Reminder! Check for bed bugs

Just stayed at Vdara, unfortunately our staycation was not all that we hoped for, about 2am my husband woke itchy with bites on the backs of his elbows and calves. We pulled back the bedding down to the mattress but spotted no evidence of bed bugs. After an hour of inspections and googling for info and images. We thought it could be an allergic reaction (he just started on new vitamins and recently had an injection) or mosquito bites (he just returned from Chicago, but did not stay in a hotel) since we couldn't find convincing proof otherwise and I had no signs of trouble. When he woke in the morning he had even more bites. We checked out and he went straight to the doctor. I still had no signs of bites. I was concerned for him because he has also not had chicken pox. I wanted him to rule out all possibilities.

A visit to the doctor revealed that they are indeed bed bug bites. He was given a steroid shot and creams to help with the itching. He has notified Vdara, they will meet with him at 2:30 today. I hope that they will be helpful.

It is possible I was bitten as well and have not had a reaction or it just has not appeared yet. I have no bites or welts. I've been itchy since bed bugs were confirmed, but I believe it's mental. Just that skin crawling feeling.

Our clothes are currently in my trunk, my car is parked in the sun. I'm hopeful our 104 degree temp today helps kill any buggers that might have found a way to my luggage. When I get home, we'll strip in our garage. I'll be transferring clothing to plastic bags and washing/drying at highest settings. I will try to freeze items that cannot withstand hot water/high heat. I plan to throw my suitcase in the trash. It's not worth the risk. My only concern is my kindle, but it never left my suitcase and it is in a separate compartment so I pray that it is safe. I plan to buy mattress and pillow covers for my bed at home to prevent an outbreak. I'm terrified of introducing bed bugs into my home. If anyone has any pointers, please advise.

Once Vdara responds, I will notify the various registries. Anything to prevent someone else going through this. It's an awful feeling. Take the steps to inspect rooms before bringing in any personal items. It's no safe bet, but it will reduce your risk. After researching I learned I should have checked more than the sheets and mattress. I should have also inspected the headboard, beneath the bed and the box springs. Also, furniture and wall art nearby.

 

vb, please keep us informed on this. surprising that vdara would have an infestation problem but I guess it's a wake up call to always check for infestations. I usually check for bedbugs when I stay at a hotel, but I usually stay at 2 or 3 star hotels so have some reason to check.

surprised that you didn't see any signs of infestation, I usually pull back the sheets and pads to check the mattress. I also check above and below the mattress and under the mattress for indications. Luckily I haven't encountered bedbugs but it should be interesting if vdara admits any problems and what they do to resolve your problem.

 

I worked in hotels for many years…it is strange that you couldn’t see any signs of them and that sleeping in the same bed, you didn’t get any bites. Better safe than sorry however, I understand that!

Did you mention to the hotel before leaving? Even if there is a suspicion of bed bugs, they would’ve put the room out of service in order to have the room checked by experts (in my experience we had a company called eco-lab come and inspect the room)…at least it keeps them from renting the room out to the next unsuspecting guests.

Proves that bed bugs aren’t just in dives and motels…they can show up anywhere. They travel from continent to continent in travelers’ luggage. I check for them wherever I go, each and every time.

 

IMO, it is not at all surprising that Vdara had an issue. New hotels hire new, inexperienced housekeepers that do not know what to look for, and have probably never seen them. Wynn and Venetian both had issues within the first couple of years of opening. I think you are far less likely to find them in the 2 or 3 star hotels that you stay in, such as the Boyd properties, that have housekeepers that have been around for decades. The star level has nothing at all to do with bedbugs, nor does cleanliness.

 

Sorry you have to deal with this. Hope all ends well. Please keep us updated.

 

I do not think vdara would be immune from bedbugs any more than anywhere else.

I have read of world class hotels having them.

you can get them from seats on an airplane or taxicab and then they spread from there.

scary.

 

Any update on what Vdara said? Just curious.

 

How would you check for them other than checking the corners and by the bed board

 

Here's a good article

http://traveltips.usatoday.com/check-room-bed-bugs-13042.html

Happy bed bug hunting!

 

There are several videos on youtube explaining and demonstrating exactly how to check for bedbugs and what to look for.

Just go to you tube and search "how to check for bed bugs in a hotel"

Great info and you see what signs to look for even if you don't see any specific bugs. I bring a flashlight with me on every trip now.
Good luck.

 

Look at the luggage racks as well, especially if it's non-metal.

 

I believe I've read that the welts you get from bedbug bites are an allergic reaction to the bug saliva, and not everyone is allergic. So you probably got tiny bites as well (which are too small to really see), but you don't have the allergic reaction, (which is what people are actually seeing with the red welts.)

 

Good comment. My good friend is actually allergic to them. She was bit in Paris while studying abroad. Never thought she'd see the day she'd have to go to a French hospital. She broke out big time.

 

To follow up, I never developed welts or bumps. I have a few red marks that appeared but they were hardly raised and never really itchy, unlike my husbands. I have about 6 total, and only two are near each other. His are mostly in clusters or lines of three. Which is common of bed bug bites. The number of his bites increased throughout the day. It seemed the more he itched the worse the became. He had bumps all around his elbows and knees down his calves and on his ankles. They were all extremely itchy. Prescription strength hydrocortisone cream has kept it at bay with repeated and heavy applications.

Vdara called yesterday and said that Eco Lab did not find bed bugs. Aria Risk Management called today, they are seeking a copy of the medical report. So the investigation is still ongoing.

I threw away our suitcase and a few other items, washed clothing in hot water multiple times and dried on the hottest and longest cycle. I left leather items and toiletries wrapped in plastic bags in the sun for a couple days. We parked our vehicles in the sun. Purchased a mattress cover that protects against bed bugs and put it on immediately; we just bought a new mattress last month it would be devastating if we brought them home.

 

Ok you just scared the crap outta me.

 

oo

Another example of "good intentions, paving the way to hell"

Bedbugs were almost extinct in the modern world,
thanks to the wonders of science & a Marvelous pesticide called DDT.

But unfortunately there making their way back into our Hotels/beds & modern society.

A good pest control company can find & eradicate them,
some even use cryo (extreme cold) be careful they will lurk deep inside your luggage,
(deep inside where you can't get to them)
and not come out until you take them home.

/Thinks of people placing their dirty Luggage on their bed & dumping out the dirty clothes,

 

Anyone try any of those bed bug sprays?

 

Haha. Not to mention theatre seats. I watched a show talking about nasty things on theatre seats. Basically said not to ever wear shorts in a theatre. Mostly fecal matter.....

 

Must have been a funny movie and the person laughed so hard they crapped themselves?????