A Victoria's Secret Model Is Suing a Hotel After Bed Bug 'Massacre'
In June, a Victoria’s Secret model filed a lawsuit against the Embassy Suites by Hilton Palm Desert in Palm Springs, California. Her complaint?
She was “massacred" by bed bugs in the hotel room.
According to the local Desert Sun, the incident occurred two years ago, but the story has resurfaced now that the Brazilian model, Sabrina Jales St. Pierre, is taking legal action.
Her attorney, Brian Virag of My Bed Bug Lawyer, Inc. (yes, seriously) stated that Jales St. Pierre had a severe reaction to “bites that [covered] pretty much her entire body.”
Virag added that the reaction caused pain and discomfort, and affected Jales St. Pierre’s ability to model.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the hotel’s general manger, Carlos Mendoza, has vehemently denied that a bed bug infestation even existed during the time of Jales St. Pierre’s stay.
Mendoza said the day after the incident, the housekeeping manager searched the room for signs of an infestation, and — despite finding nothing — called an external pest control company to inspect the room. Again, no evidence of bed bugs was discovered.
The lawsuit claims Jales St. Pierre’s extensive bites “impact[ed] her ability to do her job as a model” and cited the hotel’s failure to execute “proper pest control protocols.”
Regardless of whether or not this particular Embassy Suites by Hilton property is at fault, bed bugs in hotel rooms are, regrettably, a reality (or, more specifically, a complete and utter nightmare) that travelers may encounter.
Last year, a Paris property management group blamed American tourists for an “explosive” bed bug infestation in the French capital. And New York has a pretty unsettling reputation for bed bug outbreaks in even the most upscale hotel rooms.
How to keep bed bugs from ruining your vacation (and your life)
Bed bugs are simply a fact of life. Fortunately, travelers don’t have to just cross their fingers and hope their hotel room has been cleaned and inspected.
The next time you’re checking in to a hotel room, do your due diligence.
When you enter the room, leave your suitcase on the designated luggage rack, in the entryway or even in the bathroom. Do not put it on the bed.
Peel back the linens until you can see the mattress — particularly the corners and the lining. In addition to looking for bugs, check for dark brown blood spots or black stains that look like ink splats.
Be really thorough by checking the bed frame, the headboard and any upholstered furniture where bed bugs may be lurking.
If you're deeply concerned about bed bugs, you can also pack a portable bed bug trap (amazon.com, from $17). Within an hour, the trap's pheromones should attract any particularly evasive bed bugs.
In the event that you discover signs of a bed bug infestation, immediately tell the front desk agent and ask to be moved to a room that is neither above, below or next to the offending room.
Travelers who discover bed bugs during their stay — or simply want a bit more peace of mind — can use a travel steamer to “clean” your luggage. To effectively kill bed bugs, the surface temperature should be at least 120 degrees Fahrenheit, so make sure your steamer is strong enough. Remove and wash all clothing in hot water, dry them on high heat and steam every inch of your luggage inside and out. Don’t forget to unzip the lining and steam inside the pockets, around the handles and the wheels.
You can also splurge on a fancy "bed bug-killing" suitcase (sharperimage.com, from $225). Simply plug it in, and let it roast any hitchhiking blood suckers. The suitcase is, remarkably, FAA and TSA-compliant.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
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- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.