As you might know - I travel quite a bit for work and that means many a hotel stay.
I've done pretty well at picking my hotels, but in some parts choices are just not open to you - good or bad. Sometimes you only get the Quality Inn - and that sucks.
I have my favourite places to stay - and I am fairly brand loyal when I can be - again, sometimes you don't have that option. But you know the places that keep up appearances regardless of city and you hope for the best. I haven't really been too too disappointed, but there is the every once in a while.
I have not run across this - though I don't carry a blacklight with me when I travel.
I can take it even a little further than Michael Scott. I'm not saying I'm looking forward to staying in place that might have blood, urine or semen stained anything, but let's face it, it might look disgusting, but most everything that becomes airborne dies 30 minutes to a few hours afterwards. So now it's just unsightly, but rarely dangerous.
No, my new big fear (after breaking my teeth, of course) is.....duh, duh DUHHHHHH......bed bugs.
I have not had them, nor know anyone who has, but the horror stories (thank you, NPR!) scare the bejezus out of me. I'm not fond of bites or scratching but can take it, if I must. It's the carrying them home with you after they attach to your clothes and suitcase and then they get into your home mattress, carpet and get this - WALLS!!!
EWWWWWWWWWW.
Then they are clearly difficult and expensive to get rid of. But the entire thing just grosses.me. out.
You may have seen recently, that a hotel and an Abecrombie & Fitch in NYC were closed down to bedbug infestation. It's a 50/50 thing for me - I've never been, nor ever plan to be in an A&F. I'm a little too old for that place. I'm sure some But the bugs aren't just for hotels anymore.
So back to my SotM. It might or might not work. The Bedbug Registry.
By city, by hotel or apartment, it lists where the critters have been reported. I don't know if there is a central reporting agency, because you know if hotels have to self-report, there is a lot to be missed, but it's a start.
I'll use it - and I'll hope for the best. I'll also check the beds for them, not that they always hide there, but somethings are out of my hand.
That's it. It's not a funny site - or even amusing, but it's something for all of you too. But maybe my fears are not yours.
6 comments:
I always put my suitcase on the folding rack thingie for just that reason. I've stayed in a place that had them reported and got bit but did not bring them home thank the baby christ child.
Greg and I are going to DC at the end of the month, and now you got me freaking out about bedbugs. I have no doubt DC is crawling with them.
cubby, DC is crawling with politicians and lobbyists, not bedbugs...on second thought, they might be one and the same! LOL
I think if I traveled a lot I'd bring a plastic bedcover to put on the mattress. Ewwwwww.
yucko
But I suppose they are hazards of using a hotel.
I hope enough of this is made aware so hotel owners can address it/cleans things up.
Living with housemates who have six cats, I too hope it ain't urine. But the smell usually gets you first.
You can always try camping? or no.
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