Roaches on vacation?

[severine]

After reading reviews for a resort we were considering going to on Cozumel that mentioned roaches coming out of the shower drain, I'm curious... have any of you encountered roaches on your vacations?

I am seriously bug-a-phobic. When we went to Antigua for my SIL's wedding, I saw a dead roach on the sidewalk in the city and then I couldn't sleep that entire night back at our hotel (many miles away) because I was afraid our room had them and they'd be crawling over us during the night. Yeah, I know..paranoid. I realize that just about every hotel probably deals with this. Creepy crawlies really get to me, though.

So I thought it was funny that in this review, they gave the resort 4 stars out of 5 and said they'd return. They flippantly commented that all you had to do was tell the front desk so they could spray and leave the light on in the bathroom overnight to keep them at bay.

 

[Greg]

Lots of little red ants in Jamaica, but no roaches that I remember. Oh and we had crabs that liked to commit suicide in the hot tub. Lots of little anole lizards too.

 

[severine]

I should add that this review was for a mid-range all-inclusive: not the fanciest, but not cheap accommodations either.

Funny about the crabs, Greg. :lol: I guess they have a lot of iguanas running around on Cozumel. We had little anole lizards at the hotel on Antigua; I remember seeing them climbing up the sides of the buildings.

 

[wa-loaf]

Tropical areas are conducive to bugs. I'm sure they are tough to keep out sometimes in even the nicest places.

 

[marcski]

We once found a small toad in the bathroom of a cheap motel in Sonoma county California. The wife wouldn't stay the night so we went to a Super 8 or Best Western and it was like the Ritz. The place had a description that made it sound like a small resort...it was a cheap motel right on the highway.

 

[Dr Skimeister]

In the barrio they're called roaches.

In the resorts they're called palmetto bugs.

Same crunch when you step on either.

 

[severine]

In the barrio they're called roaches.

In the resorts they're called palmetto bugs.

Same crunch when you step on either.

I thought you weren't supposed to step on them...? I've been told that's a great way to bring eggs back with you. :-?

I'm sure it's typical in tropical climates. Just wondered if anyone has actually encountered them. I figured they just sprayed the heck out of those places (good or bad, I'd prefer that to the alternative) because I doubt many people are cool with sharing their rooms with roaches or palmetto bugs...it's all semantics.

 

[Grassi21]

I thought you weren't supposed to step on them...? I've been told that's a great way to bring eggs back with you. :-?

I'm sure it's typical in tropical climates. Just wondered if anyone has actually encountered them. I figured they just sprayed the heck out of those places (good or bad, I'd prefer that to the alternative) because I doubt many people are cool with sharing their rooms with roaches or palmetto bugs...it's all semantics.

Oh, you are supposed to step on them with our bare feet and then take a shower. ;-)

Aruba had a healthy iguana population. One day an iguana strolled though the outdoor bar at our hotel. Well, I think it did, I was pretty ripped....

 

[spring_mountain_high]

break em up, pack em in the bowl and :flame:

 

[billski]

I thought you weren't supposed to step on them...? I've been told that's a great way to bring eggs back with you. :-?

I'm sure it's typical in tropical climates. Just wondered if anyone has actually encountered them. I figured they just sprayed the heck out of those places (good or bad, I'd prefer that to the alternative) because I doubt many people are cool with sharing their rooms with roaches or palmetto bugs...it's all semantics.

Look Sev, if you're going to the tropics, you'd better learn to deal with bugs - when you've got 365 day growing climate, they grow big and many.

Just keep your clothes and other stuff in closed containers - zip your luggage, keep your clothers in drawers, shake out your clothes etc. Or get your SO to do it for you. That's what my family does!

When vacationing, we inevitably get the the little lizards in the room (name escapes me, geckos?) they're actually just as cute and harmless as chipmunks, when you get over the initial shock. My girls still jump on the bed and scream when they are in their room. Sometimes you just see them hangin' on the wall. They disappear as quickly as they appear.

We had an Iguana decide to tour poolside at our resort last month. The critter was three feet long. Kinda funny. All the tourists (I suppose I'm included) just sort of gasped, and remained motionless while it made its way to the bar for a pina colada

Palametto bugs can be huge. Wait till you see them fly. I almost got beaned in the head by one in Texas. If you stay at a decent enough place, they will sweep out your room - ours was impeccably clean, each day. It's just something you do.

I know the comment about the light and spray seemed flip, but that's just how you handle it. There's really not a better way.

Or, you can just stay in the frozen north and bask in a bug-free environ!

 

[campgottagopee]

Anytime I've come across a roach on vacation I just smoke it 8)

 

[severine]

You guys are funny! :lol:

Yeah, Bill, I know. I think it's my dad's stories of growing up in the projects that have freaked me out about roaches in particular. ::shiver:: But yeah, tropics=prime bug-growing climate. There's a difference between the idea of them being there and being confronted with it though, KWIM?

 

[billski]

Anytime I've come across a roach on vacation I just smoke it 8)

Don't you wait for it to stop wiggling and squealing? :blink:

 

[skidbump]

you do realize that most restuarants have roaches so do most grocery stores

 

[wa-loaf]

you do realize that most restuarants have roaches so do most grocery stores

They actually love the glue in cardboard boxes. It's always a good idea to get rid of cardboard when you bring any home in case there are eggs or hitchhikers.

 

[severine]

you do realize that most restuarants have roaches so do most grocery stores

Yes. But like I said: there's a difference between theory and being confronted with the facts.

Tupperware had a promotion going for a while where they promoted putting all your store bought goods into their storage containers and throwing out the cardboard for that reason, wa-loaf.

 

[FRITOLAYGUY]

After reading reviews for a resort we were considering going to on Cozumel that mentioned roaches coming out of the shower drain, I'm curious... have any of you encountered roaches on your vacations?

I am seriously bug-a-phobic. When we went to Antigua for my SIL's wedding, I saw a dead roach on the sidewalk in the city and then I couldn't sleep that entire night back at our hotel (many miles away) because I was afraid our room had them and they'd be crawling over us during the night. Yeah, I know..paranoid. I realize that just about every hotel probably deals with this. Creepy crawlies really get to me, though.

So I thought it was funny that in this review, they gave the resort 4 stars out of 5 and said they'd return. They flippantly commented that all you had to do was tell the front desk so they could spray and leave the light on in the bathroom overnight to keep them at bay.

Anywhere down here where its tropical you will encounter that even the best hotels at Disney have roaches actually u might run into whats called a palmetto bug, picture a roach that flies it will freak u out too if it takes off. Just part of living where its warm.

 

[FRITOLAYGUY]

After reading reviews for a resort we were considering going to on Cozumel that mentioned roaches coming out of the shower drain, I'm curious... have any of you encountered roaches on your vacations?

I am seriously bug-a-phobic. When we went to Antigua for my SIL's wedding, I saw a dead roach on the sidewalk in the city and then I couldn't sleep that entire night back at our hotel (many miles away) because I was afraid our room had them and they'd be crawling over us during the night. Yeah, I know..paranoid. I realize that just about every hotel probably deals with this. Creepy crawlies really get to me, though.

So I thought it was funny that in this review, they gave the resort 4 stars out of 5 and said they'd return. They flippantly commented that all you had to do was tell the front desk so they could spray and leave the light on in the bathroom overnight to keep them at bay.

Honestly it depends when u are going, i havent seen a palmetto or roach since id say october they dont like it chilly, but from may-october watch out and right after it rains thats when things really get hoppin so to speak. But pay no mind to 5star hotels if u are going when its above 85 everyday u will see them so save the money and get a days inn youll have the same experience.

 

[billski]

you do realize that most restuarants have roaches so do most grocery stores

I don't know about most, but I worked in one in downtonw Boston where I thought I was sweeping up dust, litter and food crumbs, but after I swept it into one pile, it began to move...

 

[severine]

Honestly it depends when u are going, i havent seen a palmetto or roach since id say october they dont like it chilly, but from may-october watch out and right after it rains thats when things really get hoppin so to speak. But pay no mind to 5star hotels if u are going when its above 85 everyday u will see them so save the money and get a days inn youll have the same experience.

This would be May, so I guess I should plan on seeing them. And won't have the benefit of the cold to leave the luggage out in when I get home either. The thought of bringing them home with me is terrifying.