Bed bug presence is not because of filthy surroundings. They couldn’t care less if a place is dirty or clean as long as there’s food. It’s the same for hotel bed bugs. They can be found in the cleanest of hotels and resorts or in cheap motels. But this is not to say you should never stay in hotels ever because wherever you go, the chance of picking them up is there.
You might think of doing a quick inspection when you arrive in your hotel room at daylight but being nocturnal creatures, you may not spot them at once. Bed bugs may not be known to spread diseases, their bites, however, can cause itchy discomfort and various skin issues such as allergies. When you leave home and must stay in a hotel, it is necessary to take precautions.
Avoiding Hotel Bed Bugs
Because there could always be a reason why you must stay the night over at a hotel, you might as well play it safe and know the steps how you can avoid becoming a prey to bed bugs. With research, you could find out the names of hotels that have reported bed bugs incidents through an online database or you could try checking hotel reviews. If it’s not possible and you are already on your way, before you enjoy the view from your hotel window, do a bed bug check and be sure to avoid them.
- As you give the room a thorough scrutiny, keep your things safe. Hotel bed bugs don’t stay where they can’t hide so place your luggage where they are unlikely to go and that is the tiled floor of the bathroom.
- Check everything. Pull back linens, lift mattresses, look behind bedside tables and headboards. Lift frames, books & magazines, the telephone and other things that are near the bed which is usually their target area. You may not see the bugs right away but check for signs such as blood stains or droppings that look like dots of pepper.
- Try not to put your luggage on the floor but inside the closets. However, make sure to check the closets first before you stash your things away.
- Hotel bed bugs can hop from room to room. You may not have them initially but they may come as they sense food. Make sure you don’t take them home with you by keeping your things elevated. During your hotel stay (or even during your travel because bed bugs are everywhere even in transport vehicles), wrap your suitcases in protective plastics.
- Should your inspection turn out positive or make you suspicious of an infestation, let the hotel staff know so that they can address the problem properly. Surely, no hotel owners and staff would want a word of mouth about an infestation spreading and they are likely to take action if you speak up. You might also want to request to be transferred to a new room that is at least a couple of floors away.
Most management check for hotel bed bugs regularly. Guests could bring these critters into their establishments too and they don’t want customers to have a bad experience involving these pests. While they don’t transmit diseases, bugs could be germ carriers and could entail bigger problems and issues. Hotel owners are unlikely to leave any incident of bed bugs untreated but it is always best to be cautious. It won’t hurt to ask questions about bugs preventive measures prior to checking in.
Returning from Vacation
There’s no place like home and that can’t be any truer after a long trip. If you know you encountered hotel bed bugs while you were away, if possible before placing your belongings back to storage, wash everything! Preferably, use heat when washing as an over 120 °F temperature effectively kills these unwanted creatures. If they are able to follow you home, they can cause a lot of trouble and it would mean extra expenses just to get rid of them. No need to avoid hotels, just the bugs. By following the steps above, you can have a well-rested sleep. So wherever you are, sleep tight and don’t let the bed bugs bite.
