How To Save Money Getting Health Care On Vacation

Let’s face it: the cost of health care is out of control. American politicians refuse to negotiate prices with pharmaceutical companies, and the public ends up paying more to get the same (or worse) treatment as people in other countries.

To take just one example: the average bypass surgery costs $78,000 in the United States. If you’re retired or living on a fixed income, and you’re underinsured, 78K punches a pretty big hole in your rowboat. Meanwhile, that same procedure costs just $34,000 in Switzerland, $24,000 in the UK, and $14,000 in Spain.

Given that price gap, it’s easy to imagine scenarios where it would actually be cheaper to take a vacation somewhere nice and get a little surgery done on the side while you’re there!

Here’s our guide to medical tourism: the top 5 countries where you can get safe, affordable medical care. (And, you know, have a wonderful time as well.)

Costa Rica

Costa Rica is one of the poorer nations in the western hemisphere. The country’s average per capita income is less than $7,000 USD per year, and more than 20% of Costa Ricans live in poverty.

Given that, it surprises many foreigners to learn that Costa Rica has superb health care. In fact, their system is marginally better than the American one according to the World Health Organization! So you can be assured you won’t be sacrificing any quality if you opt to travel to Costa Rica for treatment, as more than 40,000 Americans do every year. The only thing you’re be losing is a whole lot of expense.

Medical and dental procedures in CR typically run you between a quarter and half what they would cost stateside. For example, a knee replacement averages $34,000 in the U.S.; in Costa Rica, you can get it for $9,500.

The comparatively low cost of living and the accessibility of quality health care also makes this Central American jungle paradise a popular place to retire.

If you’re interested in reading more, check out 15 Things Everyone Should Do In Costa Rica.

Costa Rican island and canal into the ocean — Costa Rica. Wikimedia Commons.

Mexico

In a lot of ways, Mexico gets a bad rap. Parts of the country are notoriously dangerous, but when it comes to health care, Mexico has more in common with the United States than you might expect. Many Mexican doctors do at least some training in the U.S. and vice versa. Major Mexican cities almost all have reliable medical facilities that do quality work for a fraction of the cost you’ll pay back home.

Mexico’s specialty is dentistry. Many towns bordering the U.S. have dental offices designed to cater to border-hopping patients. The town of Vicente Guerrero, for instance, has more than 350 dentist offices, earning it the nickname “Molar City.”

The town of Puerto Vallarta is another popular destination for medical tourists, as it offers high-end doctors and dentists while also serving as a worthy vacation spot in its own right.

Interested in Puerto Vallarta? Read 7 Things To Do in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Thailand

Thailand is another country with many Western-trained doctors doing quality work at low prices. But you probably want to stay in the capital, the garish and modern Bangkok, rather than shopping around more rural areas.

Thailand first made its name as a medical tourist hotspot by offering inexpensive cosmetic surgeries in the ’90s. You can still get a facelift for about 20% what it would cost you in the U.S., but you can also find top-notch treatment for more serious complaints.

One of Thailand’s most popular hospitals for expatriates is Bumrungrad International, which is modeled after the famed Mayo Clinic. It offers transparent pricing packages and boasts 220 physicians who are U.S.-certified.

Besides: who doesn’t want to try some authentic pad thai, see tigers and elephants, and recover from a minor surgery on a tranquil South Pacific beach?

Read more about the nation formerly known as Siam: 12 Things To Discover In Thailand.

Islands off the coast of Thailand seen from above — Thailand is known for its beautiful coastal islands. Unsplash / Denys Nevozhai

India

This one may sound a little too risky, but medical tourism is a growth industry in India, serving over 300,000 foreign patients annually. In a way, it’s unsurprising: the subcontinent trains some of the most skilled surgeons and physicians in the world — and most of them speak English.

While India is definitely more of a jaunt than Mexico or Costa Rica, patients willing to make the trek can save as much as 85%. Even factoring in the cost of travel, it can easily be 70% cheaper to get your treatment here!

Specialties of Indian doctors include eye surgeries, joint replacements, bone marrow transplants, and cardiac care. Success rates are on par with Western countries. Centers for medical tourism are the cities of Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi.

Malaysia

Another potentially surprising entry! But Malaysia has been named destination of the year by International Medical Travel Journal three years running.

Singapore used to be the most popular medical tourism destination in Southeast Asia. But Singapore is rich, and its prices have been going up. Malaysia has slipped in and become the new Singapore, offering developed-world care at developing-world prices.

Health care bills in Malaysia can be 80% lower than in America, without compromising much in the way of quality. Many Malaysian doctors are trained in the UK, the U.S., or Australia, which means a lot of them speak English. And it’s always less stressful when you have an open line of communication with your doctor.

The cities of Penang, Kuala Lumpur, and Melaka are the main destinations for medical tourists in Malaysia. All are easily accessible by air.

If you’re in need of some medical attention but you’re short on insurance, consider working some overseas treatment into your next vacation. Explore a new country, and leave healthier than when you came: that’s what we call killing two birds with one kidney stone!

Kuala Lumpur and Petronas towers seen through the fog. — Kuala Lumpur, capital of Malaysia. Unsplash / Ishan @seefromthesky

How Travel Taught Me Friendship Is Its Own Language

I didn’t go to Santiago, Chile looking for friendship. In fact, before meeting mountaineers from the Chilean company Vertical, Chile was not even on my bucket list.

A mid-life crisis MBA student, I was embarking on my second chance to study abroad. The opportunity presented itself, and I jumped on it. I only wanted to learn from a global business perspective, partake of South American cuisine, and check ‘study abroad’ off my wish list.

Day 5. They organized the group for a neighborhood work project aided by the anti-poverty organization Un Techo. The work was taking place in Campamento San Francisco, a settlement community in the municipality of San Bernardo. Our designated tasks were to build a water tower and paint the community center. They briefed us on the area, its social dynamic, and the necessity of the water tower for the people.

The neighborhood consisted of hundreds of homes with no running water or electricity. The city provided water in giant containers which were upheld by the towers. Someone told us we would see poverty on a vast scale and not to show any physical reactions to it. They encouraged us to connect with the tenants but to not pet or feed any stray animals as they may transmit disease.

Upon arrival, I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was like a scene out of a dreadful film. Several questions fired off in my brain at once. Are these homes? Do people literally live here? How could they? Who is doing anything about this? The homes looked as if they had been formed from stray pieces of construction material, seized by something to hold them up. Residents piled garbage on one border of the neighborhood as if to replace the dump.

I was disturbed by the hardship I witnessed. That moment redefined poverty for me because I had never seen such horrific living conditions.

Chilean slum neighborhood with garbage on the ground — Campamento San Francisco Santiago, Chile. Photo credit: Desiree Rew.

As advised, I betrayed no hint of the emotional battle going on inside me.

When we showed up, several groups turned out to acknowledge us. Warm smiles from the adults and careful glances from the children. The locals greeted the Un Techo volunteers with big hugs and asked in Spanish: “Who are they and why do they talk funny?” After it was pointed out that we were volunteers from the USA and we were talking in English, we got the green light. The children were friendly and cheery from that moment forward.

Throughout the initial exchanges, my mind was having trouble processing. I was standing in what looked like a genuine disaster, surrounded by people who nevertheless seemed to be content. They wore lively colors. The little girls all had polish on their fingernails and bows in their hair. They weren’t seeking money or selling anything. It was not the response to want I was acquainted with when traveling. I felt ashamed for expecting that it would be.

Just as I was about to start work on painting, a request came through for a few volunteers to help work with one of the resident women. We had picked up some ingredients before reporting, and this woman wanted us to cook it in her home. I raised my hand to help because I felt a yearning to spend time with the people of the neighborhood despite my shortage of Spanish speaking skills.

An Un Techo volunteer brought me along with two others to the home of Nadia. A substantial fence with a lock and thick link chain secured her house. The yard was all earth, with children’s clothes on the line drying and toys askew. There was a sink outside with a bucket underneath, along with a private water tank. Also, there was a nursery of varied potted plants.

The house appeared to have no windows, so the door had to remain open to circulate air. There was a sink, a stove attached to a gas reservoir, a kitchen table adorned with a table cloth and crayons and coloring paper for her daughter. Dishes were kept in a hutch, and the refrigerator marked a visual separation between the kitchen and living room. She furnished the living room with sofas, coffee table, books, family photographs, and art. It was surprisingly pleasant. There were two bedrooms, one for Nadia and her husband, and one for the youngsters.

She answered the door with a modest disposition. She had a sincere smile but not overly friendly. One of the Un Techo volunteers translated between us what our operational strategy would be to cook the meal. Once that was handled, the volunteer left, and we were suddenly on our own to carry out our well-established plan.

Potted cactus plant on a table. — Cactus Plant, Santiago Chile. Photo credit: Desiree Rew.

Even without speaking each other’s language, we started to learn about one another. I could figure out concepts, but I could not respond and vice versa. We were becoming sisters without restraints. We chatted about our children, our upbringing, why I didn’t have a sweetheart, her spouse, shared pictures of our family, struggled to instruct each other to communicate the other’s language, and laughed many times.

We cooked spaghetti and heated meat sauce from the jar. We buttered bread and set the table to deliver lunch. We served lunch in 3 different turns to accommodate everyone at a table designed for four. Her mother dropped by and helped. It was a family reunion of sorts, with all the women in the kitchen cooking and talking and laughing. My surroundings became less and less awkward and I went about the house as if I was family. I didn’t have to seek approval to snag the plates or take the jugs of water from inside the refrigerator.

After we fed everybody and the kitchen and dishes were washed, my day was over. But I found myself hesitant to leave. I promised Nadia that I would come back in eight months, in November, with my son to see her and the family again. It was as if I had known her my entire life. I had not predicted the unselfishness of heart I would encounter, and it was moving.

As we were standing by for the van to pick us up from her house, I made the observation that her plants were nice. By their robust growth, it appeared she maintained them. I performed the gesture signaling my custody of a black thumb (point to plant with a finger, finger to heart, head shake no, thumb turned down) and she reached down and offered me a cactus plant. I laughed until it hurt. As we stood in her dirt yard, she gave me a gift when it should have been I giving her one.

I had known Nadia for a few hours, but she made me crave to be a stronger person. She reminded me that a daily dose of gratitude goes along way. She showed me that poverty was external, but happiness was internal. I was seeking to give 100 percent for a well-intentioned cause, but I left receiving 200 percent from her.

I returned that November with my son. He played football (soccer) with the children of the camp, and Nadia proudly introduced us as her friends from the United States. I have visited Nadia four times since our first meeting.

When I visit again, she and her family will be in their new home, and I suspect we will be in the kitchen with running water together laughing and making hand gestures to talk because I have still yet to learn a sufficient amount of Spanish to carry on a full conversation and she has not learned a stitch of English.

Friends visiting from America, Santiago, Chile — L-R: David Hamm, Jr., Desiree Rew, Nadia Diaz, Tomas Diaz, Nazareth Diaz. Santiago, Chile. Photo credit: Desiree Rew.

10 Things To Do On Belize’s Secret Island

On a recent run-away to Belize, I spent five glorious days and four interesting nights in San Pedro on the island of Ambergris Caye. An hour and a half away from the mainland (Belize City) by water taxi, San Pedro is the second-largest township in the Belize District and home to the second-largest Barrier Reef in the world. A melting pot of people from diverse backgrounds who discover their paths here, San Pedro is an easy-paced and fascinating experience.

This was my first excursion to Belize, and I was hoping to unwind. I wanted to embark upon leisurely activities and take in the sights from the local point of view. My goal was to immerse myself in the culture along with the sun, sand, and rum.

Here are 10 things I tried in San Pedro, Belize that you can’t leave without trying.

Secret Beach

The best kept secret in Belize is not a mystery at all. As a matter of fact, residents will advise you it’s the most popular swimmable beach on the north side of the island. Belizeans are extremely friendly and will offer you advice, directions, or assistance if you ask.

Most of Belize’s beaches have been overrun by a brown, foul-smelling seaweed called Sargassum. It is an unpleasant phenomenon that is impacting sea life and the swimmability of some areas. When the Sargassum comes ashore and dies, it emits a pungent odor redolent of rotten eggs. Locals told me this is happening throughout the Caribbean.

Secret Beach has been spared. On the 40-minute bumpy ride there you begin to see the difference in the water on this part of the island. The seas are immaculate, crystal-clear. You’ll want to jump in as soon as you arrive and park the golf cart. The beach is lively, with not one but two beach bars, and a plethora of seating and food options. Seating is available for free with the purchase of food and drinks.

The water is warm in temperature and remains waist deep even a good way out. A day spent at Secret Beach is a day worth telling everyone about.

Umbrella on the secret beach San Pedro Island, Belize — The Secret Beach. Photo credit: Desiree Rew.

Golf Carting

I alluded to golf carts, and that’s for good reason. You cannot leave San Pedro without driving a golf cart With a driver’s license from any place, you can rent one easily from many merchants, and it’s the best way to explore an island. Ambergris Caye, for example, has two distinct flanks — a Northern and Southern portion. A golf cart is essential for exploration. Almost everybody has one, so it’s pretty strange to see a person walking through town. The carts come with a built-in theft protect bar and lock. You haven’t fully lived until you’ve gotten caught in a golf cart traffic jam!

Belize Food Tour

Run by sister and brother duo Filipe and Dora, this tour will present you the finest Belizean cuisine on the island. Food is prepared with traditional recipes and ingredients. Some restaurants on the itinerary have sand floors and grass roofs — much the way many Belizean homes were built in the past. The outdoor wood stove was also a fixture that could be found in many homes back in the day.

Starting at the center of San Pedro, the tour provides a thorough overview of the town’s history as you’re guided to your next gastronomic adventure. Filipe takes you through the nooks and crannies of San Pedro as only a native can. After the first stop, you’ll submit to being led blindly to the next, walking a little faster than before to reach the next table. You will feast where the locals do, and discover details that connect you with the proprietors. You will end the tour full, satisfied, and in need of a nap.

Las Paletas

This is more than just an ice cream bar: it’s a popsicle made with fresh fruit. This popular treat is ideal to cool down from the tropical sun of Belize. You can clearly see and taste the ingredients — coconut, strawberry, pineapple and many more. It’s not a guilty pleasure by any means. The only regret you will have is that you didn’t buy more than one. You should not leave San Pedro without trying it again and again.

Rum and Bean

You’ll find this hidden gem on the south end of the island, in Mahogany Bay Village.

Once you turn into this hamlet, you can’t help but notice the coffee bean statue out front. However, the real surprise is on the other side of the door. When you enter, after savoring the coolness of the air conditioning, you are immediately calmed by the quiet and the smell of coffee. The décor suggests slowing down and taking it all in. From the copper accessories to the large painting of a child enjoying the sea on the wall, everything urges you to slow your breathing and not rush out of the door.

The menu includes fresh-brewed coffee, frosty drinks, delicious baked goods, and special iced island drinks. It’s an excellent spot to sit back, read, or even journal after relaxation has cleared your head. The coffee is glorious; the locals will say it’s the greatest coffee on the island.

San Pedro Artisan Market

You don’t want to leave San Pedro without dropping by the Artisan Market. It hosts over 20 stalls with local art and handmade crafts. A great place to purchase gifts, this open-air market is available every day. The minute you walk in, you’ll notice there is no scarcity of goods. The items include artwork, woodwork, jewelry, bags, clothing, hand-made stuffed animals, purses, and so much more. Vendors will even customize items per your request. Sellers are not timid about inviting you to consider what they are selling. However, they are nice when you decline. There is no pressure to buy and browsing is acceptable.

Belize Chocolate Company Class

This 30-40 minute class shows you how the Mayans (indigenous people of Mexico and Central America) used to make chocolate. The lesson takes place on the rear deck of the store with sea views, and samples are provided. This is a family-owned business, the only one of its kind on the island. Staff are knowledgeable about the process and products they male, and there are a host of chocolate goodies: bars, coffee, and sweets. Chocolate makes everything better, including vacation.

Ceviche

Ceviche is a dish made of fruit, usually with seafood. You should eat as much of it as you can on San Pedro. No Matter where you order it, it will be scrumptious. Served with tortilla chips, it makes a wonderful meal or snack. Served poolside, beach side, or in a restaurant, ceviche is on everyone’s menu. You taste each ingredient, and if you have one with seafood you won’t be disappointed. The Belizean cooks are generous with the portions of seafood you receive. Large helpings of shrimp, lobster, or fish is the standard for this dish in Belize.

Truck Stop

This may be the best find on the island. Four-wheelers will not be found here, just golf carts belonging to foodies parked on both parts of the road. This is a Food-Truck stop with a full-functioning bar and four cuisine options (Italian, Asian, Latin, ice cream) and a pool in the back.

You’ll find it just north of the city. A semi-bumpy golf cart drive will have you viewing the sunset while devouring a fried Korean pork belly taco and sipping the national beer in under 30 minutes. The truck stop is foodie nirvana, with an adult play yard and family-friendly atmosphere. Service is good and there’s even outdoor entertainment. If you venture far enough in the back, you will find beach lounge chairs facing toward an outdoor movie screen, plus adirondack chairs and side tables facing the water.

If you were not a fan of food trucks before you arrive, you’re sure to be one when you leave.

Chicken Drop

When strangers ask out of the blue, “Are you going to the chicken drop?” …you’ll most likely want to make your way there.

San Pedro’s rendition of the Powerball, the Chicken Drop takes place every Thursday near Central Park. It is well attended by the local community and tourists alike. Here’s how it goes. You place your bet and purchase a ticket. A chicken is arranged on a board of numbers after it is shaken, spun around, and someone blows in its rear end. Yes, blows in it’s rear end. If the poultry poops (drops) on your number, you win the cash prize.

This is truly and odd experience whether you are playing or just spectating. The event is attended by the local community and tourists alike. Even if you decide not to get a ticket, just watching the festivities is winning.

Belize is an embracing sanctuary full of history and friendliness. I did not expect to experience the cultural diversity that exists among its citizens. I arrived pursuing rest with a side of rum. I left well rested, well rummed, but also in total admiration of this Belizean community.

Traveling to Belize with a significant other? Be sure to check out our list of the best resorts in Belize for couples.

Huge Wildfire Threatens Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park in California’s Sierra Nevada is one of America’s most iconic outdoor destinations, drawing 4 million visitors every year. The park is most famous for Yosemite Valley, with its epic ‘tunnel view’, and El Capitan, a peak popular with rock climbers.

But the park’s 747,000 hectares also include several ancient giant sequoia tree groves, which are currently threatened by the ferocious Ferguson wildfire raging nearby.

On Wednesday, officials were forced to close Yosemite, canceling more than 1,000 reservations and forcing 2,000 campers to cut their stays short. While the area is not in immediate danger, firefighters need time and space clear brush and build fire lines to keep the blaze from spreading into the park.

More than 3,400 people are working to hold back the Ferguson fire, but it remains only 29% contained. As of this writing, it has stretched to cover 45,911 acres. There is no projected timetable for bringing the fire under control, as responders battle inordinately dry conditions and temperatures in excess of 100°F.

“We’re working really hard to catch it,” a forest service spokesman told The San Francisco Chronicle. “But it’s in a bad area, thick with growth, and the fire in that spot has grown very quickly.”

One particularly vulnerable area of the park is the Merced Grove, a cluster of more than 100 sequoia trees, some of them 1,000 years old. 20 firefighters have the grove surrounded with hoses and fire lines as the Ferguson fire belches and spits just two miles to the south.

“It’s basically a defense,” a park spokesman told The Mercury News. “When you look at the fire progression and the scenarios where it could go, the Merced Grove hasn’t seen fire in a long time. We are doing it as a preventative measure.”

In recent weeks, at least 57 square miles of Sierra Nevada woodlands have burned, part of a disturbing trend of west coast forest fires that seem to get worse every year.

Giant sequoia trees on the side of the road — Giant Sequoia trees. Pixabay / werner22brigitte

There are a number of reasons why wildfires, particularly in California, seem to be getting worse over time.

For one thing, California’s population is growing quite rapidly, which has led to more and more development. That means more people are living (and playing) in drought-prone parts of the state where wildfires are more likely to break out. It’s also the case that 84% of all wildfires are started by humans, whether through malice or carelessness.

But climate change is part of the trend as well. Higher temperatures mean the moisture that’s stored over the winter evaporates more quickly, leaving behind a tinder box. Combined with the Diablo winds that blow across the Sierra Nevada, the result can be devastating forest fires.

With any luck, the Ferguson fire will spare Yosemite National Park with its ancient sequoia trees, and campers will be able to return to one of America’s favourite getaways.

But the overall trend seems unlikely to change any time soon.

If you’re planning a trip to Yosemite in the coming weeks, be sure to check the park’s website here before going.

Why Hawaii Just Banned 80% Of Sunscreen

Hawaii is one of the most popular tourist destinations in America, attracting a record 9.3 million visitors in 2017. It’s not hard to see why: you can sidle up to an active volcano, learn to surf, even wear a bright floral shirt without anyone judging you. But Hawaii just passed a law that will make it a little harder to enjoy its naturally balmy climate.

In a watershed piece of legislation, the state has effectively banned 80% of sunscreen starting in 2021. Specifically, brands containing the chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate will no longer be available in the islands without a prescription. (Those chemicals are also known as benzophenone-3 and octyl methoxycinnamate — say that ten times fast!)

You might wonder what would possess a summery paradise like Hawaii to ban sunblock, but the reason is pretty compelling.

From the great violence of Hawaii’s vulcanism, nature forges great beauty. The islands are flanked by coral reefs and atolls, rich and colorful underwater rainforests that are increasingly vulnerable due to human activity. The situation is dire: we’ve destroyed nearly half the world’s coral reefs in the last 30 years, and studies suggest there may be none left by 2050.

Coral reefs aren’t just pretty. They sustain 25% of all marine species, and support as many as 500 million people through tourism and fisheries.

You might expect climate change, shipping, and pollution to weaken the coral. (They do.) But one of the main culprits is actually sunscreen.

Four different bottles of sunscreen lined up on the deck. — Not trying to make you the bad guy, but… Pixabay / chezbeate

Those alphabet-soup sunblock agents we mentioned — oxybenzone and octinoxate — are two of the worst culprits.

Oxybenzone is particularly lethal to young coral growths, which are a thousand times more sensitive to pollution than mature growths. Octinoxate is less deadly, but it’s the most widely-used anti-UVB chemical on Earth. Both are responsible for bleaching corals, killing them or stunting their growth.

That’s why Hawaii is trying to phase these chemicals out, and you can bet other jurisdictions with endangered corals will soon follow suit. Still, it may all be too little too late.

As we all know, sunscreen does a lousy job of staying on your body when you go in the water. In fact, about a quarter of it washes off in the first 20 minutes. Every year, humans end up dumping about 14,000 tons of sunscreen in the oceans. About 6,000 tons of that makes its way to the coral reefs, wreaking havoc. Hawaii’s reefs are particularly vulnerable because of the state’s historically high levels of tourism.

So, banning most brands of sunscreen may help the corals, but what about humans? What about the elevated risk of skin cancer?

Not to worry: there are environmentally friendly options available. Natural, mineral-based sunblocks are not nearly as damaging to the environment. We can also reduce the amount of sunscreen we use by throwing t-shirts and hats on when we go wading in the shallows. It can be as simple as that.

Hawaii’s new law should be a wake-up call for all of us who like to splash and play in the sun. We need to find ways of doing it that don’t endanger the coral reefs. They generate a portion of the oxygen we breathe, dazzle us with their beauty, and keep our planet healthy by supporting the marine ecosystem we take for granted.

One more time, here are the chemicals to avoid when you’re buying sunscreen: Oxybenzone and octinoxate (benzophenone-3 and octyl methoxycinnamate).

You can read more about eco-friendly sunscreens here.

How To Avoid Bed Bugs While Traveling

No two words summon more disgust: bed bugs. Immediately, we contemplate burning our beds, bug bombing our houses, sleeping in a hotel until it feels safe to return to our own rooms.

Actually, hotels are one of the common places we can get bed bugs in the first place. Bed bugs are transients, hitch-hikers if you like. They move from bed to bed, gaining passage in luggage, clothing, towels, or bedding. They don’t care whether you’re staying in a hostel or a five-star all-inclusive resort; it’s all beans to these critters. If we’re not careful, they might develop a taste for us and decide to follow us home.

But never fear: there are steps we can take to reduce the risk of becoming bug food. Here are 5 tips to avoid bed bugs when you travel.

Know The Signs

You can’t avoid bed bugs if you can’t spot the warning signs. Fortunately, they’re not too difficult to see.

Bite marks on the body are the most obvious sign. Although a small percentage of humans have no physiological reaction, most bodies do respond in the form of raised, red, itchy marks or welts. These are most commonly observed on arms and legs, but they can occur on any part of the body exposed during sleep. These marks are often left in line patterns, three at a time.

Bed bugs only feed every six or seven days, and bite marks can take a few days to appear. So by the time you realize you’ve been bitten, you’ve probably already got a fairly serious infestation. (Of course, you’ll still need a professional evaluation to determine whether you in fact have bed bugs.)

The best preventative way to gauge whether or not you may have a problem — especially if you’re staying in a hotel — is to search the room thoroughly.,

Most bed bugs hide out no more than 15 feet from where their humans sleep. You should therefore search in bedroom closets, night table drawers, and dressers. But the bed is obviously the best place to start.

Check for small red or brown splotches on the mattress, blood stains, or anything that looks like ground pepper; bed bugs leave their waste behind at the scene of the crime. You may also find the bugs themselves hiding out in the mattress seams. They’re about the same size as small seeds. Other signs include molted exoskeletons and eggs (which are white, sticky little packets).

If you find any of these tell-tale signs in your hotel room, you should demand alternative accommodations — or go to another hotel altogether! If you do stay in the same hotel, make sure you’re assigned a non-adjacent suite at least two floors away from the infested room. Bed bugs can move between rooms through electrical sockets and crevices in the walls and ceilings.

Bed bug bites on a man's back and arms. — Bed bug bites. Wikimedia Commons

Protect Your Suitcase

The first thing you should do when you get to your hotel room is put your suitcase in the bathroom. Bed bugs don’t like tiled floors. They’re much more comfortable on carpet where they can blend in; the washroom is the last place they’re likely to occupy. Keeping your suitcase in the bathroom for the duration of your trip is a good way to minimize the chances that any bed bugs will stow away.

Choosing the right suitcase can also help you reduce the risk. Consider buying light-colored plastic luggage, and avoid darker or fabric-based exteriors. (Bed bugs are none too fond of plastic, and a light surface makes them easier to spot.)

If buying new luggage isn’t in the budget, you can put your old suitcase in a white garbage bag and seal it while you’re not using it.

Leave Your Linens

If you’re anything like me, you like to travel with your own pillow and security blanket. A little familiarity always makes it easier to sleep in a strange place. But if you’re serious about avoiding bed bugs, it’s best to leave your creature comforts at home. The more beddings you bring with you, the more places the creepy-crawlies can find to burrow away for the return flight.

Do Your Research

Not to freak you out too much, but in a recent survey, 75% of exterminators said they have treated bed bug infestations in hotels or motels. It’s not remotely uncommon, and it’s not necessarily even the hotel’s fault. Whether a room costs $3,000 or $30 a night makes no difference to the bed bugs. They don’t care if your blood is blue as long as it’s tasty.

One of the best ways you can protect yourself is by doing research ahead of time. The internet is your friend here. Check out the Bed Bug Registry for starters. It contains user-submitted reports about hotels and motels across North America. You may also be able to learn a thing or two from user review sites like Yelp!, but bear in mind: sometimes former employees or unpleasant visitors say things that aren’t true online as a way of grinding their axe. On the other hand, if three or four people have warned about bed bugs recently… you’ll probably want to book somewhere else.

Old 70s car parked in front of old motel — Pixabay / 12019

When You Get Home

Before you lug your suitcase into your house and set it down on the bed, you should take a few precautions.

Don’t bring anything into the house without checking it first. Place your suitcase on a hard surface — like a driveway or a garage floor — so no bedbugs will be able to escape your notice. Then search everything. Wash every article of clothing you brought with you in hot water. (If you can’t wash something, at least run it through the dryer.) You can even vacuum out your luggage if you want to be extra careful, but be sure to empty the vacuum bag outside right away. Bed bugs are nothing if not persistent.

So there you have it: a few tips to even the odds in the never-ending fight against the critters that consider you a midnight snack. We hope we haven’t grossed you out too much. With a little awareness, the chances of you bringing back unwanted guests from your next vacation aren’t all that high.