I hesitate to write this post, because it may create unnecessary concern, but new pilgrims often worry about the possibility of bed bugs, so I figured it was worth covering.
Please note, I’m not an official expert on this subject, but I have read a lot about it, and have had bed bug incidents myself, so I feel pretty informed. Check with other sources as you see fit.
Common misconceptions about bed bugs
The idea of bed bugs grosses people out, but they aren’t that bad.
- I react to them more than most people, and they are a lot like a bad mosquito bites. Some people don’t react to them at all. Yes, it’s creepy to think bugs are crawling in your bed, but having a few bites is not the end of the world. The biggest problem with bed bugs is that you can carry them with you in your gear. If you avoid that, they’re just an inconvenience.
They don’t fly or jump.
- They crawl. So just standing near someone or a bed that has been exposed to bed bugs is no risk to you.
They aren’t limited to inexpensive dirty lodgings.
- They can be found in any sleeping location frequented by many people like hotels, hostels or apartments. They are not just limited to “dirty” places. I’ve been bitten by them at a nice new Holiday Inn Express in Pennsylvania and a luxury hotel in Spain. It’s less about how clean or nice a place is, and more about how the establishment plans to avoid them. For example, a few days after staying at the hotel in Pennsylvania, I called and told them about my bites, and they seemed incredulous. When I told the hotel in Spain about my bites, they were apologetic and planned to take immediate action. I’d never stay at that hotel in Pennsylvania again, but would be happy to stay at the one in Spain.
They aren’t super common.
- Most of the pilgrims I’ve talked to have never been bitten by them. I have at least a dozen friends that have been on the Camino for 30-50 nights, and never had an issue. I, on the other hand, have been less lucky. I’ve been on the Camino for over 150 nights, and I’ve been bitten by them 3 times. Two of those times were back-to-back nights, so it’s likely that I carried a bug with me the second night. That means two lodgings out of 150 had bed bugs. Not a scientific study, but those numbers compare with my sense of the situation.
They can’t be prevented simply by spraying your gear.
- Spraying your sleeping bag or other gear with pyrethrin before your travel can help kill bed bugs, but even if it does, it will take time, so you still could get bitten. Instead of thinking of spraying as prevention from getting bitten, think of it as one layer of a multi-layer approach to avoid carrying bed bugs with you.
They’re nocturnal.
- Other than in some unusual conditions, they generally only come out at night.
The most important thing... avoid carrying them with you
The problem with bed bugs is that you may carry them with you in your pack or gear. Here’s how to minimize that risk:
Presume every room you stay at has them.
- Better safe than sorry.
Keep your pack/luggage as far from your bed as you can.
- I often store my backpack in the shower at night. I try to never put my pack or gear on my bed for very long.
Put your pack in a sealed garbage bag at night.
- Each evening, I put my backpack in a sealed garbage bag. It provides an added level of insurance that nothing is getting into my bag at night.
Spray your backpack with permethrin before you travel.
- If you do pick up a bed bug in your backpack, it may die after coming into contact with the pre-treated lining of your backpack. This is not a sure thing though, so think of it as just one more way to reduce your risk of carrying bugs with you. (Permethrin is considered safe for humans when it is dry, even if it is applied to clothes. It may not be safe for cats and some other species, so check ahead if this is a potential issue for you.)
Isolate your sleeping clothes.
- Generally, bed bugs don’t cling onto your pajamas, but it’s possible, so I keep my PJs in a separate plastic bag when I put them back in my backpack. Same should go for any bedding you carry.
When I get home, I don’t bring my backpack into my house.
- Even if I haven’t been bitten, I presume that I have them with me. The moment I walk in the house, I launder all my clothes including an extra long cycle in the dryer. I store my backpack and the rest of my gear in a sealed garbage bag in my garage or on my back porch. When the weather gets warm, I put the garbage bag out in the direct sun for a couple of days. The high temps will kill any bed bugs that are in the bag. If you live in an apartment or somewhere where you must store your bag inside, make sure it is in a fully sealed garbage bag.
Spotting signs of bed bugs
You should do some googling to look at this, but generally it’s advised to look for small tracks around the bed. That said, after I was bitten, I looked all over for tracks in my room. Once I saw them. Once I did not.
Bed bugs usually make multiple bites. So if you have a track of 2 or 3 bites, that’s a likely sign you’ve been bitten.
Bed bugs are generally small (about a 1/4 inch long) and brownish red in color.
While people toss around the term “infestation,” which implies many bugs, that’s generally not the case. Most lodgings address bugs, so more likely than a long term infestation, is that a room probably just a two or three bugs from a previous traveler.
What should I do if I get bitten?
For the bites, you’ll want some itch relief creme. I usually bring some with me from the USA, just in case. Farmacias in Europe will be able to help.
Just to be safe, you’ll want to find a laundromat as soon as possible and wash and dry your clothes (and anything else that can go in the laundry). Bed bugs are killed by heat, so choose a hot and long dryer cycle. (If you’ve isolated your bag at night this probably isn’t mandatory, but it eases my mind.)
If possible, put your backpack in a dark garbage bag and put it in the direct sun for as long as possible. The heat will help kill any bugs that might have gotten in the bag.
Don’t worry too much
I’ve read many online posts where new pilgrims are stressed about the idea of bed bugs. Even to the extent they are thinking of not doing the Camino because of them. I met one pilgrim who wanted do the Camino Frances but had “heard about bed bugs” so chose another route.
I really think these are overreactions. Yes, you could get them, but the chances are relatively low, and they aren’t that bad. Do the Camino that is calling you, follow good practices to avoid bugs, and then enjoy your pilgrimage.
Bill on the Camino 