Post by High Priestess on Sept 20, 2015 7:00:15 GMT
Kathy10 months ago on Anecdotes
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-128092
Kathy
Have "I" got stories....Don't Let the Bed Bugs BITE!
I have been hosting in Berlin, Germany and San Francisco for over five years. This week, I had yet another guest experience resolved by AIRBNB. It does not occur that often, given the volume of guests I attend to. The airbnb staff member suggested I join this forum and share my experiences.
BEDBUGS. If you have never experienced or researched this issue, please DO NOT google the topic, it is scary. I was contacted via e-mail and cell phone that my guest had PERHAPS been exposed to BEDBUGS in his previous apartment. I freaked. Time difference aside, I leaped out of bed at 5 am and contacted AIRBNB. They were not immediately full of details, but recommended that I conduct an Inspection, at their expense. I asked for more details, as I am aware of the extent and damage such an infestation can cause. New bedding, furnishing, flooring......it can really be bad if not caught immediately.
I scheduled an Inspection and was cleared of the worry in MY apartment. However, I was still concerned, as the guest remained in my home. This is a long term stay, otherwise AIRBNB would have re-housed him immediately. AIRBNB assured me they had the guest go to a doctor and recommended he contain his belonging in plastic bags. The details of the previous stay and infestation were relayed to me. Although I am cleared of any concerns for this stay, I will replace ALL bedding, pillows and comforter as the 1% risk of BED BUGS is enough to remain cautious and clean and BUG Free.
During the Inspection, the guest wanted more details from me and the results, etc. I remained silent and conducted ALL my communication through AIRBNB staff. It has been my experience that when a problem of any nature occurs, it is best to remain in the AIRBNB channels of communication. Personal reactions and misunderstandings are best kept OUT of the home stay experience and AIRBNB can keep these channels of communication flowing as they are open 24-hours a day.
STAY TUNED for my next story which explains......how I learned to NOT communicate directly with a guest when an issue arises.
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Helen and Mario
Helen and Mario
Helen and Mario10 months ago
You were" contacted via email and cell phone..", may we know WHO will contact you about this? The guest himself ? Did Airbnb pay for your inspection cost? What is their responsibility in this case?
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Stan & Maggie
Stan & Maggie10 months ago
EEEW ugh etc! I loathe creepy crawlies ! Once you get the all clear, go buy some DIATOMACEOUS EARTH! Not the stuff they use in swimming pools as it contains silicone. Apply a very fine dust everywhere. It has to be fine or they won't step in it. It's made of ground up fossil shells and tiny sharp bits and pieces the ecto skeleton! Ugh! Taught to me by a British BnB landlady. It's non toxic, people eat it, don't ask me why they would! Good luck Maggie
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Sonja
Sonja
Sonja10 months ago
For what it's worth, I once had to stay one night in a cheap hostel in LA and was savaged by bedbugs. It was horrendous.
The emergency doctor prescribed antihistamines and I recovered but the bites were visible for ages.
Anyway... Apart from that night, I never had another bite again and I don't believe any of my clothes carried the bugs anywhere else!
Hope this helps.
Reply Like
Deborah
Deborah10 months ago
Thanks for posting this! It's interesting to hear how you went through this experience.....I will be saving a link to this thread in case others post on this issue in the future, to refer them to your post.....
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Judy
Judy
Judy10 months ago
I don't know if anyone else has the same reaction, but anytime bedbugs are mentioned my skin crawls and starts to itch! LOL
Reply Like
Deborah
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older version w/o names on it
Have "I" got stories....Don't Let the Bed Bugs BITE!
I have been hosting in Berlin, Germany and San Francisco for over five years. This week, I had yet another guest experience resolved by AIRBNB. It does not occur that often, given the volume of guests I attend to. The airbnb staff member suggested I join this forum and share my experiences.
BEDBUGS. If you have never experienced or researched this issue, please DO NOT google the topic, it is scary. I was contacted via e-mail and cell phone that my guest had PERHAPS been exposed to BEDBUGS in his previous apartment. I freaked. Time difference aside, I leaped out of bed at 5 am and contacted AIRBNB. They were not immediately full of details, but recommended that I conduct an Inspection, at their expense. I asked for more details, as I am aware of the extent and damage such an infestation can cause. New bedding, furnishing, flooring......it can really be bad if not caught immediately.
I scheduled an Inspection and was cleared of the worry in MY apartment. However, I was still concerned, as the guest remained in my home. This is a long term stay, otherwise AIRBNB would have re-housed him immediately. AIRBNB assured me they had the guest go to a doctor and recommended he contain his belonging in plastic bags. The details of the previous stay and infestation were relayed to me. Although I am cleared of any concerns for this stay, I will replace ALL bedding, pillows and comforter as the 1% risk of BED BUGS is enough to remain cautious and clean and BUG Free.
During the Inspection, the guest wanted more details from me and the results, etc. I remained silent and conducted ALL my communication through AIRBNB staff. It has been my experience that when a problem of any nature occurs, it is best to remain in the AIRBNB channels of communication. Personal reactions and misunderstandings are best kept OUT of the home stay experience and AIRBNB can keep these channels of communication flowing as they are open 24-hours a day.
STAY TUNED for my next story which explains......how I learned to NOT communicate directly with a guest when an issue arises.
Reply:
You were" contacted via email and cell phone..", may we know WHO will contact you about this? The guest himself ? Did Airbnb pay for your inspection cost? What is their responsibility in this case?
Reply
EEEW ugh etc! I loathe creepy crawlies ! Once you get the all clear, go buy some DIATOMACEOUS EARTH! Not the stuff they use in swimming pools as it contains silicone. Apply a very fine dust everywhere. It has to be fine or they won't step in it. It's made of ground up fossil shells and tiny sharp bits and pieces the ecto skeleton! Ugh! Taught to me by a British BnB landlady. It's non toxic, people eat it, don't ask me why they would! Good luck Maggie
Reply
For what it's worth, I once had to stay one night in a cheap hostel in LA and was savaged by bedbugs. It was horrendous.
The emergency doctor prescribed antihistamines and I recovered but the bites were visible for ages.
Anyway... Apart from that night, I never had another bite again and I don't believe any of my clothes carried the bugs anywhere else!
Hope this helps.
Reply
Thanks for posting this! It's interesting to hear how you went through this experience.....I will be saving a link to this thread in case others post on this issue in the future, to refer them to your post.....
Reply
I don't know if anyone else has the same reaction, but anytime bedbugs are mentioned my skin crawls and starts to itch! LOL