Bed bugs in Navarrete

[Lindsay from Scotland]

I strayed at ‘El Refugio Naverette’ on 21 September 2024 (last night) and as I slept I was bitten by bed bugs on both my arms and on and my abdomen. There were spots of blood on the paper sheet this morning and I have raised and localised swellings on my arms. Which are extreme itchy.
I reported what had happened to the hospitaliser in the morning and I was told that “I must be mistaken “ because she has never had a problem with “chiches”before .

 

[trecile]

I reported what had happened to the hospitaliser in the morning and I was told that “I must be mistaken “ because she has never had a problem with “chiches”before .

That's very disappointing because every hospitalero/a should know that bed bugs can be brought in by pilgrims to the cleanest Albergue.

 

[good_old_shoes]

Sorry you got bitten, and even more sorry that the hospitaleros didn't take it seriously.

Sadly I've experienced similar behaviour by some hosts, too...

"That's not bed bugs" (yes, they were)

"But it's dead" (no, it still walked...)

"But you brought it in" (No, I didn't, I'm allergic, take massive precautions and would know, and also there's so much bed bug poop in that bed, they certainly have lived there for a while!)

ect.

But you did the right thing by reporting it to the hospitaleros.

Wash and / or dry all your gear on 'hot' to kill all the bugs that might have sneaked into your gear.

That way you avoid carrying them somewhere else, and show more responsibility than the albergue that apparently didn't...

 

[trecile]

Wash and / or dry all your gear on 'hot' to kill all the bugs that might have sneaked into your gear.

Don't worry about washing on hot. It's the time in the hot dryer that really counts. I recommend doing the heat treatment on dry clothes (less time required because you don't have to wait for the wet clothing to reach the desired temperature). Then if you want to wash do so according to label instructions.

If it's a warm day you can put your backpack and things that can't go into the dryer in a black plastic garbage bag and set it in the sun for a few hours.

 

[C clearly]

I was told that “I must be mistaken “ because she has never had a problem with “chiches”before

That's ridiculous.

 

[Dani7]

Agreed. Ridiculous and irresponsible, even dangerous. Some people have terrible and very serious allergic reactions to bed bug bites.

 

[lt56ny]

I strayed at ‘El Refugio Naverette’ on 21 September 2024 (last night) and as I slept I was bitten by bed bugs on both my arms and on and my abdomen. There were spots of blood on the paper sheet this morning and I have raised and localised swellings on my arms. Which are extreme itchy.
I reported what had happened to the hospitaliser in the morning and I was told that “I must be mistaken “ because she has never had a problem with “chiches”before .

I think you should post your experience in Wise Pilgrim and in Gronze.com to warn future pigrims. After many caminos I had only one similar but very different experience. I was in an albergue (I don't remember the name) on the CP coastal. I was the first one there and put in a room. The albergue looked very new and spotless. The only thing I did was put my backpack down on a chair. A minute later 3 women who I spoke with a few times that day as we passed each other and stopped in the same couple of cafes came in. I went to greet them. The hospitelara took the other ladies to the next room. A few seconds later they came running out saying there were bedbugs. I grabbed my backpack and went in the room to see. Yes they were bedbugs. The hospitelara was shocked and ashamed. She took us all to the reception desk, refunded our money. She called another albergue to make sure we had beds. She then called her husband to have him take care of the issue. She closed the albergue and then put us all in her car and drove us to the new albergue. Much better ending to a story. Sorry for your experience.

 

[Maurice Frank]

Good advice to post comments on Wise Pilgrim and Gronze including a date. Last fall on the Frances I eagerly anticipated staying at a highly regarded albergue. The day before when I went to look it up to reserve and there were multiple recent reports of bedbugs. That saved me and I was grateful.

 

[Mikey - camino]

I have been bitten by bed bugs on the camino several times. The worst was an albergue in Santiago (KM-0) he promised to credit my card and never did.
Impossible to avoid the nasty creatures. Go to a laundromat with industrial size dryers and give them a 1 hour tumble, back pack included.

 

[WayWalker]

I strayed at ‘El Refugio Naverette’ on 21 September 2024 (last night) and as I slept I was bitten by bed bugs on both my arms and on and my abdomen. There were spots of blood on the paper sheet this morning and I have raised and localised swellings on my arms. Which are extreme itchy.
I reported what had happened to the hospitaliser in the morning and I was told that “I must be mistaken “ because she has never had a problem with “chiches”before .

I'm always afraid of this upon the possibility of coming across bed bugs. That the hospitelero will deny or possibly blame me. Ugh. Sorry this happened.

 

[williamlittig]

I strayed at ‘El Refugio Naverette’ on 21 September 2024 (last night) and as I slept I was bitten by bed bugs on both my arms and on and my abdomen. There were spots of blood on the paper sheet this morning and I have raised and localised swellings on my arms. Which are extreme itchy.
I reported what had happened to the hospitaliser in the morning and I was told that “I must be mistaken “ because she has never had a problem with “chiches”before .

Bedbugs are transient and could have traveled that day with an unsuspecting pilgrim. Albergues work hard to correct problems. Please notify them instead of shaming their hard work. I’ve been a Hospitalero where pilgrims have been attacked and every measure possible was taken. Consider placing your pack in a black plastic bag in the sun for two hours and make the world a better place.

 

[trecile]

Please notify them instead of shaming their hard work

@Lindsay from Scotland did notify them, and they denied that there was a problem.

I reported what had happened to the hospitaliser in the morning and I was told that “I must be mistaken “ because she has never had a problem with “chiches”before .

 

[WayWalker]

I strayed at ‘El Refugio Naverette’ on 21 September 2024 (last night) and as I slept I was bitten by bed bugs on both my arms and on and my abdomen. There were spots of blood on the paper sheet this morning and I have raised and localised swellings on my arms. Which are extreme itchy.
I reported what had happened to the hospitaliser in the morning and I was told that “I must be mistaken “ because she has never had a problem with “chiches”before .

I'm always afraid of this upon the possibility of coming across bed bugs. That the hospitelero will deny or possibly blame me. Ugh. Sorry this happened

 

[Lindsay from Scotland]

I didn’t intend to stir up the hysteria about bed bugs, yet again but I felt it prudent to report the incident particularly when the woman managing the hostel is in a state of denial.
Let’s put the matter to bed. Bedbugs do not spread disease and until our recent history were an accepted part of our communal experience. They are not be feared but to be managed.
I am an allergic reactor to bed bugs but rather than getting hysterical about I just deal with it. Take a couple of antihistamine tablets and spray everything including myself with an aerosol designed to kill cockroaches and ants
As we say in Scotland “Hush yer chooks”!

 

[Rebekah Scott]

Not every little black dot is a bedbug. A pilgrim once accused me of assorted awfulness when I told her the "bedbug" she had there on the page of her book was a bit of black lint.
Someone produced a magnifier lens, and we all had a good look at it. It was a bit of black lint.
There were bits of black lint all on her white sleeping-bag liner, flaked off from her sleeping bag.

As a hospitalera, the only thing worse than having a bedbug sighting is the massive expectations of the people who find said bedbug. If you do not react with an "appropriate" degree of emotional outburst, you and your albergue will be blackened for weeks on social media.
... And beware of the reactions of the finder, when he realizes he may be seen as a possible carrier of said critters -- "personally insulted" doesn't always cover it!
(We keep calm, isolate, and treat the affected bed and gear with approved methods.)
I agree with Lindsay from Scotland. Hush yer chooks!

 

[bullingtonce]

I strayed at ‘El Refugio Naverette’ on 21 September 2024 (last night) and as I slept I was bitten by bed bugs on both my arms and on and my abdomen. There were spots of blood on the paper sheet this morning and I have raised and localised swellings on my arms. Which are extreme itchy.
I reported what had happened to the hospitaliser in the morning and I was told that “I must be mistaken “ because she has never had a problem with “chiches”before .

Her response is perfectly normal and to be expected; she is human after all. Plus, you are a 'come and quickly gone' person, a transient, which is why she did not pay you any mind. Such is a joy of what life and human nature are. Welcome to earth. Chuck

 

[Lindsay from Scotland]

I agree with you! but I do want to share my experience with others. Have you got a problem with that?

 

[C clearly]

Her response is perfectly normal and to be expected; she is human after all.

For an experienced hospitalera to deny the possibility of the presence of bedbugs is not to be expected. I am not sure how denial is any more human than the emotions of the bedbug victim.

I do not get overly excited about bedbugs anymore, after a number of itchy encounters. As @Lindsay from Scotland says, I deal with them matter of factly. And as @Rebekah Scott says, the hysteria of some people must get very tiresome.

The only helpful aspect of this thread is to educate people about bedbugs. It seems that operators of lodgings also need education - either in the practicalities of bedbugs, or in the appropriate way to interact with people reporting them. Shaming by either side is certainly counterproductive.

 

[Flog]

I am not sure how denial is any more human than the emotions of the bedbug victim.

It's certainly no less human. Nobody ever likes to admit to being wrong about anything, ever. And being suddenly confronted with an accusation, our initial instinctive human response is to deny.. even if only as an initial knee jerk reaction.

The only helpful aspect of this thread is to educate people about bedbugs. It seems that operators of lodgings also need education - either in the practicalities of bedbugs, or in the appropriate way to interact with people reporting them. Shaming by either side is certainly counterproductive.

Agree, and better to have a discrete word with a hospi, than all guns blazing in front of everyone..

 

[Lindsay from Scotland]

What I have learned from this thread?

Do not report being bitten by bedbugs, it’s a waste of time and probably unnecessary.

Deal with it privately and if you are an allergic reactor self medicate.

Bedbugs are just part of the Camino experience alongside foot blisters, disturbed sleep and respiratory infections.

“Hi Ho and there you go”!
Lx

 

[Rebekah Scott]

What I have learned from this thread?

Do not report being bitten by bedbugs, it’s a waste of time and probably unnecessary.

Deal with it privately and if you are an allergic reactor self medicate.

Bedbugs are just part of the Camino experience alongside foot blisters, disturbed sleep and respiratory infections.

“Hi Ho and there you go”!
Lx

Lindsay, as a hospitalero I assure you that I want to know if you have found bedbugs!

 

[Tincatinker]

Strange learnings have you had:

From this same thread (and the thousands like it) I have learned:

Always report ( the reaction to your report is irrelevant - you will have done your bit);

If you are a reactor it is sensible to carry appropriate medications;

Bug bites are not inevitable, no more than blisters. There are simple, effective, precautionary measures that can be applied to avoid either or both;

Disturbed sleep and respiratory infections - just like at home I guess. These things happen. Earplugs and nasal sprays are available. Just make sure you get them in the right orifices

 

[C clearly]

What I have learned from this thread?

Do not report being bitten by bedbugs, it’s a waste of time and probably unnecessary.

I was alarmed to see this as what you have learned from the thread. I hope my own posts didn't contribute, as I certainly didn't intend this message! I reviewed all the posts in the thread and thought that most of them were supportive of your actions. I'm sorry if you didn't recognize that.

 

[Lindsay from Scotland]

Over the years I have walked along the Camino Frances seven times and twice from Le Puy.
My body reacts to bedbug bites by coming out in small water blisters which are extremely itchy. This happens approximately two days after a bite by which time I will have moved on.
In Naverette I awoke early in the dark and I was just gathering my belongings, switched on my head torch to make a final check and spotted a bed bug, it’s abdomen gorged with blood. I continued to investigate the dormitory and spotted some more bugs on adjoining beds and with my head torch I could see several bed bugs in the bin for discarded sheets. On this occasion I reported the infestation and moved on.
I guess that bedbugs along with the elevated chances of catching Covid sleeping in dormitory (I contracted Covid in April this year in Los Arcos and had to stop) may curtail the numbers.
“It’s all part of life’s rich tapestry!”
Lx

 

[OZAJ]

Bedbugs are transient and could have traveled that day with an unsuspecting pilgrim.

I have experienced this in Ponferrada some years ago. I arrived with three others early enough to get a bed in one of the small dorms.

One of my friends had bites.

A few minutes after settling into the dorm, I spotted a healthy-looking bug trotting across my bed. I caught it and took it to one of the albergue staff who immediately sprayed the crap out of my friend's sleeping bag.

None of us were bitten that night.

 

[OZAJ]

Lindsay, as a hospitalero I assure you that I want to know if you have found bedbugs!

I have been bitten on several Caminos and have always found that the hospitaleros were keen to deal with the problem, except once in an hotel in France where they appeared not to know about the "petites betes".