There are very current reviews of hotels on the internet. I always read them before booking. Trip Advisor will be a good first place to start. Also ask family what they have heard locally. The health dept should also be able to give you an idea. Good Luck ! c

You are not crazy to think about this. Just crazy if you don't go. ;-)

I love to travel and I also think/worry about bedbugs. I have been traveling less in the last couple years, since our financial situation got slightly ugly. But, in that time, the bedbug thing has gotten a lot of press.

I also travel to places that are considered by some to be dangerous. A lot of that sentiment is created by media hype. I worry a bit about those trips, but usually, once I am there, I feel completely safe. I mean, I have moments when I think hey this is the exact bus line that usually gets bombed but, I just keep breathing, say a little prayer and feel much better when I can get off the bus at my destination.

There are bedbug reporting sites online now. Just Google bedbugs hotels. At least you can do a little research and put your mind at ease or book a different hotel.

I have to say that in general, the more thought I give to the ramifications of staying in a room occupied by literally hundreds of other people doing lord know what, the more grossed out I can get. But, I love to travel and try my best to suspend my germaphobia so I can continue to try to see the world beyond my own bedroom.

Oh, and bedbugs won't kill you like those suicide bombers will. It's disgusting and a PITA, but you're not putting your family's lives in danger. Go, have fun.

You can check the Bed Bug registry to find out if anyone has reported your hotel.

Here is a link that might be useful: Bed bug registry

You are crazy. You should send me your tickets, etc. immediately. I wonder if bug repellant will work...

Thanks everyone. I wont let my craziness ruin the family vacation. We are going - the plane tickets and the petsitter are booked!!!! We have never had a "true" family vacation like this before- due to budget issues, we have always stayed with family whenever we have traveled up north, and have always driven there. My kids are sooo excited to fly and stay in a hotel. If it snows while we are there, it will be a vacation they will never forget!!
I just keep hearing from friends and family who live in NY about the bedbug issue-ick! I know there is no sure thing, but if I can "avoid" the bedbugs I sure would like too!!!!
Thanks for sharing info on where to start with researching hotels that are having issues. You have been a big help. I wouldn't let my DH book that yet!!
Amy you are an inspiration- if you can put away your fears and enjoy your travels, darn it- so will I ;0)

I understand being concerned-- from everything I've read, they're a major pain in the neck to get rid of. It's natural to not want to go through all that.

In addition to checking the websites that others have recommended, you might want to follow the advice for checking your hotel rooms and keeping your luggage safe. I found an article on msnbc that has a good bullet list along with a video that (if you skip all the upfront background stuff) shows what to look for. Just to warn you, though, it's gross-looking.

I haven't gone as far as they did in the checking, though I'm wondering if I should start. I've generally done a cursory look on and around the bed and just made sure to keep my luggage on a luggage stand and all clothes put away. That makes it harder for them to come home with you.

(Gardenweb isn't letting me put the link in the link area. No idea why, because it looks pretty normal to me. Here it is: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11877871 )

Check the link that sovra provided and then go and have a wonderful time! My DH has to stay in different hotels in major cities all over the US 4 nights of each week for his job as a commercial pilot. He's been doing this for the past 20 years, and fortunately, comes home bedbug free! If you know what to look for, and are sensible with your luggage, you should be fine. Have fun and enjoy your trip!

That's a great video. It shows you how to search for signs of them in a hotel room. Here is a clickable link.

Here is a link that might be useful: Dateline report on bedbugs

Keep all your clothes in zip lock bags. Make sure the bags stay sealed tightly. I'd even bring big bags to wrap the suitcases in when they're not being used. When you get home, wash the clothes first thing, including the ones you're wearing, and dry them in a hot dryer.

Here is a link that might be useful: suitcase bags and other stuff to consider

I feel the same thing homebody.
I plan on doing the bag thing AND THANKFULLY, due to news coverage, dh is finally on board with being cooperative and not laughing hysterically.

We're one family who actually got a slight case of bedbugs, in Reno, NV, of all places, when we had to go there for one of DD's cross-country meets. It's not going to kill you but it's no laughing matter. DD got a mild attack of them over one night we stayed in a hotel -- we switched hotels the second day for another reason, before we really realized what had happened to DD, but she was itchy and really uncomfortable for a good couple of weeks afterwards, and we're *really* lucky that no bugs got into our luggage.

I've been confused why people like to laugh at them when they report on them--it can be expensive and really irritating, physically and psychologically. We're going to FL this December and staying in a hotel in Miami the first night--we're going to take all the precautions mentioned above.

Great information about the bed bugs- I shared the video on my facebook. I read about them at one time & thought they were smaller then what they appear in the video- thought they said they were really tiny.

I would make sure I got trip insurance just in case you change your mind or you hear the hotel gets reported.

Some of those videos are hard ro watch-I got a little itchy!!! I would have never thought about the plastic bags. Going to show this to DH so he will be one board about the checking the mattresses. At least we will all be staying in the same room, so there will be less to check.
Thanks sooo much to everyone. I guess travel isn't what it used to be,LOL!

My husband and I love going to New York, and I've been having the same worries. But I think we are just going to go ahead and go, and just be careful. (Though I find myself thinking, what about the bus? What about the subway? What about . . .?) Bed bugs have been a problem there for some years now, but we've never encountered any, despite some of the questionable hotels we've stayed in. There has just been a lot more media hype recently. I do have a friend who had them (not sure where she got them -- could have been in New York!), and it was pretty disgusting but she got through it eventually.

We've had many trips up to NY staying at top hotels and we've never had a problem. And I know that staying in a fairly expensive hotel isn't a guarantee that you'll avoid those nasty critters. My daughter attended college in NY (Ivy League no less) and had a terrible time in her sophomore dorm because of them.

So do your best to avoid them, check your room when you get there and then try and have fun. NY is just the best place for a family trip and Christmas is wonderful. Make sure you do lots of window shopping and I hope you even get a dusting of snow to add to the magic.

Maire

One thing to consider...I NEVER sit on the bedspread. They don't get changed between guests. When someone told me that, I got so grossed out. Also the remote, too.

So when I travel, I take off the bedspread or lay out towels if I'm going to sit on it. I also bring a package of sanitizing wipes to wipe down the remote, door knobs, lamp switches, etc when I get in the room. I've not encountered bed bugs, but the 'other' bugs make me squirm!