This is the time of the year when millions of Americans, tired of the cold weather, start thinking about Spring Break.  We make travel plans to places sunnier and warmer.  But Spring Break and Bed Bugs aren’t two things that you want to see together.

7 Tips For Avoiding Bed Bugs When Traveling

Few are thinking about Spring Break and Bed Bugs at the same time  This is even though for many, the two will soon be connected.  You see, whether the bugs are in the plans or not, they soon will be causing problems for many Spring Breakers.

According to a press release from the: National Pest Management Association

“From hostels to five-star hotels, bed bug encounters have become much more common in all types of lodging facilities,” said Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs for the NPMA. 

Then she goes on to say something that we have been saying for years:

 “Fortunately, there are a few things Spring Break travelers can do before, during and after their vacation to avoid finding bed bugs in hotels and bringing them home in suitcases.”

In my mind, finding BedBugs in your hotel would be bad.  But it would be far worse to bring them home with you after your vacation.

Some Tips

The NPMA experts give the following tips to avoid the bugs while you are on vacation.  You want to make sure they get left behind when you come home.

•         At hotels, always thoroughly inspect the entire room before unpacking.  This should include behind the headboard and in furniture.  Make sure to pull back the bedsheets and check the mattress seams.  You’re looking for pepper-like fecal stains, discarded shells, or bloodstains that may be evidence of bed bug activity.
•         Set your luggage away from the walls and off the floor.  It should never be placed on the bed.  You can use a large plastic trash bag or a protective cover to store your suitcases during your hotel stay.
•         If you see anything suspicious, notify management and change rooms at once. Reinspect your new room and be sure that it is not adjacent to the possibly infested room.
•         After your trip, when you return home, inspect and vacuum your suitcases.  Check them thoroughly before bringing them into the house.  Always empty the dust bin from the vacuum into a sealed bag.  Then put it in an outside trash area.
•         Consider using a garment hand steamer to steam your luggage.  This should kill any bed bugs.  Another tactic is to place your bags in a black bag and leave them in the sun for several hours.  Placing them in a car in a black sealed trash bag is even better.  The temperature will get hotter quicker.
•         Finally, wash all of your clothes – even those that have not been worn – in hot water and make sure to dry on the highest heat setting your dryer has available.

“Many people might look at bed bug prevention as an additional task to add to the vacation checklist, but it could mean the difference between enjoying a great trip and having it turn into a dreaded bed bug nightmare,” added Henriksen.

Adopted From: Fun, Sun and Bed Bugs?

Spring Break and Bed Bugs don’t need to go together if you are just a little careful and take the precautions listed above.