Thankfully it wasn’t bedbugs. They can survive 18-months without feeding and are a costly challenge to get rid of.
I suspect I brought back scabies which aren’t hard to get rid of as they die without feeding (biting you) in 3 to 5 days. But the eggs can hatch and reinfest. Permethrin 10% for animals reduced with body lotion to 1.5%-2% applied head-to-foot for 15 minutes is a fraction of the cost and stronger than 1% over-the-counter Nix. I read horror stories of people with long-term itches. It seemed they had pets they didn’t treat or get rid of, had family members who passed them around, too small a small residence to sleep/sit in different spots. Another internal medicine was diluted ivermectin paste for horses which thankfully I never had to do.
That works. Permethrin kills just about all bugs large, small, or tiny. Keep a bottle ready and respond quickly and decisively and the problem will be nipped in the bud. Dilute with water and spray your luggage and lightly all your clothes before a trip.