Bed bugs in my hotel room...HELP!!

[Anonymous]

On vacation at Disneyland and the first night I couldn’t sleep because it felt like I was getting bitten. My first thought was bed bugs but my bites look like mosquito bites. Second night I’m lying in bed and notice something crawling on the pillow...and of course it’s a bed bug! I took pics and video and called the front desk, and maintenance confirmed it’s bed bug. They have changed our room and are washing our clothes now, but I’m freaking out about making sure I don’t bring my home with me. My suitcase is plastic-type material and I don’t see any evidence in there. I let my suitcase on the ground but unpacked my daughter’s clothes. Should I throw all of our clothes away when we get home? I changed our flight so we’re leaving first thing tomorrow morning so realistically we won’t be able to buy anything new to wear on the way home. What about the stroller as diaper bag, which were kept in the room?
Also, what kind of compensation is reasonable to expect from the hotel? It’s pretty clear under CA law that they are liable, I’m just not sure if their offer to partially refund our stay is enough, especially if these titters make it back to my house.

Any advice is appreciated! I feel so gross and unbelievably itchy.

[Anonymous]

First world problem, OP.

[Anonymous]

Oh I’m so sorry! Bedbugs are the worst! I don’t have any advice for the stroller, sorry, but don’t throw the clothes away! What you do is as soon as you get home, immediately (like IMMEDIATELY; don’t stop to take off your shoes or anything) go to the laundry room, and put everything that can be machine washed in the washer, hot, then dry on high heat. For things that can’t be machine washed but aren’t plastic (e.g. wool), put them straight in the drier on high heat. That’s clothes sorted. Because I am very paranoid I will put everything that can’t be washed (books, shoes, etc.) small enough in ziplock bags for six months. You can buy and ziplock everything except the shoes you’re wearing before you get home. If you don’t want to be without stuff for six months, you can kill bedbugs by heating things (google will tell you how hot for how long), either in a low-temp oven or in a box especially purchased for the purpose. Then everyone in the family can shower. This only leaves out larger things like suitcases and the stroller — I would probably throw away perishable things like the diapers myself (unless they’re cloth, in which case into the washer they go!) but your mileage may vary.

For the big stuff, you can either take your chances that they were not invaded or keep them outside when you first get home and hire/buy a big enough sterilizing box to run them through I guess? Maybe someone else has better advice for that? Since the first time a met a bedbug at a hotel, I travel with a duffle (drier!!!) or put my rolling bag in the bathtub because bringing home bedbugs is absolutely my worst nightmare (I live in a apartment).

Good luck! I know this is a really horrible and traumatizing experience but it doesn’t always end terribly! I’ve met confirmed bedbugs twice on holiday and never cut my trips short (couldn’t afford to but of COURSE was moved to a different room — usually it’s just one room that’s infested not the whole hotel) and so far (touch wood) never brought home any bloodsucking hitchhikers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First world problem, OP.

Disagree strongly.

Bedbugs are really an all-world problem. No one wants them. I’ve taught low income immigrant kids who tell horror stories about bedbugs in their apartments.

[Anonymous]

Just move rooms and have laundry wash you clothes.

[Anonymous]

Get rid of your suitcase and anything else they could have hitched a ride on! Buy a duffle for your clothes. I would actually check onto another hotel for a few days. The moment you get home toss everything including the duffle into the wash. Wash everything on hot with extra soak. This should include the clothes you walk into the house with. Wash shoes if possible!

Treat this very seriously! The hotel should comp your room!

[Anonymous]

1. Move rooms and have their laundry team hot wash and dry everything before you get on that plane. Have them seal clean laundry in plastic bags.

2. Order this and have it 1 day Prime delivered to your house. I have this thing, it works. There are multiple sizes, get one that fits your stroller or largest suitcase. Ask Disney to reimburse: ZappBug Heater https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F6EV306/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_GFhjDbCPN653H

3. When checking bags, tell the airline. They will seal your luggage in plastic. This is to prevent spread of bed bugs to other airline passengers’ luggage. Please be thoughtful of other people.

4. Do not bring ANY luggage in the house. Setup BugZapp in the garage or patio, you’ll heat treat all your bags and belongings. No shoes into the house, you’ll heat zap those too. All belongings from the trip should be placed in plastic garbage bags outside as soon as you get home. You want to prevent any hitchhiking bug from escaping.

5. The clothing you wear on the plane? Strip down as soon as you get in the house. Hot wash then into the dryer. You and DH should physically check each other to ensure there are no bugs in your hair.

6. Heat zap everything. It will probably take a full day to do all your luggage, shoes, bags, etc. Give the machine the proper time to warm up every item to 120 degrees for at least 20 minutes.


You’ll be fine, OP. You are so lucky that you caught it now. If you are diligent and follow the steps, you’ll survive this.

In terms of compensation, I think Disney should refund you the full cost of your stay. They probably won’t give you anything for your flight. You may be able to make a travel insurance claim with your credit card company- read the fine print carefully.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1. Move rooms and have their laundry team hot wash and dry everything before you get on that plane. Have them seal clean laundry in plastic bags.

2. Order this and have it 1 day Prime delivered to your house. I have this thing, it works. There are multiple sizes, get one that fits your stroller or largest suitcase. Ask Disney to reimburse: ZappBug Heater https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F6EV306/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_GFhjDbCPN653H

3. When checking bags, tell the airline. They will seal your luggage in plastic. This is to prevent spread of bed bugs to other airline passengers’ luggage. Please be thoughtful of other people.

4. Do not bring ANY luggage in the house. Setup BugZapp in the garage or patio, you’ll heat treat all your bags and belongings. No shoes into the house, you’ll heat zap those too. All belongings from the trip should be placed in plastic garbage bags outside as soon as you get home. You want to prevent any hitchhiking bug from escaping.

5. The clothing you wear on the plane? Strip down as soon as you get in the house. Hot wash then into the dryer. You and DH should physically check each other to ensure there are no bugs in your hair.

6. Heat zap everything. It will probably take a full day to do all your luggage, shoes, bags, etc. Give the machine the proper time to warm up every item to 120 degrees for at least 20 minutes.

I don't know if this actually works, but I have heard of people also putting their stuff in black plastic bags, sealing it, and leaving it in the yard for a few days during the summer months. It should heat up pretty well in there.


You’ll be fine, OP. You are so lucky that you caught it now. If you are diligent and follow the steps, you’ll survive this.

In terms of compensation, I think Disney should refund you the full cost of your stay. They probably won’t give you anything for your flight. You may be able to make a travel insurance claim with your credit card company- read the fine print carefully.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Do you have a rental car? Can you leave all your stuff in it on a hot sunny day to roast in the sun?

[Anonymous]

Leave your stuff in your super hot car - as in park it in a sunny parking lot for like an entire day. The stifling temp should kill them (similar to how extermination works if you had to rid them in your house).

Get in the habit of doing bed bug checks no matter which hotel you're in. It is one of the first things Dh does when he walks in.

[Anonymous]

Yet another reason to avoid the Mouse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you have a rental car? Can you leave all your stuff in it on a hot sunny day to roast in the sun?

this is so gross and cheap

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you have a rental car? Can you leave all your stuff in it on a hot sunny day to roast in the sun?

This. Also, consider throwing away your suitcase when you get home.

[Anonymous]

Geez people you don't have to throw the suitcases out.. hello landfill.

Just put them in a big trash bag for 48 hours.

[Anonymous]

Which hotel?