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Yes, I try not to get bitten, but have been twice. It doesnt dampen my enthusiasm for the Camino at all. But it makes me treat my pack thoroughly so any stragglers die on the very long flight back.They are a reality on the Camino, but it seems to have gotten a little bit better since the covid years from what I saw last year (could be a wrong impression of course).
I like to put my backpack into a large, closed plastic bag at night (a drybag is even better because less noisy) and as far away from the beds as possible.
Everything that touched the bed (sleepwear, liner/sleeping bag) goes into a closed dry bag before putting it back into the backpack. So in case I notice bites during the day, I only have to treat the content of the small "bed bag" and not all my gear. Valuables (phone, wallet ect.) that come with me into the bed are put in a small drybag.
Before going home everything is treated as if infested (laundered/put in hot dryer/sprayed) to avoid bringing them home. (If in doubt, it goes into the dumpster or stays in an airtight bag in the basement for two years...).
I've been on the Francés four times now, and despite being bitten several times and witnessing several quite massive infestations, thankfully managed to never bring them home.
Everyone has different techniques, that one works for me.
Hmm. IF BED BUGS feed on US, is there anything that feeds on THEM? Time we pilgies went over to the offensive sez me!Here's a good comprehensive thread about bed bugs.
This is what I am most concerned about, bringing them home. I know people who have spent thousands of dollars to get rid of them, plus the hassle of buying new furniture, etc…I have been bitten at least three times over the years, but luckily my only reaction is a lot of raised red spots. I do the typical de-bugging routine when I am bit on the camino, but whether I think I’ve been bitten or not, I always do the same thing when I get home.having previously experienced the ability of bed bugs to travel home in one’s luggage,
Well, as hospitaleros we have seen them in summer and also found them in December. Fewer issues in the winter, but fewer pilgrims, fewer albergues open with fewer bunk rooms used so maybe less of a chance then.Are there more bedbugs in summer/autumn than in Spring?
I think that there are definitely fewer at the start of the "pilgrim season" especially in places that close down in the winter. We are the ones who are transporting them along the Camino so more pilgrims = more bed bugs.Are there more bedbugs in summer/autumn than in Spring?
Not everyone reacts to bedbugs (I do and have) which is how the little vermin travel too,— with unsuspecting transporters.good morning world, having previously experienced the ability of bed bugs to travel home in one’s luggage, ….
Amanda
Thanks so much for sharing your experience, it is invaluable particularly around Merino wool when wet, I will keep you all postedI had a horrible bout of them on the del Norte this fall, third week in September. My husband, who slept in the bed next to me in the pension we splurged on (that I am sure was the origin despite not seeing any signs on the bed seams etc (I always check)) never reacted at all!! On discovering the itchy large red bites in clusters in several areas of my body, we went to a laundromat in the place we stopped at and also paid to stay somewhere in a hotel but were very careful where we placed anything , dried everything in high heat (which resulted in my husbands pant zipper melting so I guess that was hot enough LOL!) then I showered well, covered myself in permethrin cream I got in a pharmacy, put on the nicley heated clothes then heated the rest of the clothes. I was scared but impressed that the merino wool shirts and compression socks I was using did NOT shrink at all since they were dry when they went into the dryer! That was a real blessing and good to know - that it is only when the merino is wet that it will shrink in the high heat! The remaining bites slowly healed with the help of Benadryl over days but no new bites appeared so I think I got them all. My only regret and plan for the next Camino is that I will spray my pack in the inside before I go as this was still a worry and I appreciate the idea of a hook on the beds to keep the packs off the ground, a small rope could also be easy and light and doable. Buen Camino!
Thankyou, I am very excited and want to bless the bedbugs too, I’m sure they exist for a reason.This is what I am most concerned about, bringing them home. I know people who have spent thousands of dollars to get rid of them, plus the hassle of buying new furniture, etc…I have been bitten at least three times over the years, but luckily my only reaction is a lot of raised red spots. I do the typical de-bugging routine when I am bit on the camino, but whether I think I’ve been bitten or not, I always do the same thing when I get home.
When I arrive home, the person meeting me at the airport brings a clean set of clothes. I put my camino clothes and my backpack in a big black plastic bag and leave them in the garage. On a hot day, I put the bag out in the sun. I actually do this for several days just to be extra sure.
I’ve gotten bed bugs on popular caminos (Norte, Primitivo) and on solitary caminos (Ebro), so I think they are just a fact of life that we should be prepared to deal with if we get bitten.
p.s. Welcome to the forum, @AmandaBethan!
We have walked 3 fall caminos. When we get home we leave our packs in the garage all winter!!! Then they come into the laundry room to be laundered and dried at high heat.good morning world, having previously experienced the ability of bed bugs to travel home in one’s luggage, I am mindful of the potential to come up against them again.
I would welcome experiences and advice from the forum please
Buen camino
Amanda
At the end of my Camino I found a laundromat with a commercial dryer and blasted everything including my pack. Heat kills them.good morning world, having previously experienced the ability of bed bugs to travel home in one’s luggage, I am mindful of the potential to come up against them again.
I would welcome experiences and advice from the forum please
Buen camino
Amanda
I had heard they can live a long time, so I googled.There might be fewer in early spring, than in late fall, but you should take the same precautions. I was bitten in March - probably in a private accommodation that had just opened for the season. That bedbug must have been quite hungry after a long winter fast.
Nothing will stop them. You're right. May give people peace of mind having their packs up off the floor?I’ve never understood the ‘hang your pack from the bed-frame’ idea.
What’s to stop an adventurous bed bug from strolling across/dropping on to your pack from the bed frame?
Keep your pack in a dry bag/black bag, well away from the bed!
Nothing will stop them. You're right. May give people peace of mind having their packs up off the floor?
To add a rider to that, to be 100% sure, you could leave the stuff in the black plastic bag 2 weeks, then do it again because their eggs take around that long to hatch.This is what I am most concerned about, bringing them home. I know people who have spent thousands of dollars to get rid of them, plus the hassle of buying new furniture, etc…I have been bitten at least three times over the years, but luckily my only reaction is a lot of raised red spots. I do the typical de-bugging routine when I am bit on the camino, but whether I think I’ve been bitten or not, I always do the same thing when I get home.
When I arrive home, the person meeting me at the airport brings a clean set of clothes. I put my camino clothes and my backpack in a big black plastic bag and leave them in the garage. On a hot day, I put the bag out in the sun. I actually do this for several days just to be extra sure.
I’ve gotten bed bugs on popular caminos (Norte, Primitivo) and on solitary caminos (Ebro), so I think they are just a fact of life that we should be prepared to deal with if we get bitten.
p.s. Welcome to the forum, @AmandaBethan!
Because, contrary to popular belief, they don't necessarily live in the bed or the bedding. They live in the various nooks and crannies in the room e.g. under windowsills and in between floorboards. That is why you often see them splatted on the wall and that is why older buildings tend to be more prone to persistent infestations. The floor is a particularly bad place to leave a backpack if there are bedbugs around.I’ve never understood the ‘hang your pack from the bed-frame’ idea.
What’s to stop an adventurous bed bug from strolling across/dropping on to your pack from the bed frame?
Keep your pack in a dry bag/black bag, well away from the bed!
The heat kills the eggs too.To add a rider to that, to be 100% sure, you could leave the stuff in the black plastic bag 2 weeks, then do it again because their eggs take around that long to hatch.
Locate a dryer which can reach above 130F/55c. Although adult bedbugs, nymphs, and eggs are killed at temperatures above 115f/46.2c., the lower the temperature, the longer the treatment time will take.
Because, contrary to popular belief, they don't necessarily live in the bed or the bedding. They live in the various nooks and crannies in the room e.g. under windowsills and in between floorboards. That is why you often see them splatted on the wall and that is why older buildings tend to be more prone to persistent infestations. The floor is a particularly bad place to leave a backpack if there are bedbugs around.
Oh, that's good to know. A lot of my clothing is merino and I was worried about this.I was scared but impressed that the merino wool shirts and compression socks I was using did NOT shrink at all since they were dry when they went into the dryer! That was a real blessing and good to know - that it is only when the merino is wet that it will shrink in the high heat!
Pretreating the outside of your backpack, your shoes, and sleeping bag with Permethrin will help prevent those unwanted hitchhikers. I also use a pack liner- a plastic trash compactor will work for this. And, when setting my pack down on the floor for the night, I set it inside a large plastic bag. I perfected this system after an unpleasant bedbug encounter and it has worked for me for many Caminos since. Upon return home, I’ve heard of folks enclosing the full backpack inside a black plastic bag and leaving it in the sun for a few days. I’ve never done this so cannot speak to whether it is effective. Bedbugs are hardy creatures and hard to kill so prevention is key.good morning world, having previously experienced the ability of bed bugs to travel home in one’s luggage, I am mindful of the potential to come up against them again.
I would welcome experiences and advice from the forum please
Buen camino
Amanda
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