Bed Bugs at Sansuk Sauna Guest House! Help!

[Guest jones]

Hi everyone,

 

A topic I wish I wasn't discussing but wondered if anyone has had similar experiences and could offer any advice.

 

I flew into Thailand just under 2 weeks ago and after spending one night in BKK headed to Pattaya. I went straight to Sansuk sauna and guesthouse where I stayed in one of their guesthouse rooms.

 

Each morning at Sansuk I was waking up with what looked like rashes on my arms and thighs and could not work out what was causing it. I asked at reception a few times who said they had never seen this before. Luckily I had my trusted tea tree oil with me and so used that on the rashes which took them down in no time.

 

What I began to notice was that I was ONLY getting these rashes (bites) when laying on the bed in my room and nowhere else whatsoever. I've had the odd mosquito bite and can tell the difference.

 

I couldn't for the life of me work out what was causing this to happen and so began to search the term rash in various Thailand travel groups on Facebook.

 

Some results looked like my rash where as other looked much worse. But many people was pointing to it being bed bugs.

 

I then googled How To spot bed bugs as I've never had an experience like this before and came across various things to look out for some of which said look for the bugs themselves or evidence of the bugs being squashed under pillow and mattress.

 

On first inspection I could only see very tiny bits of what looked like red / brown bits the size of a grain of sand if that and only about 3 in the whole bed so didn't think much of it.

 

I then pulled all of the coverings off of the bed including the mattress topper to find what looked like red/Brown dots only under the pillow area. Apparently this is where the bugs have been squashed.

 

I then lifted the mattress up and there is was. The red/Brown dots all over the under side of the mattress and a few visible bed bugs!

 

I got myself straight into the shower (I hate creepy crawleys) and then went got my things together and checked out and showed reception my photo evidence of my bites and the bed bugs just to receive much confusion about what problem was. I showed pictures of the mattress, along with other illustrations of bed bugs but they didn't seem to understand fully.

 

I asked for the manager but he wasn't available and was still charged the full room rate for my stay after being told they will spray the bed. I didn't have time to argue the room rate as my taxi had arrived to go to BKK to meet a friend.

 

In the taxi to BKK I did a bit more research only to find that bed bugs can travel with you and live in ridiculous conditions! Luckily I had packed any clothing which had been on or near the bed in a plastic bag. Unfortunately I hadn't fully sealed the bag as I later knew the importance of.

 

So I arrived at my hotel in Bkk and immediately checked the bed for any bed bugs there as I was now getting concerned but all was clean!

 

The bag of clothing was near the door ready to go to the laundrette and although it was almost sealed it did have a small opening at the top where it was so full of my clothing.

 

As I hadn't been getting much sleep due to these bites (was waking up very early each day at Sansuk) the first thing I needed to do was sleep for a few hours before meeting my friend. My eyes was sore from lack of sleep!

 

I woke up late and my friend arrived within 30 minutes of me waking so we went out and I thought I will wash my clothes the next morning.

 

Well the next morning I woke up with bites yet again! 5:30am to be exact! So I'm now in a new hotel and still being bitten but it was considerably less bites than I received in Sansuk.

 

I got out of bed and stood next to the bed to research bed bugs more (as I said I've never been through anything like this before) and I see that these things are probably now inside every bit of luggage I have with me! Including my large suitcase!

 

I picked up the bag of clothing to be washed and took it into the bathroom and did s close inspection with a damp ear bud and found what looked like another one of these grain of sand red/brown bits apparently it's where the bugs have shed skin. So I'm assuming the bed bugs have definitely travelled with me and have got out of the bag and made their way to the bed to bite me again!

 

I spoke with the reception at my new hotel and told them about this and they moved me to a different room where I am now and I have sealed EVERYTHING including my clothes in black bin bags tied tightly and put them in the bathroom.

 

I am beyond P'd off as I now have no clothes to wear and am stuck in my room which is beginning to ruin my trip.

 

I messaged one of the reception guys at Sansuk as I have him as a friend on Line to say please make sure you tell the manager about the bed bugs problem in that room and don't let anyone else stay in there and that I now have to throw many of my clothes in the garbage. He has read the message but no reply and has now gone quiet. Before he would message me every single day whist I was in the UK (I added him on Line during my last stay at Sansuk Sauna for ease of checking room availability).

 

I wonder if any of you guys can offer any advice on what i should do next?

 

I understand washing my clothes on high heat temperature is needed but I can't find a self serve laundromat in Silom only serviced ones and I can't guarantee that they will wash the clothes on a hot enough temperature for long enough. I have tried putting some clothes in boiling water in the sink so I at least have something to wear but no success as the water keeps running out of the plug and cooling between boiling the kettle FML plus I'm probably going to ruin all of my clothes from this experience any way once they are washed on such a high temperature!

 

As it stands now I have laid in my room all day naked and managed to get some much needed sleep but this evening felt 2 more bites and had two more bumps from them.

 

I don't know what to do next, I have everything inside black bin bags apart from my large suitcase which is also in the shower cubicle and I wiped it out with baby wipes and didn't see any evidence of bed bugs in it.

 

Even once I have cleaned the clothes, what about my suitcase and electrical items? The last thing I need is to take them back home with me!

 

If anyone could offer any advice on this matter it would be a great help!

 

And just to add I've always enjoyed my stay at Sansuk and the staff are very pleasant but after this experience it would be impossible for me to stay there again.

 

Thanks Guys!

[Moses]

Wash clothes and then ironing (longer than usual, especially - seams) clothes will help... Also deep freezing (below - 15C) them for 72 hours will help. 

[Guest jones]

Good idea on the ironing thanks. I wish I had access to a deep freezer right now here in BKK

[Moses]

Oh, I forgot: your main target isn't bugs - any washing will kill em, but to destroy their eggs you need high temperature. Bugs use seams to hide eggs there. I think double dry cleaning should kill em and to destroy eggs as well.

 

If you want - I can send to you one of guys from Siamroads for to help - to buy for you simple shorts and t-shirt and to help to find self-service with drying laundromat or just a dry cleaning service... (it will cost you 200 baht/hour)

[Guest jones]

Moses, this could be a big help! I've just looked at your website great service! I think the dry cleaning place would be closed at this time wouldn't it? So it may have to be tomorrow? I would prefer tonight so I don't ruin any more of my trip

[steveboy]

Jones,  I had bed bugs at home once when my bf brought some from the home of a shady friend (which he never visited again).

It takes a cool head and patience to deal with them, avoiding overreactions throwing everything away, and they can be overcome.

 

For a consolation:  it is preferable to get bed bugs to getting other "bugs" at a sauna...

[Moses]

Moses, this could be a big help! I've just looked at your website great service! I think the dry cleaning place would be closed at this time wouldn't it? So it may have to be tomorrow? I would prefer tonight so I don't ruin any more of my trip

 

You can contact me via chat at FB page of Siamroads here https://www.facebook.com/siamroads/ It will be private - use button "Send message"

[spoon]

Stay calm as bed bugs while gross and nuisance, they are harmless and doesnt carry diseases.

 

https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/guide/bedbugs-infestation

 

Hope the link above will help you out further. For back home, if u believe they travelled with you, u can always call exterminator to get rid of them totally.

[ChristianPFC]

I had bed bugs in August in Myanmar. As I might stay at that place again, I will email them to do something about it. Details and picture of my bite marks here: http://christianpfc.blogspot.com/2017/08/myanmar-aug-2017-various-impressions.html

 

Research on the internet gave information as reported by others already. Upon return to Bangkok, I put all my clothes in a plastic bowl and pured boiling water (from water boiler for tea or coffee) over them to kill all bugs or eggs.

 

Sansuk is rather more upscale than the place I stayed at, and I have never read or heard about bed bugs in Thailand before.

[vinapu]

Two weeks in Thailand  and instead of posting your report here regularly you are busy catching bed bugs ?

That's not nice.

 

On serious note I can add I'd throw out suitcase,  with all those cozy nooks you may import those bugs home     

[ggobkk]

While a bother of massive proportion for you, it's  caution for all travelers.  I hope the double cleaning resolves. the situation.

 

At one brief point one of my duties was to manage a small hotel that catered to international travelers, about ten years ago, an overnight guest from introduced bed bugs to the hotel.  After many months and tens of thousands of $$ and lots on inconvenience to the guests, the insects moved on or passed away.  

 

While there are scammers - i.e. guest who bring bed bugs in plastic baggies to show and complain and not pay, hotels should honor what the guests says and compensate them.  I'm still a bit non plussed that you found the marks on theunderside of the mattress, that indicates (to me ) that housekeeping knew there was a problem and ignored it

 

When you return home, repeat all the cautions you have taken in Thailand.  

 

Good luck

[zombie]

OP: Thank you for your informative posting.

IMO,

Surely you must consult a specialist doctor and get the strongest possible medicine to get rid of the problem from your body.

Try Bumrungrad hospital.

Discard any property that may have been infected.

Maybe:

The establishment concerned which gave rise to the problem ought to be informed of this thread and post here what they are doing about it or give their comments.

[Guest jones]

Thanks everyone. I wasn't too sure how people would take this post but you have all been very helpful.

 

After my 2nd wasted day in BKK I went out to find a laundrette only to be quoted 2000bht to wash my clothes, after walking further looking for a cheaper laundrette i gave up as i was hot and bothered and decided to stand in the bathroom for the day and boil my clothes in hot water exactly as ChristianPFC said he did. I'm currently at the sink with the kettle on speed boil

[anddy]

one way to try to deal with it just occurred to me, no idea if it would work or not:

 

buy insect spray (like Baygon, can get at any supermarket or probably 7/11), put your clothes in a large black trash bag, inflate it (like a balloon), then spray a lot of the insect spray inside the bag and seal it tightly. Shake to distiribute and mix clothes and poison. Let it sit overnight. 

 

For other items as well as the suitcase, put the items in your suitcase, spray inside of suitcase and close tightly. 

 

Just an off-hand idea.... 

[vinapu]

jones's misfortune reminds us about virtues of travelling lightly, according to old adage 'take half goods and twice money"

[Londoner]

Any response from Sansuk? I find the sauna and restaurant to be efficient and well-run ( I've not stayed in the hotel) so I am shocked.

[steveboy]

On serious note I can add I'd throw out suitcase,  with all those cozy nooks you may import those bugs home     

 

It may not be wise to start throwing things away in desperation.  A suitcase needs to come home with its content, but once there one can immediately quarantine it in an hermetic plastic bag, maybe with some insecticide inside like Anddy suggested, where it can stay for months until it is needed for another trip.  The isolated bugs may survive for several months but not forever.

 

One non-chemical product that kills the bugs is "diatomaceous earth", an inert silica fine powder that seems to be safe for us. I think that this is what got rid of the bed bugs in my home when I bought a large bag of it and spread it where I suspected the bugs were hiding.

 

Another item to try are the traps that emit CO2 to attract the bugs into containers from where they cannot escape.

[steveboy]

Surely you must consult a specialist doctor and get the strongest possible medicine to get rid of the problem from your body.

Try Bumrungrad hospital.

 

Medicine to get rid of bed bugs?  Perhaps the best is to find a specialist doctor that the bugs like more than oneself so that they crawl on him...?  These bugs don't stay on humans (like lice, crabs and other pests) but they prefer colder places to hide.  Also they are not infectious, they only... bite!

[steveboy]

jones's misfortune reminds us about virtues of travelling lightly, according to old adage 'take half goods and twice money"

 

We will never bring bed bugs back home if we travel naked, with only a passport and a wallet.

[Huncsaba]

I booked a room for 10 nights (January) in Sansuk Gesthaus so I am very nervous now. Maybe better if I delet it...?

[Guest jones]

I booked a room for 10 nights (January) in Sansuk Gesthaus so I am very nervous now. Maybe better if I delet it...?

The hotel is a nice place to stay and staff are very friendly but now you have the information to make an informed decision yourself.

 

The worker at Sansuk Message me to say how are you and I replied with pictures of all of my clothing in sealed bags and said I have been stuck in my room for 2 days in Bkk while sorting this mess out.

 

I told him again that they can not allow any guest's to stay in that room to which he replied we have closed the room for a week and are spraying chemicals in it. This was 2 days after I left Sansuk.

 

Bed Bugs can appear in the cleanest of hotels to the low end budget hotels it's nothing to do with cleanliness so I have read online.

 

My annoyance was how Sansuk dealt with the situation. I had never experienced bed bugs in my life and had no idea of the consequences of sleeping in a room with them.

 

I would have thought that with Sansuk being a hotelier they would have identified the problem and advised on how to deal with it for less chance of the situation getting any worse.

 

I was in reception with my bag of possibly contaminated clothing and made a point of keeping it away from my main luggage. The staff should of offered to take the bag of laundry and hot wash it but they Didn't and allowed me to carry on.

 

Ok I was leaving for Bangkok but I said I would be returning so they still could have offered to do this and I could have collected it on my return. Perhaps they just didn't think.

 

If you choose to stay maybe just check under and around the bed? I would probably advise this for staying anywhere now after my experience!

[Guest jones]

Also just to add, I am still suffering with bites now from these bed bugs after spending 2 days boiling and drying all of my clothes and scolding my hands which means they are probably in all parts of my luggage. Great! I can't throw it all away some of it is expensive stuff!

 

I will Have To call professional help today I think as I'm not taking these things home with me! Pretty much ruined the 2nd half of my trip. Will try Rentokil in Thailand for advice on their services.

 

Shame Sansuk didn't bother to help me or at least discount the 10k bht I paid for my room!

 

Personally, after suffering with these things for the past few days I would recommend avoiding Sansuk until the problem is completely solved. These things can spread from room to room I've learnt.

 

I would also add that I'm sure Sansuk cleaners knew of some type of issue as you could see the stains on the mattress as soon as the bed sheet was removed. It wasn't small! If I could find it after a few days im sure they could.

 

I'm so annoyed that I don't think I will be visiting Sansuk again. It's not so much the fact That they have bed bugs it's more how they dealt with it which was to do nothing at all. Best bit is they have a dry cleaning service I've just seen! They could have offered to at least clean the contaminated bag which i pointed out to them!

[Alexx]

Well at least you'll have quite an exciting story to tell once you return from the tropics.

[Huncsaba]

The hotel is a nice place to stay and staff are very friendly but now you have the information to make an informed decision yourself.

 

The worker at Sansuk Message me to say how are you and I replied with pictures of all of my clothing in sealed bags and said I have been stuck in my room for 2 days in Bkk while sorting this mess out.

 

I told him again that they can not allow any guest's to stay in that room to which he replied we have closed the room for a week and are spraying chemicals in it. This was 2 days after I left Sansuk.

 

Bed Bugs can appear in the cleanest of hotels to the low end budget hotels it's nothing to do with cleanliness so I have read online.

 

My annoyance was how Sansuk dealt with the situation. I had never experienced bed bugs in my life and had no idea of the consequences of sleeping in a room with them.

 

I would have thought that with Sansuk being a hotelier they would have identified the problem and advised on how to deal with it for less chance of the situation getting any worse.

 

I was in reception with my bag of possibly contaminated clothing and made a point of keeping it away from my main luggage. The staff should of offered to take the bag of laundry and hot wash it but they Didn't and allowed me to carry on.

 

Ok I was leaving for Bangkok but I said I would be returning so they still could have offered to do this and I could have collected it on my return. Perhaps they just didn't think.

 

If you choose to stay maybe just check under and around the bed? I would probably advise this for staying anywhere now after my experience!

Thx Jones! I sent this topic for Sansuk and wait the answer...

[Guest dale1]

As they are not registered on this board, the management of Sansuk Sauna and Guesthouse have asked me to post the following message on their behalf:

 

Dear Sir,

 

We are very, very sorry to hear about what happened to you at Sansuk, but we are also very grateful to you for telling us.  Things like that should not happen to any guest at any Hotel or Guesthouse.

 

As far as we know, this has never happen before at Sansuk. We will now check up all our beds, and we hope that it will not happen to anyone again.

 

Our man at the reception was confused because he had never heard about the bugs before.

 

We are also sorry for not knowing about the problem a few days before your departure. We could easily have put your clothes into the freeze-box over night and then laundry them for you. Can you please forgive us and still keep in touch with your Internet friends at Sansuk.

 

Sincerely yours,

 

Management

Sansuk Sauna and Guest House