My NYC souvenir! BEDBUGS!!!!!!!!!!!! 8/10/06 UPDATE!! (WARNING: Arm Pics Included- See Post on p.3)

So Rose825 (Pauline), another friend and myself went on our 3rd annual girls-getaway trip this past weekend. We went to Manhattan and had (overall) an awesome time!. We stayed at the Hotel Beacon (more on that in a minute) and were upgraded to a suite. (Turns out to be not so great in the longrun). We participated in this "game" called Accomplice New York (www.accompliceny.com). HIGHLY recommend it!!!!!! Kinda like Amazing Race in the city. It was AWESOME. Went to eat at Caliente Cab Company. Good Mexican food. Had dessert at DIP (thanks ladies for the great suggestion). AWESOME fondue place! However...there were some not so glorious events that took place as well:
Rose825 now suffers from a possible stress fracture in her foot for all of the walking around the city.
Penn Station was on fire when we tried to come back home. We all had some panic attacks and decided to cab it.
AND...I GOT BEDBUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Or as the dermatologist put it, a "bedbug arthropod assault". She told me to alert the hotel immediately and the Board of HEalth. (I slept on the pull-out sofa where evidently the mattress had never been cleaned or changed).

My question is, do I have any recourse here? I emailed a letter, pictures of my arm (14 bites that are soooooooooo disgusting and painful) and a copy of the letter from the dermatologist. What should I do? Should I notify the BBB? BTW- it was a VERY nice hotel, polite staff, just infested pull-out sofa. EWWW!
*************************************
UPDATE:

Well...after I sent the email with the pictures to the hotel, I still didn't hear back so I decided to call. I first spoke to (and relayed the whole story to) the front desk manager who then forwarded my call to manager of housekeeping (who I had to repeat my call to) who then told me the General Manager would get back to me. Of course he didn't so I called again and left my phone #. He called me back in the morning and was VERY nice. He said he and the hotel were so sorry this happened, how am I feeling, blah...blah...blah. ANd THEN said the sofa0bed was investigated and...get ready for this...he said it was INFESTED with bedbugs!!!!!!!! He said they hotel staff wrapped the sofa in plastic, brought in downstairs (16 floors) and disposed of it. He said they will most likely have to burn it! I was gagging when he said infested. Now the next step is that the owner (I believe he said) will be calling me next week. He is on vacation but has all the documentation.
So my next update will be after my next call. Thanks to all who sent hugs my way. (You KNOW you would only hug me via internet as to not get too close to the pretty welts! )

******UPDATE 8/10/06******************

So...The other day the owner of the hotel called me and said that they were going to compensate me and I would be "very pleased". They were so sorry that this happened but they would take care of me. Well today I got the phone call...and he offered me $250. Am I wrong to think that this is really not taking care of somebody. What should I do? Should I accept the offer or give him my number and see what he comes back with? I am sooooooooo not like this usually. But I feel like this was sooooo gross, they were negligent, and they have a reputation to worry about. What are your thoughts?

Message edited 8/10/2006 3:50:03 PM.

Re: My NYC souvenir!

hmmmm. Other than the BoH recommendation I would duplicate the letter to the staff at the hotel. They might offer you something for your *troubles* (and ewwww factor)

Re: My NYC souvenir!

Jeez!! I'm itching all over after reading this.
A few months back there were all kinds of stories on Dateline & other news shows about bedbugs in NYC. There were sooooo many hotels infected,from the Ritz-y ones to the super-saver ones.

Good Luck,I really have no advice,just

Re: My NYC souvenir! BEDBUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Definitely let the hotel & BOH know...from there...I would see if your medical bills can and will be paid for.

Is there any protection from these critters in your home?




Sounds like without all the craziness that it was an awesome weekend...

Re: My NYC souvenir! BEDBUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm so sorry this happened to you...

Re: My NYC souvenir! BEDBUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for all the s. It really is so disgusting. I went to the dermatologist for confirmation of a bedbug attack (which she said it definitely was and a "very large and nasty one" at that). She also eased my fears that they don't burrow into your skin (like a parasite) and I more than likely didn't bring them home. They like to live in the mattress fibers.
I have to use a very high powered cortisone cream 4 times a day that inhibits me from holding my small children (it is too strong for their skin) for 30 minutes after application. I am in so much pain too- they burn and itch so badly. I am a mess. They haven't responded yet to my email so I think I'll call the hotel and ask to speak with the manager.

Re: My NYC souvenir! BEDBUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!

I would call. Especially to tell them that because of their neglect (not washing or cleaning the pull-out) you now cannot hold your child. That kills me.

Feel better

Re: My NYC souvenir! BEDBUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!

you know how I feel about this. I think you should definately call and ask to speak to a manager.

I think my foot is getting better but thanks for sharing with the world that I am now so old my bones are breaking from walking too much. Its probably just a sprain.

Note to LIF: Dont do 3 1/2 hour walking tour through NYC in 100° weather wearing flip flops

Re: My NYC souvenir! BEDBUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!

ummm did you takre car of you bags???????????????????



first off, i THOUGHT i had bed bugs after i went to a hotel. Then my husband got itching on his arm.

WE both assumed it was edbugs from the hotel and spent $2000 to eradicate them.
Turns out it was just poison ivy, but just thinking that I had them made me lose 10 lbs and not eat. I spent night and day cleaning my house. It was the most horrible experience ever. Thank god the itching was poision ivy NOT bedbugs and we now laugh about this.

HOwever, I learned a SH!TLOAD about these suckers. They multipy by the hundreds. You can carry them on your clothing and on beds.
PLEASE look for signs of them biting you in your own home- red marks in threes, red blood on your pillow or sheets, a sweet smell in your home. They can find you everever and they are so small they can hide for days.

PLEASE PLEASE do a thorough chekc of your luggage. Anything you think they may have clinfed to you should wrap in a big black garbage bag an d leave in your car to kill them.


Please listen to me. They are the most horrible creatures!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And THINKING I had them made my life living HELL

Re: My NYC souvenir! BEDBUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: My NYC souvenir! BEDBUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes. My bag was zipped and on a chair across the room from the infested bed I was sleeping on. I washed the clothes I brought in hot water twice. As for the bag itself...that might go in the garbage.

I just called the hotel and got the, "Oh ma'am, that has never happened here...blah, blah, blah". But supposedly it is being investigated as we speak and I am to hear from the general manager shortly.

Thanks for all the great advice. I will keep you posted.

PS- Glad the foot is on the mend, Grandma Pauline

Re: My NYC souvenir! BEDBUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!

OMG! I am sorry this happened to you. I am so itchy after reading this.

Re: My NYC souvenir! BEDBUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by tray831



OMG! I am sorry this happened to you. I am so itchy after reading this.

Re: My NYC souvenir! BEDBUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: My NYC souvenir! BEDBUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by joenick

Posted by tray831



OMG! I am sorry this happened to you. I am so itchy after reading this.

OMG...yes...this is me
Still waiting for the call. How do I know I'm going to have to call back again?

To top it off, my DH and I are FINALLY going away overnight this weekend to Atlantic City. We have not gone ANYWHERE overnight since my oldest child was born 4.5 years ago. Now I am petrified to sleep in another hotel bed! I guess I'll just have to gamble through the night!

Image Attachment(s):

Re: My NYC souvenir! BEDBUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: My NYC souvenir! BEDBUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by preshy7

Posted by joenick

Posted by tray831



OMG! I am sorry this happened to you. I am so itchy after reading this.

OMG...yes...this is me
Still waiting for the call. How do I know I'm going to have to call back again?

To top it off, my DH and I are FINALLY going away overnight this weekend to Atlantic City. We have not gone ANYWHERE overnight since my oldest child was born 4.5 years ago. Now I am petrified to sleep in another hotel bed! I guess I'll just have to gamble through the night!

i never sleep in a hotel without checking out the mattresses.
i strip the sheets off and check the corners of all mattresses. look for dark spots or dried blood smears.
im not kidding.

maybe i look like a freak, but its NOT worth it. dont risk infesting your home! if i saw bedbugs, id leave instantly.

look at the piping all around the mattress. it should be pure white. NO DARK SPOTS

Re: My NYC souvenir! BEDBUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Seriously...I'm itching now looking at that pic...

Re: My NYC souvenir! BEDBUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Me too...but the best is this:
I told the dermatologist that I basically wanted to boil myself in the shower to feel clean after this nasty bug attack. But she told me I have to do exactly the opposite. I have to take quick, warm showers because hot showers will open the pores and make the welts more itchy than they already are!!! I can't! I skeeve myself. No wonder my husband slept 8 miles away from me in bed last night! Nice.

Re: My NYC souvenir! BEDBUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by joenick

Me too...but the best is this:
I told the dermatologist that I basically wanted to boil myself in the shower to feel clean after this nasty bug attack. But she told me I have to do exactly the opposite. I have to take quick, warm showers because hot showers will open the pores and make the welts more itchy than they already are!!! I can't! I skeeve myself. No wonder my husband slept 8 miles away from me in bed last night! Nice.

Re: My NYC souvenir! BEDBUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!

OMG!!

Re: My NYC souvenir! BEDBUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can only imagine how you feel. I feel like a skeevatz when I get mosquito bites, so I can just imagine what this is like---ugh--I am so sorry. I bet you WONT EVER do that again though.

I hate going to hotels but when I do, I also inspect just like Preshy. If there is a hair, I FREAK! The sheets can be as white as cotton, I dont care. I have to also inspect behind the bed, under the bed........its such a hassle, its why I hate going.

Everyone knows Im a cleanse freak so even though my DH and friends think Im nuts, they would think it would be abnormal if I didnt, b/c thats just not me. They expect it.

I also sleep on the pillow w/ a tshirt or sweatshirt over it.

I hope for quick healing soon. Hey what about Tea Tree Oil to apply to your bites???? I wonder if that would help a lot?? Its a very potent oil, and I would think it would kill them and heal you!

Re: My NYC souvenir! BEDBUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by joenick

Me too...but the best is this:
I told the dermatologist that I basically wanted to boil myself in the shower to feel clean after this nasty bug attack. But she told me I have to do exactly the opposite. I have to take quick, warm showers because hot showers will open the pores and make the welts more itchy than they already are!!! I can't! I skeeve myself. No wonder my husband slept 8 miles away from me in bed last night! Nice.

Re: My NYC souvenir! BEDBUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: My NYC souvenir! BEDBUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by tray831


I can only imagine how you feel. I feel like a skeevatz when I get mosquito bites, so I can just imagine what this is like---ugh--I am so sorry. I bet you WONT EVER do that again though.

I hate going to hotels but when I do, I also inspect just like Preshy. If there is a hair, I FREAK! The sheets can be as white as cotton, I dont care. I have to also inspect behind the bed, under the bed........its such a hassle, its why I hate going.

Everyone knows Im a cleanse freak so even though my DH and friends think Im nuts, they would think it would be abnormal if I didnt, b/c thats just not me. They expect it.

I also sleep on the pillow w/ a tshirt or sweatshirt over it.

I hope for quick healing soon. Hey what about Tea Tree Oil to apply to your bites???? I wonder if that would help a lot?? Its a very potent oil, and I would think it would kill them and heal you!