my doctor freaked me out - do we need a sleep sack?

shelley13 · Mar 11th, 2008, 02:47

I just got back a few months and wished I had brought a silk sleeping bag with me. I bought a couple of sarongs and used them for a bed sheet, but I think in fact the silk sleeping bag would have been better.

I traveled low budget, and never encountered a lot of bed bugs (although a place I stayed in Pondicherry freaked me out a little) luckily I was just too tired to care.

I just feel like it would have come in handy especially for train travel. It won't hurt to bring it along with you as it packs quite lightly. I'm sure you will use it often.

the opoponax · Mar 11th, 2008, 02:56

I've noticed that Indian families who travel in sleeper tend to bring their own bedding -- usually a lunghi/dupatta or two and a warm shawl.

If you're a seriously light traveler who really loves to have lots of sooper kewl travel gadgetry, sure, by all means, go with a sleep sheet. On the other hand, I found that my lunghis, dupattas, and shawls were good because they had multiple uses.

Nick-H · Mar 11th, 2008, 03:21

I always fancied the tent-type mossie nets. They have a 'ground sheet' between you and the mattress that is extra fine to keep put the bed-bug-type insects. Voila! Protected all round!

Despite the fact that I have seldom stayed non-AC, I probably would have bought one, but I never found the right sort on my London shopping trips.

SitaParityaga · Mar 11th, 2008, 03:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeeliAankhen

I think taking bedbugs home is a more serious worry than a bite or two. IF you have them in your house it can be a nightmare to try to get rid of them.

This is my understanding as well: its not the bites themselves, but the horrible problems you'll have later, at home, when you've brought them back in your luggage.

I learned a bed bug prevention tip this week from a professional bug exterminator (who was called to inspect my worksite, with his bed bug smelling beagle dog amongst other tests, to determine if we had an infestation.

He said bed bugs hide out during the day, and typically head for 1) under the mattress, or in the seams of the mattress
2) cracks in floorboards or ceilings
3) inside of lighting fixures: lamps, lights sockets, you get the idea
4) now this one is my favorite: he said if you leave your luggage, purses, backpacks, piles of clothes, whatever, on the floor, next to a wall...the bed bugs, on their way to go hide in the cracks where the floor meets the wall, will just go climb in your luggage instead. Then, you get to take them with you to the next hotel, or home!

Quote:

Originally Posted by the opoponax

I've noticed that Indian families who travel in sleeper tend to bring their own bedding -- usually a lunghi/dupatta or two and a warm shawl.
I found that my lunghis, dupattas, and shawls were good because they had multiple uses.

This is what I do as well.

Happy Travels!

the opoponax · Mar 11th, 2008, 03:36

Quote:

if you leave your luggage, purses, backpacks, piles of clothes, whatever, on the floor, next to a wall...

Which explains why round-the-world backpacker types have been blamed for the current epidemics in major American/European cities. As much as I adore my pack, one of the easiest ways to store it in a hotel room is to lean it against a wall or *gulp* the foot of the bed! I don't find myself doing this as much with other kinds of luggage.

*goes off in search of an offering for the goddess of no-bedbugs* There is one, right?

shelley13 · Mar 11th, 2008, 03:39

Quote:

now this one is my favorite: he said if you leave your luggage, purses, backpacks, piles of clothes, whatever, on the floor, next to a wall...the bed bugs, on their way to go hide in the cracks where the floor meets the wall, will just go climb in your luggage instead. Then, you get to take them with you to the next hotel, or home!

Ok, now that just grosses me out.

snowcrab · Mar 11th, 2008, 03:55

Our apartment building was fumigated for bedbugs just after I got back from India. That is a major hassal packing everything you own in the shower stall or on the kitchen table so that they can spray all the beds, baseboards and storage volumes.And I'm still seeing bedbug infested mattresses, some of them otherwise very new looking, showing up beside the dumpsters behind my and neighboring buildings, it's a widespread problem. What is a good spray to use on luggage because I'm sure that's a major transport vehicle?

the opoponax · Mar 11th, 2008, 03:58

From what I understand, there is no simple anti-bedbug spray, unfortunately. In fact, I know people who had their homes fumigated and STILL managed to have bedbugs. I've even heard, though this could be pure urban legend, that there are people who have both moved AND replaced all their furniture, and STILL the bedbugs resurfaced.

I prefer not to think too much about it. Though I do wish I hadn't leaned my backpack against so many walls...

Nick-H · Mar 11th, 2008, 03:59

On my way to London from Chennai airport a few years ago, the security people asked me to open one of my suitcases --- I was expecting they would, as there were some odd-shaped metal items inside.

As it was I was glad they did.

As I opened the lid a cockroach jumped out! The security men jumped too!

I was glad not to be taking that fellow back to London

.

I expect the cockroach was relieved, too

Shelley, India is full of stuff that is fairly gross. I guess the main reason that so many of us pay far more than the minimal for our accommodation and travel costs is that we don't want to come into close personal contact with it.

There's no infallible rule. There are spotless cheap places, and there are bad examples of the not-so-cheap, but, on the whole, one gets what one pays for.

blackbird · Mar 11th, 2008, 04:01

I've had bedbugs a few times, and I think I've had more of them in comfortable midrange hotels than the cheap places, for some reason.

A couple of years ago my girlfriend brought one home with her (unless the spare room in her mother's house coincidentally acquired one the day we came back from India).

I always use a cotton sleeping sheet in India and would recommend it to anyone, for all the reasons already stated.

Yeah ants can be pretty painful little b*ggers, although on my most recent trip I think it was the daytime mosquitos that won the top prize in both the "most bites" and "most painful bites" categories.

the opoponax · Mar 11th, 2008, 04:14

Note that carrying a sleep sheet is not going to prevent you bringing bedbugs home with you. In fact, if you actually run into any bedbugs, it might facilitate them tagging along as they can live for months in the seams of bedding.

A sleep sheet might prevent you from being bitten, but it won't prevent them from getting into your luggage.

sssall · Mar 11th, 2008, 04:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackbird

I've had bedbugs a few times, and I think I've had more of them in comfortable midrange hotels than the cheap places, for some reason.

As they say, these bugs love central heating and a/c as much as they love humans.

blackbird · Mar 11th, 2008, 04:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by the opoponax

Note that carrying a sleep sheet is not going to prevent you bringing bedbugs home with you. In fact, if you actually run into any bedbugs, it might facilitate them tagging along as they can live for months in the seams of bedding.

A sleep sheet might prevent you from being bitten, but it won't prevent them from getting into your luggage.

Very true... when I've suffered from them, before leaving the hotel I always make double sure my sheet sleeping bag isn't carrying any.

Has anyone ever managed to kill one? It's pretty difficult but if you get one between your fingernails it's very satisfying.... and I was raised as a vegetarian pacifist!

shelley13 · Mar 11th, 2008, 04:29

LOL. Nick-H I'm totally not a princess, and handled most things in India as they happened. I just felt I needed to say that. But you are right, you get what you pay for.

I never encountered bed bugs at all when I was in India. But I've had to deal with bed bugs a few times in North America. It certainly isn't only India!

edwardseco · Mar 11th, 2008, 04:49

Only bitten once in India over the years. It was quite a wakeup call and had the charpoy moved into the sun for a little bake..

Mar 11th, 2008, 03:21	#18
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 28,426	I always fancied the tent-type mossie nets. They have a 'ground sheet' between you and the mattress that is extra fine to keep put the bed-bug-type insects. Voila! Protected all round! Despite the fact that I have seldom stayed non-AC, I probably would have bought one, but I never found the right sort on my London shopping trips. __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Mar 11th, 2008, 03:55	#22
snowcrab Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alberta, Can Posts: 1,054	Our apartment building was fumigated for bedbugs just after I got back from India. That is a major hassal packing everything you own in the shower stall or on the kitchen table so that they can spray all the beds, baseboards and storage volumes.And I'm still seeing bedbug infested mattresses, some of them otherwise very new looking, showing up beside the dumpsters behind my and neighboring buildings, it's a widespread problem. What is a good spray to use on luggage because I'm sure that's a major transport vehicle? __________________ http://indibliss.blogspot.com/

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Mar 11th, 2008, 02:47	#16
shelley13 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 112	I just got back a few months and wished I had brought a silk sleeping bag with me. I bought a couple of sarongs and used them for a bed sheet, but I think in fact the silk sleeping bag would have been better. I traveled low budget, and never encountered a lot of bed bugs (although a place I stayed in Pondicherry freaked me out a little) luckily I was just too tired to care. I just feel like it would have come in handy especially for train travel. It won't hurt to bring it along with you as it packs quite lightly. I'm sure you will use it often.

Mar 11th, 2008, 02:56	#17
the opoponax Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Brooklyn, via New Orleans Posts: 1,052	I've noticed that Indian families who travel in sleeper tend to bring their own bedding -- usually a lunghi/dupatta or two and a warm shawl. If you're a seriously light traveler who really loves to have lots of sooper kewl travel gadgetry, sure, by all means, go with a sleep sheet. On the other hand, I found that my lunghis, dupattas, and shawls were good because they had multiple uses.

Mar 11th, 2008, 03:58	#23
the opoponax Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Brooklyn, via New Orleans Posts: 1,052	From what I understand, there is no simple anti-bedbug spray, unfortunately. In fact, I know people who had their homes fumigated and STILL managed to have bedbugs. I've even heard, though this could be pure urban legend, that there are people who have both moved AND replaced all their furniture, and STILL the bedbugs resurfaced. I prefer not to think too much about it. Though I do wish I hadn't leaned my backpack against so many walls...

Mar 11th, 2008, 03:59	#24
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 28,426	On my way to London from Chennai airport a few years ago, the security people asked me to open one of my suitcases --- I was expecting they would, as there were some odd-shaped metal items inside. As it was I was glad they did. As I opened the lid a cockroach jumped out! The security men jumped too! I was glad not to be taking that fellow back to London . I expect the cockroach was relieved, too Shelley, India is full of stuff that is fairly gross. I guess the main reason that so many of us pay far more than the minimal for our accommodation and travel costs is that we don't want to come into close personal contact with it. There's no infallible rule. There are spotless cheap places, and there are bad examples of the not-so-cheap, but, on the whole, one gets what one pays for.

Mar 11th, 2008, 04:01	#25
blackbird Jai Maa Tarini Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bristol, England Posts: 391	I've had bedbugs a few times, and I think I've had more of them in comfortable midrange hotels than the cheap places, for some reason. A couple of years ago my girlfriend brought one home with her (unless the spare room in her mother's house coincidentally acquired one the day we came back from India). I always use a cotton sleeping sheet in India and would recommend it to anyone, for all the reasons already stated. Yeah ants can be pretty painful little b*ggers, although on my most recent trip I think it was the daytime mosquitos that won the top prize in both the "most bites" and "most painful bites" categories.

Mar 11th, 2008, 04:14	#26
the opoponax Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Brooklyn, via New Orleans Posts: 1,052	Note that carrying a sleep sheet is not going to prevent you bringing bedbugs home with you. In fact, if you actually run into any bedbugs, it might facilitate them tagging along as they can live for months in the seams of bedding. A sleep sheet might prevent you from being bitten, but it won't prevent them from getting into your luggage.

Mar 11th, 2008, 04:29	#29
shelley13 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 112	LOL. Nick-H I'm totally not a princess, and handled most things in India as they happened. I just felt I needed to say that. But you are right, you get what you pay for. I never encountered bed bugs at all when I was in India. But I've had to deal with bed bugs a few times in North America. It certainly isn't only India!

Mar 11th, 2008, 04:49	#30
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 4,436	Only bitten once in India over the years. It was quite a wakeup call and had the charpoy moved into the sun for a little bake..

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