While they don't transmit any diseases, they can leave nasty, itchy bites that are highly uncomfortable, and leave you essentially boiling your belongings in hot water. All hotels are at risk to catch a case of bed bugs, so it can pay to grab your flashlight and inspect your room as soon as you get there.
Hotels are particularly susceptible, due to the transient nature of their guests. One of the most recent studies, released in 2017 and conducted by Atlanta-based pest-management company Orkin, found that eight of ten U.S. hotels had dealt with bedbugs during the previous year.
Because bed bug infestations are becoming so prevalent and problematic, in all types of hotels, it's a good idea to look around right after you check in to ensure you're not settling into a bed bug-riddled room.
Bedbugs can be found worldwide, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and are not a reflection on the cleanliness of any accommodation (so, yes, even a five-star hotel can have bedbugs). They don't spread disease nor are they seen as dangerous, but allergic reactions to bites could require a doctor visit.
Wash Everything.
When you get home, put all of your luggage and other belongs outside immediately. Place anything washable in a garbage bag and transport directly to the washing machine. Wash everything on a high temperature or sanitary cycle for at least 30 minutes.
Unfortunately, the risk is not completely gone. For one thing, you (and the hotel staff) may have missed a subtle sign of infestation; and for another, bed bugs can travel through the walls from room to room. So, maintain a few protective measures throughout your stay.
Even if you don't find any sign of bed bugs, it doesn't necessarily mean they're not there, so it's best to take precautions. Keep your stuff off the floor and the bed. Store suitcases on a luggage rack or other hard surface (away from the walls), and to be extra safe, carry along large trash bags to keep them in.
Inspect the Bed
Be sure to pay special attention to the corners and seams of the bedding as bed bugs prefer to hide in these spots. Keep an eye out for blood stains and small, black dots that look like mold or black pepper. If you spot anything that looks suspicious, be sure to alert the hotel staff immediately.
A bed bug treatment using heat kills bed bugs immediately, but there is no residual. A chemical bed bug treatment can take a few weeks, but it leaves a residual which provides continued protection from bed bug re-infestation.
You may have them for a while, but may not notice them until weeks, or even months later. Bed bug eggs take anywhere from six to 12 days to hatch, and the adult life span can be anywhere from six months to a year. That's why it's important to know these early signs of an infestation.
The chance of picking up bed bugs when you travel is low, but as infestations become more common throughout the world, it is important to take simple precautions. Bed bugs can hitch a ride on clothing and luggage, especially in places where travelers sleep. They are rarely found in planes, trains and motor vehicles.
According to the numbers on our infographic, the worst states for bedbugs are consistently New York and California. Some states that have crawled up the ranks (pun intended) are Florida, Ohio, New Jersey, and Maryland.
Contrary to popular belief, bed bugs tend to not live in hair. They prefer to live in dark, secluded spaces. This may be behind your bed, between furniture, walls, or within cracks on your floorboard. Bed bugs generally emerge from their hiding spots to feed throughout the night when hosts are dormant.
They are visible to the naked eye. Adult bed bugs are usually brown in colour. When filled with blood, their colour ranges from red to dark brown. They are oval in shape and about the size of a flattened apple seed, 4 to 7 mm in length.
Steam or heat: Using a penetrating form of heat can be one of the most effective ways to kill bed bugs in a hotel room. Heaters reach up to temperatures of 121 degrees and above.
Most people do not realize they have been bitten until bite marks appear anywhere from one to several days after the initial bite. The bite marks are similar to that of a mosquito or a flea — a slightly swollen and red area that may itch and be irritating.
So, are bed bugs contagious? No. They don't live on people and can't be directly transmitted from one person to another. However, as quick as they are to catch a ride on clothing, bedding and furniture, they are easy to transport.
Typically, you pick up one or more of these unwanted hitchhikers when you visit a home or hotel that already has a bed bug infestation. The bed bugs hide themselves in your clothing, luggage, furniture and other items, and you inadvertently introduce them to your own house when you return home.
Use small plastic bags to pack clothing, shoes and other personal items. This will help prevent any bed bugs that climb into your suitcase from getting into your house with your clothing. Bed bugs can also hide in books, cloth toiletry kits and other non-metal personal items.
Travel – Bedbugs may find their way onto luggage in hotels and motels with a high number of occupants. If you have stayed at a hotel or other home recently, leave bags and clothes in the garage or somewhere far from upholstered surfaces, suggests Allan Bossel, to avoid unintentionally transporting them to your home.
Yes, if you jump into the shower while a bed bug is feeding on you, then the bed bug will likely get washed down the drain. Bed bugs do not attach themselves to your skin like ticks, which allows them to be easily removed by a shower.
Bed bugs are nocturnal, which means they are active mainly at night. They normally bite people who are sleeping or sitting still for long periods of time. However, bed bugs will not bite every night. They only come out when they need to eat, and it could be several nights or several weeks before they need another meal.