birthday girl, seriously now, i really think you need to take a deep breath and relax. all kinds of bad things can happen in this world. you can't possibly worry about all of them. you are just making yourself crazy for no reason.

I ask questions on here because I am curious.

The news had been discussing bed bugs lately.

I would rather ask a lot of questions than just assume.

And u know what they say about assuming.

No, what do they say?

I sometimes travel with a silk sleep sack from these people: http://www.dreamsack.com/ But that's for night trains, not because I'm worried about bed bugs. I heard there was infestation in New York recently, so travel to Europe, isn't any more "dangerous" than travel in the US. You can't plan for everything - I've survived a badly sprained ankle and a broken wrist (different trips!) while traveling - flexibility is better than worry.

I don't know if anyone else had this experience but my Dad who was raised in Australia always told me after kissing me goodnight "don't let the bedbugs bite you", LOL

birthdaygirl, as another poster said IF you take any kind of bedsack,sheet or whathave you with you and IF the hotel room did have bedbugs you will no doubt be putting those bedbugs in your luggage when you pack your luggage to move on to your next destination.

Hmmmm, have you given any thought about getting food poisoning? Just teasing you. :-P Try to relax and think about something pleasant this coming weekend.

Do you worry about every little thing on a day to day basis? I sure hope not. T

Sorry to give you all the wrong impression...I had a brief worry about bed bugs (you have to keep in mind that in my city, on the news they have been talking about the spread of bed bugs on an international level---I did not worry about bed bugs on my last trip. Although my only request for a room is that I feel safe and that there are no bugs. And that there be a bathroom. And clean.)

I am just asking questions as they pop into my head....I cannot wait for my trip! Yay!!

birthdaygirl, have you figured out what clothes, shoes etc. you are going to take with you. That would be a fun thing to think about.

On Yahoo this week, there was an article about bedbugs in hotels. They suggested stripping the sheet back and using the hair dryer on the bed. They evidently like heat and will come out if the bed is infested. I also found this for you:
"Simple physical control methods include standing the legs of beds in soapy water, coating the legs with petroleum jelly or double-sided sticky tape. Bed bugs cannot climb polished glasss or metal easily and they don't fly, so that the legs of beds can also be placed inside glass jars or metal cans. Heating to 97° to 99°F will kill most bed bugs, as will temperatures below 48°F."

If the bed is not infested, just coat the legs with Vaseline. Now how you explain that to the hotel personnel is an entirely different thread.

Diane

LOL Diane, can't you just visualize some hotel guest "somehow" doing that and the face of the houskeeping person the next morning!! Too funny!!

My sister was bitten by bedbugs many years ago, in Egypt. Not a big deal, they were like mosquito bites. I would be more concerned about all the chemicals in the pesticides people use to kill them, or mosquitos.

And, hep A is nothing like hep C.

The sleep sheet I linked to above is treated with permethrin, an insect repellant. Of course, I looked up permethrin, and it turns out that is a carcinogen. So you take your chances one way or another.

Oh WillTravel, LOL. Not funny I know, but life is funny, is it not?

Back to the OP - I don't believe there is a bedbug issue, full stop. Where on earth are you planning to stay? It would have to be not much better than a flophouse for there to be any real risk.

Coating the bed legs with Vaseline sounds like a cheap and easy option to set your mind at rest, but if you walk into a hotel room and think you have any real reason to imagine it might be harbouring infestations, you walk straight out again and go somewhere else.

You are not coming to the third world, you know.

Well, birthdaygrlstrip,
I almost NEVER try to explore someone's posting history here (I prefer to leave that pasttime to others), but you seem to post so many questions that this morning I did click on your name, and found that while you claim to be "creeped out" by the idea of bedbugs, you have also been over on the Asia board claiming that you contemplate going to Japan to get a Tattoo, and also asking about Tour Companies for Mount Everest. Just two examples.
Then there was the post about finding Love in foreign places. Overall, my only suggestion is that if you do decide to trek on Mount Everest after getting your tattoo, you should take your "super warm fuzzy blanket" to help keep you warm, and to definitely worry about bedbugs and shared bathrooms in those base camp tents on the way to the summit. And don't ever stop daydreaming, it will always take you far!
But I think you could use just an hour sittng and RELAXING at an outdoor cafe anywhere in Italy, sipping a vino and enjoying the parade of everyday people as thay dance by. And hopefully a romantic moment or two will find it's way to you, if destiny calls. Enjoy yourself on your trip, don't "sweat the small stuff" so much, and remember,,,STICK or roll-on deoderant, not spray please!.
Must run to work now, have a great day!

Do you worry about all this stuff when taking a trip within the US ? I find this quite insulting.

caroline_edinburgh,

Don't be insulted. There have been numerous reports of bedbugs in the US recently (NYC, I believe). My impression is that many travelers in the US are also getting creeped out by the bedbug issue.

Hi BD,

Have you not yet considered what to do if you come down with diarrhea? :)

((I))

So now it's hepatitis A you're worryed about? I think that is more a concern for your Everest trip. In fact, if you have trouble with the thought of sharing bathrooms, and need TWO kinds of deodorant just for the airplane, I don't think trekking in Everest is for you. Besides, the food the outfitters serve you is mostly carbs, and I don't believe there is any wine at all.

OK. I think you really need to relax and anticipate a wonderful trip. You don't need to take sheets and blankets, you will find healthy fruits, vegetables and fish or meat in Florence, you are going to visit a civilization that thrived before the US was founded! I have been to Europe countless times and have never encountered the horrors that you are preparing for. Take a deep breath and work on things to help you enjoy and get the most out of your journey.

Birthdaygirl -

Do you have name for your blanket? ((A))