Should I take my own sheets?

josh

I'm planning on traveling all over India for 2.5 months and will be staying in budget hotels / hostels / cheap living environments. Since I have heard a lot about dirty/unsanitary bed sheets, or ones that contain bedbugs, or hotels that don't provide sheets, would you guys recommend I take with me some sort of sheets to sleep on?

I'm not quite sure how I am going to fit it into my backpack, but if I can, is it worth it?

Jackson Palak

Hi josh,
It's defntly worth it. I always pack sheets, the ones for putting your cover in. (I don't know the correct word). I use them as a sleeping bag in the south, when up north I use a traditional sleeping bag, which I buy locally. Sheets are not too warm, and it keeps me at a comfy distance from the occasional juice stains some guest houses tend to specialize in, especially the low budget kind (=my kind). I usually put them right on top of everything in my backpack (which opens sideways, not on top), enveloping all my stuff. If I didn't have space for it in my pack it would mean I packed too much. But anyway, u can always get some over there if u want. They have very nice ones.

vistet

I use a silk liner ; once tried you`ll never go back. Weighs around 150 grams can be shoved in to a jacket pocket and will give a lot more mileage out of my sleeping bag.Dries in a jiffy, esp. if you choose a dark color.Costs 25-50 euros here in Europe.

cyberhippie

I use a single duvet cover great to crawl into on those cold train trips.

mindi

I had no big problem with hotel sheets. I don't see what I don't want to see (ie dirt). But I found a silk inner bag excellent for the train - not so much for warmth (although did help in some parts in the north), but it was great to get rid of my money belt,camera etc on trains. I just dumped them at the bottom of the bag and climbed in, confident that they were secure. I also used it as a wrap in some cold places (hadn't brought an sweater). Enjoy!

Ikuru

the way to do it is to buy like a thin blanket/lunghi/sarrong in India and use it for the really filthy beds.
I myself Bought a NICE hammock on KhoSanRoad/thailand/bankok(yes IT is the place to be!) and used that for sheets and then you wash it and when you reach the secret beach with them cozy mudd huts you tie your hammock to the seeling (wooden poles) and sleep like some kind of prince.

Happy travells dude and dont worry about it, bedbugs are not really that common Id say, hardly think I ever had that... Might have seen the bloodstains though... (if there is loads of blood in the room go look for a nother room!) and good luck.

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brianct

anybody travelling should think of buying a sleeping sheet. They can be purchased form Youth hostels, or camping shops or off the internet, and are a bit like sleeping bags in shape, but are made of cotton.

http://www.mountaindesigns.com/index...roduc tID=439

'Sleeping sheet

For those of you unaware of what this is, it is simply a cotton bed-sheet sewn up to look like a sleeping bag. They are actually really useful as well and can add an extra layer if your sleeping bag is too cold. If you are a bit flash or want something that packs down to nothing you could splash out on a silk one.

The idea of the sleeping sheet is that many hostels won't actually allow you to use your sleeping bag on the bed, on the grounds that loads of travellers may sleep rough on beaches / outdoors and so pick up bugs, bacteria on the sleeping bag. The sheets on the other hand stay clean and free from any dodgy bacteria, dirt or smeg that you may pick up on the way.

The sleeping sheet is easy to wash, meaning that you won't have to wash your sleeping bag too often, or at all (if you are a complete minger!).

We know of two variations on the sleeping sheet - the YHA style cotton sheet and the silk version.

A handy hint…
is to use the sheet as a pillow case. If ever I am in an area where I want to keep my valuables safe, I pop them into the sleeping sheet with a few of my clothes and make a pillow out of it. Straight away you have a comfortable clean pillow and you also sleep on your valuables which are impossible to nick
http://www.gapyear.com/traveladvice.php?op=taking