I have looked for an answer in other threads/comments but haven't seen it addressed specifically. Would sleeping only on the top bunks save one from bed bugs? How high can these things crawl anyway?
My only (anecdotal) reference was in Conques on the Le Puy route; myself and several walkers slept on the top floor of the communal refuge, and the lone person who slept on the ground floor got bit a few times.
To come back to bunk beds, I know one's stuff and backpack might stay on the floor and easily accessible to the wee critters but I'm thinking the bugs are only interested in bodies and not equipment?
SLEEPING on the top bunk has no relevance to stopping bed bug bites.
Unless this conditions are present:
No bed bugs present.
I’ve inspected many thousands of housing units in the U.S. The best things you should do are;
1. Check the mattress at the seams.
example: at the side and top and bottom. Bed bugs like to congregate at those areas.
2. Lift the mattress up,look for bed bugs,they can be
white- nymphs,
brown - looking to have a meal, black-full of blood. Already been to the smorgasbord.
If the mattress is sealed in plastic , that’s very good.
So several more things.
Look for spots like a blood spot that would happen if you had a pin prick of you finger and the blood dripped on the mattress, remember it will be very tiny.
Bed bugs also like to congregate where the ceiling and wall meet.
So inspect the bed
mattress, top bottom and side and
look at ceiling and wall area.
Look for small brown spots. like dried blood from a bite.
After all that completely close your packback. You could carry a trash bag and seal your pack.
Bed bugs are active when dark.
I haven’t had one bite on 3 camiños
Good luck Buen Camino