Traveling can be a fun adventure, but one thing you never want to bring home is bed bugs. As unfortunate as it is, these little pests have made a comeback in hotels across the country. As of the year 2022, four out of every five hotels and motels in the United States reported the presence of bed bugs, according to Onedesk. While it's impossible to be 100% sure of avoiding them, following some simple steps can really stack the odds in your favor. Keep reading for some top tips from a pest control service on how to avoid nasty bed bug encounters during your hotel stay.

Do Your Research Before Booking

Take 10 minutes to search for online reviews of the hotel you're considering. Look specifically for any mentions of "bed bugs" or "pests" to get an idea if others have had issues there in the past. You can also check sites like BedBugRegistry.com which allow users to report infestations at specific hotels. Knowing the reputation of a place ahead of time is key to choosing lodging that’s less likely to harbor these hitchhiking bugs. If reviews point to frequent problems, it's best to keep looking or request a room far away from reported hot spots. Even hotels with great reviews can have bed bugs so make sure you have professional pest services on call for when you get home.

Inspect Your Room Thoroughly

Once you arrive, do a thorough inspection of your room before you unpack or settle in. This is your chance to scope out any potential problem zones. Start by examining the mattress seams, headboard, and all furniture for signs of bed bugs like tiny black spots, rusty colored stains, or shed exoskeletons. Lift and check underneath sheets, pillows, and mattress skirts as well. Also inspect elevator panels, door frames, and curtains, and look behind wall art — basically anywhere these nimble hitchhikers could potentially hide. Having a pest control service do routine inspections and treatments at hotels helps keep bed bugs to a minimum. If you aren't sure when the last professional pest services were performed at the hotel, careful examination could reveal any issues before it's too late.

Limit Where You Place Belongings

Try to keep clothing, bags, and personal items off the floor and furniture as much as possible when staying in a hotel. Instead, place them inside closets, on shelves, on hangers, or in your suitcase. This reduces the chances of bed bugs hitching a ride home on your clothing or transferring from an infested room. Give everything some breathing room. As an extra precaution, you may want to request rooms away from elevators and stairwells which can see heavy pest traffic. The less contact your items have with possible bed bug hotspots, the better.

Ask Housekeeping Key Questions

Don't hesitate to chat with housekeeping staff when you see them and ask a few important questions. Find out how frequently rooms receive professional pest control services and inspections. Any reputable hotel should have stringent treatment protocols in place. You may also want to ask how the hotel handles reported bed bug issues — do they quarantine rooms for treatment or have on-call exterminators? Their responses can ease concerns or be a red flag about pest prevention priorities. Additionally, ask housekeeping to pay extra attention to your room and report back right away if they spot anything suspicious during their cleanings. Engaging with staff shows you're serious about avoiding pests.

Examine Laundry Before Using

One often overlooked step is closely inspecting any non-washable items left in your room like pillows, blankets, or decorative items before using them. Bed bugs can hitch rides on these objects, so it's a good idea to unfold and check seams, tags, and crevices. Do the same with curtains and headboards. Many hotels now will bag items like shams and extra pillows to avoid contamination, but it doesn't hurt to be overly cautious yourself. This extra minute of precaution could save you from unpleasant bedfellows.

Do Nightly Bed Bug Checks

Each night before bed, do a quick spot check of sheets, mattresses, and upholstery for any signs of bed bug activity. They tend to come out at night to feed when humans sleep, so this is a prime time to catch potential problems early. It's easiest to spot them if you have a bright flashlight. Generally, bed bugs are about the size of an apple seed and leave rusty colored spots when crushed. Reporting anything suspicious to hotel management right away allows them to address issues promptly before it worsens, which benefits you and future guests. Taking 90 seconds out of your nightly routine for peace of mind is definitely worth it.

Pack Smart For The Journey Home

How you pack up to leave is just as important as arriving bed bug-free. Place all dirty clothing, sheets, and towels in sealed plastic bags before putting them in your suitcase. This quarantines them on the journey home. Consider using a protective neoprene cover or bag for your luggage too. It creates an extra buffer keeping any hitchhiking pests contained. Doing these extra packing safety measures offers a valuable piece of mind that you won't be bringing home unwanted guests. Taking preventative packing precautions is a worthwhile way to end your trip on a clean slate.

Consider Specialty Travel Products

There are now some excellent travel-safe products on the market specifically designed by pest professionals to put another barrier of protection between you and bugs. Consider packing a bed bug encasement — a fabric covering with a zipper that encapsulates your entire mattress while traveling. Look for ones coated with proven repellents like diatomaceous earth. There are also luggage interiors with a similar fine powder barrier that creates an inhospitable micro-climate for crawling hitchhikers. Use according to package instructions and have peace of mind if your gear and sleeping space are locked down. Specialty products designed by professional pest control specialists are a smart investment for frequent travelers.

Have Your Pest Control Service Ready

Even if you feel as though your preventative measures were top-notch, and you followed all of these tips as best you could, there are probably still pests that you will need to worry about. From spiders to bed bugs, you never know what could come into your home. Instead of using over-the-counter sprays that can leave intense scents and harmful residue, call your pest control service to do an inspection. Some companies will offer free consultations and you can discuss what you are seeing with someone who knows pests inside and out. They will be able to approach the situation with their knowledge so that you can rest easy as they take care of your pest issue.

While no precautions are a sure thing, following these common-sense steps can really stack the odds in your favor against encountering bed bugs at hotels. Remember to do research in advance, be diligent in inspecting your room and belongings, limit where items contact surfaces, ask the right questions of housekeeping, do nightly checks, and use smart preventative packing. Always report any issues promptly to management, so they can take appropriate action, like a thorough professional pest control service and room treatments. With your preventative measures and professional pest services, even the savviest bed bug can be outwitted. Travel smart so you come home bug-free. If bed bugs do follow you home, reach out to Mares Exterminating to start home treatments as soon as possible.