Avoiding Bed Bugs While Traveling

If you travel it is possible that you are going to eventually run into a place that has bedbugs.  Avoiding bed bugs while traveling requires certain specific steps.  These will help to ensure that you don’t bring the bed bugs home with you.

“Forget the old myth that filthy budget hotels are the only place you may be exposed to these relentless pests. Bed bugs are popping up in homes, on cruises, and are even enjoying some luxury in five-star hotels around the world.”

Orkin reports that there has been a 33% increase in their calls for bedbug service at hotels.  Even more, calls come from motels and inns.  It also reports that Chicago is the worst city in the country for bedbug reports.

Bed bugs like hotels, motels, and the like because the rooms are so close together and the turnover happens often.  Plus the bags that routinely come and go give them a good chance of hitchhiking their way to a new home.

Tips On Avoiding Bed Bugs

To avoid bringing bedbugs home with you when you travel here are a few steps that you can take.

You should start before you even leave home by checking online.  See if there are any reports of bed bug problems where you are going to stay.  Simply search for bed bugs and the hotels/motels’ name.

This doesn’t guarantee that you won’t find the bugs when you arrive.  It just gives you an indication of where, if your place comes up, you might want to avoid.

Remember that bed bugs could have arrived with the last person that stayed in your room and not be an ongoing problem with the hotel/motel.

Once you arrive, make sure that you check any room that you stay in carefully before unpacking.  I even recommend that you put any bags you bring with you on the suitcase caddy or on a dresser.  Then inspect your room.

What you are looking for is signs that the room has bed bugs.  If you see bed bugs when you start looking run – not walk- out of the room and demand another.  But remember that these bugs are expert hiders so you may not see an actual bed bug.

What you can find are signs that there is an infestation.  Start by looking along the seams of the mattress and the bedframes to see if there are any bugs, discarded shells, blood, or small flecks of fecal matter.

Again, any signs and you should ask to be moved to another room or find another hotel/motel.

Conclusion on Avoiding Bed Bugs While Traveling

Avoiding bedbugs while traveling takes a little extra work at a time when you are probably tired from your trip and just want to flop down and rest for a bit.  But checking your room carefully will help to make sure that there are none of the bugs in your room which will help to make sure that you don’t bring any home with you!