Went to Captiva and got home today covered in red bites. I'm pretty sure it was no see ums. But seems that a day after getting home, I'm seeing a few new bites. Is it possible I've brought home some no see ums in our bags and will they die off? Grr...

Those things will drive you insane, won't they? I live about an hour from Captiva, and just recently spent a weekend there. They were all through the hotel room, and I went home with bites all over me too.

It's VERY possible that you brought them home in your luggage, clothes, etc. Wash your clothes in hot water if possible, and put your luggage in a large garbage bag, spray it with bug spray, and close the bag and let it sit for a few days.

Also, if you've slept in your bed, it would be a good idea to wash your bedding in hot water / bleach also.

Hope I've helped and that those little critters don't taint your memories of SW Florida!

I was attacked by almost invisible red ants on Sanibel - got out of car and stepped on ant hill - we were finding them in rental car and clothing for days. So this may be another possibility - perhaps more likely that they are crawling bugs than flying bugs.

Go onto Pest Control Forum, lots of info and descriptions about bugs.

I stayed at the Vagabond Inn Hollywood California in December and woke up to bugs in the bed and bite marks on my body.

I did not know that they were bedbugs, sadly they traveled home in my suitcase and infested my house.

Bedbugs feed on you while you sleep. They hide during the day in the tiniest cracks and under carpeting, behind picture frames and in light sockets. So, while they are big enough to see, unless you catch them when they are up at night feeding on you...they can be hard to find and exterminate.

I know, I have lost thousands of dollars in extermination fees, ruined furniture, carpeting and clothing.

What's worse is waking up to more itchy bite marks and the loss of sleep and constant worry.

A bedbug infestation is costly and time consuming.

You really have to search, lift and turn over everything. Then get a professional exterminator if you feel you might have bedbugs. They multiply very quickly.

Are the bugs there year round or just in the warmer months?

I'm going to be there the first week in January and wonder what I can do to prevent any problems.

Thanks.

Richelle, I think Angelia is sensitive to bug bites. She posted before she went with a lot of red flags about bugs, then came back with bug bites that she says began after she returned.

Regardless, bugs are most active in spring and summer, in warmer weather, and youre traveling in the winter. Despite living in Florida for many many years, I've only had major problems once when I camped in the Keys, and once when I swam through sea lice in the Caribbean. If you have problems with bugs, it will be very odd. But if you are sensitive to bugs then you could use Cutter repelent on exposed areas (which could be very little as you will likely have on long sleeves and pants in the winter).

Thanks for your help again. I'm not sensitive to bugs, but after reading that post, I was a bit worried about bed bugs more than anything! I figured we'd be fine, but wanted to check.

I can't wait to see Captiva.

Thanks again for your help.

Have there been posts removed from this thread, or is this a different one? The one I'm remembering named the hotel and there were quite a few responses offering DX's other than bedbugs (and I'll take this opportunity to throw chiggers into the mix. ) I'd thought about responding previously then thought better of it, however your reaction Richelle, was just the one I was concerned about, so you've loosened my tongue.

Angelia had no idea what was causing her bites, it was theory only, and to name the hotel and infer she'd gotten bedbugs from them was irresponsible at best, IMHO. As you can imagine, and as you saw with your own reaction, that sort of damning, though unverified, information on a well known travel forum could have a terrific negative impact on their business, yet it is far more likely that she was bitten by anything other than bedbugs. Despite their being on the increase, they are still rare in the US.

The better move would have been not to theorize about the source of the bites here first, but to get a DX from an MD (not an exterminator!) and if true, then call the resort and report it here.

More on chigger bites--I never saw them, they are teeny, but both my son and I got them hiking in Texas, although neither my daughter nor husband did, hiking through the exact same terrain. I suspect we are just more sensitive to them. The bites began to show up about 12 hrs after we were there, with more appearing for a week or more later. They itched like the devil as well, and seemed to be particularly fond of nice warm spots. Ugh...misery. That was a lesson which once learned isn't forgotten! My DH, raised in the south, is a chigger expert from way back, but these were confirmed my our MD as well who I went to (covered in the home remedy of nail polish, funky, and it didn't work!) out of desperation.

I'd really caution about suggesting you've gotten bedbugs from a place unless you've got a confirmed diagnosis from an MD and you can pinpoint where you got them!! Put yourself in their shoes and think how damaging an honest, but mistaken report would be!

I completely agree with you, OliveOyl. I didn't plan to cancel my trip because of the post, but it does cause concern and can make people select other lodging.

You were right. There was another thread with the same subject. The original poster had this thread and another one going at the same time with the same subject.

I haven't seen a post with the final diagnosis on what the bites were from. It may be on the other thread or the bites may have ceased. Either way, after causing such alarm and making disparaging remarks about the lodging, the poster should make sure to post the final outcome on all threads she started on the subject.

Hi all

OO I completely agree with you Angelina should post what her doctor has diagnosed these bites as. Seems we have NOT heard anaother word. Most have agreed that she should see a doctor but she prefers an exterminator.

I loved yourChigger bite story especially as I have always advocated using nail polish on them. I've never had any chigger bites but my kids have and they've always sworn that "Mom, it doesn't work!" I was told that you by putting some nail polish on the bite that the chigger cannot get oxygen and therefore dies. And they certainly take long enough to leave.

But getting back to the hotel/motel they stayed at - I hope that most Fodorites would take her words as fluff until she can prove it.

Everyone, have a great Memorial Day weekend.

I posted my story about being bitten by bedbugs at the Vagbond Inn Hollywood...

In my case, myself and my friend were both treated by our family physicians for the bug bites recieved at the hotel and once I returned home. (i've been on 3 different medications)

I had over 100 bite marks on me at one time in the course of 2 nights. It has been confirmed, we were bitten and treated for bedbug bites.

Additionally, we took a bug from the room we occupied at the Vagabond Inn Hollywood and had it examined by an entomologist from our local University and 2 Professional exterminators. It has been confirmed...the bug taken from that hotel is a bedbug. It's been confirmed, those bugs in the bed that bit us at the hotel were bedbugs.

I am not posting to make willy nilly accusations. I am here to help anyone who does a search on this site looking for answers about bugs and travel and coming home to being bit after traveling.

I can only tell my experience...and it just may help someone else.

The hotel I stayed at is not concerned about the well being of the guests, not in my experience. I did report it directly to the management, while I was there and after I returned home. THEY DO NOT CARE!!

The only people being irrespponsible or possibly ruining this company's business is the Management itself.

If you have time or any interest check out the reviews of the Vagabond Inn Hollywood on BestHotel.com

I experienced bedbugs in December at the Vagabond Inn, someone else is still complaining in April about the very same hotel. It's not right, the hotel should not let guests occupy the rooms infested. Unless the untire place is infested then they should close the doors until the problem is gone. But it is unlikely that will happen.

We all have choices... if you read a hotel review or a post where someone told a story about being bit by bedbugs, And you do not care about that or see it as a slim chance that it could happen to you. And, you like everything else that you read about that property, it's your CHOICE to stay there. That is what is so great about this country, we tell our story and others can tell theirs.

It all leads to more info to make better well informed decisions about the products and services offered to us.

Personally, I will read reviews before staying at any property in the future...and I will make my decision based on what I read...good and bad.

Bedbugs are a public health concern...but you can always choose to stay anywhere you like, regardless of what you read or choose not to read.

You choose what concerns are important to you.

The bedbug issue is very important to me.

Emmiegirl, I think the problem was with someone making an inflammatory post and then not substantiating the claim or giving the resolution. This was not the case for you.

You were right to make the complaint about the bugs, to verify what type they were and to contact the hotel with your concerns, that is what a responsible person would do.

After reading your post, I felt like someone had just yelled at me and that's not what I come to Fodors for. I come here for honest information from people who have experienced where I'm considering going or staying.

I'm hoping Fodors forum can remain what I originally came to it for-- a place to get good travel information.

Relax, Emmiegirl! Read my post above again--we were not discussing you or your post(s)! We were talking about Angelia's.

Actually, too, we all have gotten your point--over and over again in fact, so you can quit with the hammer now.

We've been going to Sanibel and Captiva for years. We have never brought home no-seeums on our person or in our luggage. To me, it seems very unlikely that the bites you are receiving after returning from your vacation are from no-seeums. If we plan to be out at dawn or dusk, those little blood suckers usually eat my daughter and I alive unless we use a repellent that contains a small percentage of Deet. So, I know the no-seeums consider us a "feast" and still we have yet to bring them home with us after a trip.