Are there bed bugs in the hostels?

Do your research on hostels. I stay in hostels when I travel and the only time I stayed in dingy hostels is when I was in my early 20's and didn't do any research and settled for just any cheap available room. Check out different sites like trip advisor, hostelz and hostelworld and they rate each hostel. Some are extremely nice and very clean! Never seen any bed bugs...

If there are bed bugs at any hostel or hotel, usually someone on Trip Advisor will spill the beans. I've never encountered them in Europe, but I have seen them once in the US.

Bed bugs can end up anywhere, even in the best hotels. They are brought in by people and do not only find their way into dirty hotels/hostels. Read the reviews to make sure there have not been previous problems, and check your bed before you sleep in it, put your bag on it, etc. Avoid putting your bag on the carpet, bed, or other fabrics.

Leigh is correct. Bed bugs can and have infested even some of the nicest and priciest hotels. Your best defense is to read up on how to identify bed bugs and signs of infestations by knowing exactly where to look and checking those places before you start unpacking your bags. Check the mattress seams and the mattress cover for the bugs and any signs of blood stains, look behind headboards, don't unpack your clothing and put it in a dresser or wardrobe (they can hide in nooks and crannies then hitch a ride on your clothing to the next location), keep your belongings off the carpets, away from curtains, off the bed or fabric covered chairs. Keep your luggage elevated & off the floor. I was once stuck in a hostel dorm room with a backpacker who had bed bug bites all over her torso from her last hostel. She checked in to my hostel room in the middle of the night and spread her stuff all over the carpeted floor. Unfortunately, a festival meant there were no other rooms to be had in that or any hostel or hotel in the city, so I was stuck trying to keep everything I owned away from this backpacker for 5 nights and then had to wash and dry everything I owned on really high heat. I had read all the hostel reviews ahead of time, so it goes to show there is no guarantee. You never know what can walk through the door once you get there.

Actually, NPR has had several good stories on Bed Bugs.......... An interview on Fresh Air with a guy who wrote a book on them was very good:...... http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129701363........Some other ones.....http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1435655.........http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129345182

Patrick, I've never encountered bed bugs in any Hostel I've stayed at. As the others mentioned, infestations can occur ANYWHERE, even in high priced Hotels.

Unfortunately all is true about bedbugs the gd thing is they carry no disease. They do bite and you may itch for a wk and they can hitchhike in your luggage/clothing. I encountered them once in a higher end all suites hotel in Colorado. Just examine your room/bed carefully.

We have stayed in hostels in many countries and never had a problem with bed bugs. However, we use Rick Steves' Silk Sheets due to the fact we don't like to sleep on their linens or pillows in hostels or low rated hotels.

"we use Rick Steves' Silk Sheets due to the fact we don't like to sleep on their linens or pillows in hostels or low rated hotels" I'm considering bringing along a single sheet to put over the bed covering for an upcoming trip to Italy. I'm assuming most 2 or 3 star places would be similar to 2 star in the US where even if sheets are washed between guests, the bedspreads aren't frequently washed. Is my assumption incorrect? Man, I hope the triple sheeting trend grows and grows!

"I'm considering bringing along a single sheet to put over the bed covering for an upcoming trip to Italy" Hopefully, you won't end up moving the bedbugs from hotel to hotel in that sheet....or even worse, bringing them home with you....

Good point, Norm. I was thinking of the sheet for general comfort and cleanliness.

While it's true bedspreads are not washed in between each guest[INVALID]which is why you should get it off the bed and somewhere far away as soon as possible[INVALID]but sheets are washed. Just as Norm stated, if you do encounter bed bugs, and have your own sheets, all you will do is spread them to other hostels/hotels and bring them home. And from what I hear, hiring exterminators to rid your home of bedbugs isn't cheap. And that's not to mention the new sheets, pillowcases, blankets and even mattress you'll have to get.