bed Bug sighting".

I don't know it all but I do know how much damage the internet can do. And if you don't believe me put "La Escuela bed bugs" into Google and see.

 

[martin1ws]

Should not be a bed bug hidden somewhere if it is "at home" in the albergue and it is not in the night?
I thought they come in the night, bite and hide again.

How fast are bed bugs?
Should I try to catch it if I see one that I have a proof or something to look at?

Or with other words: What should I do besides informing the hospitalero/as and starting the "washing/drying/bedbug-decontamination" of my equipment?

 

[C clearly]

Should not be a bed bug hidden somewhere if it is "at home" in the albergue and it is not in the night?

Maybe it "should" (and usually they are) but maybe that one was happily hiding in your bedding when you disturbed it in the morning, so it headed off for a better hiding place. Or maybe it was in your pack or other item and emerged with the disturbance.

How fast are bed bugs? Should I try to catch it if I see one that I have a proof or something to look at?

Definitely! They are not super fast, so you have a chance to catch one that is wandering across your bed. Drop it in a glass of water so you can look at it without squishing it first. (However, I admit that I'm more likely to smash it in a panic first.)

Or with other words: What should I do besides informing the hospitalero/as and starting the "washing/drying/bedbug-decontamination" of my equipment?

That's about it! I find it very helpful to keep my belonging in several dry bags that can isolate exposed and not-exposed things. Also I put everything into a large bag at night, to protect even the backpack, as that is when the bedbug activity is likely to be greatest. This makes it easier to decontaminate that which needs decontamination.

I remind myself that this is all a matter of risk management, so anything I can reasonably do to reduce the risk is a good idea, but it doesn't have to be perfect.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

How fast are bed bugs?

Not fast at all, and easy to catch of squash.

 

[domigee]

Not fast at all, and easy to catch of squash.

I thought they were very fast - mind you it was 3 am and I may have been the one who was slow!
Managed to kill a few but not easily.

 

[Marbe2]

While I do it understand the point of being careful abt posting that there are currently bedbugs in a facility, I for one, am glad that you posted a warning. You are reporting what you saw, and seem to be knowledgeable abt recognizing them. I got severely bitten a couple of years ago at an albergue that when I later researched this facility back a few years, bedbugs were repeatedly reported. One bug does not an infestation make, but I think the consumer also needs to be informed to make her/his choice!

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Should not be a bed bug hidden somewhere if it is "at home" in the albergue and it is not in the night?
I thought they come in the night, bite and hide again.

How fast are bed bugs?
Should I try to catch it if I see one that I have a proof or something to look at?

Or with other words: What should I do besides informing the hospitalero/as and starting the "washing/drying/bedbug-decontamination" of my equipment?

I have seen bedbugs 3 times on the Caminos, all in early morning when lights were first turned on, and yes, the albergues were told about it. The ones I've seen moved quite slowly, easy to kill if you are so inclined. They remind me somewhat of a small apple seed....but with legs.

 

[James Peter McDonald]

La Escuela in Laguna de Castillo. nice place, but this morning saw a fat bedbug walk across my bed.
Washing and drying now in progress.

Nobody was up as I left - if someone wants to email them. It was room 7

In other news - lots of pilgrims. People booking days ahead - larger villages are sending people up and downstream in taxi's.

I just finish the Frances Camino and I had 3 different contact with bed bugs. The first time I thought it must be some kind of flea or no-see-em bites. Mostly on my arms. Then in a week or so I woke up to a stinging on my ankle and given it was almost 6am I turned on the lights and found 2 of them crawling across my plastic covered matress. No they were not fast but I was! Killing both and leaving my blood smeared on the plastic. I told the people at the albergue, but maybe I brought them with me. Maybe they were living in my sleeping bed liner for the past week. The burning itching sensación lasted more then 2 weeks. And yes I made it worse by scratching the heck out of it. Also I probably had some kind of reaction to them. So I was taking antihistamines, cortazone tablets and using cortazone cream to try and control the itching. I researched enough about them and did what was needed to get rid of them. I was determined not to let a few dirty little bed bugs ruin my camino. But what I learnt from the web and the farmcias is that they can and do live in the matresses without being seen in the early stages of their lifes. Called nymphs and I met several people who have come in contact with them. The last contact I had was in Santiago a few days ago in a very nice clean albergue. I stayed there for four nights and on the second night felt that I had been bit again and started search around and I found an adult under my pillow. I could tell just by looking at her that she had not eaten lately. Looked different from the ones full of my blood. Also at this albergue the matresses were NOT covered with plastic which given the way people move from bed to bed should be a must. There is just no way to stop them from moving into a matress in their early stages and waiting for dinner to show up. Sorry for rambling but I did want to share that. I read a lot on this forum before starting and thought that a lot of people did not think they were a problem. I know different now.
Other than bedbugs I had a great camino. SJPP to Santiago in 28 days. I like hiking. Thanks to all who share on this forum. It was a great help.
Buen Camino.

 

[C clearly]

excessive worry about... the reputation of the offending party

You seem to be saying that the albergue was negligent (an offending party) in some way. How so?

 

[caminka]

Given that the little b*ggers grow to a maximum 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long and 1.5–3 mm (0.059–0.118 in) wide as fully mature adults if it was big and fat it wasn't a bed bug.

I've seen them in sizes from 1 mm to 1 cm, and in different colours too, probably depending on the amout of feed they got: transparent, brownish, brown, redish, red, even greenish (god knows what that one had fed on). luckily they are not fast and relatively easy to kill.

they remind me of big flat ticks. (those I also saw in a variety of sizes and colours.)