Is there anything creepier than the thought of checking into what you think is a nice hotel and later finding your room is infested with bedbugs? The very thought of it makes me ill! Here are some tips to help you avoid taking home unwanted critters in your luggage.
Protect your Luggage
Before sitting down your luggage, carry it to the bathroom. Bed bugs like people. They prefer to be close to you, not your bags. And according to this site, they do not like hard surfaces. Leave the luggage in the loo while you inspect the bed, or place it on a desk or dresser.
Check Out the Bed!
Pull back the covers and inspect the underside of them. Then look over the sheets and pull the top sheet back to see the underneath and inspect the bottom sheet. Also, look down the sides of the bed and the top between the mattress and headboard and any crevices in the headboard itself.
What to Look for on the Bed
Bed bugs leave tiny black droppings that might be visible. Search for red dots, as well, since those are blood signs of a well-fed critter. The bugs themselves grow to the size of an apple seed. They might be visible in corners or seams of the bed linens. Bed bug nymphs will shed their skin and leave tiny, almost clear skeletons behind.
What about Other Furniture?
Studies have shown that most bed bugs are found within 15 feet of the bed, but any furniture could be infected. Is there a sofa in the room or upholstered chair? Inspect the seams and around zippers of cushions.
No place is immune from the nasty little creatures. Carefully, examine the hard furniture in the room. They may hide in the cracks and crevices. Check out dresser drawers.
Closets May Harbor Insects
Look along the floor of the closet where the carpet meets the wall for any signs of bugs. Be sure to check the shelves in the closet, as well.
Examine the Luggage Rack
Inspect the webbing on the luggage rack for any sign of the bugs, especially, where the webbing wraps around the frame.
What to Do if I Find Signs of Bedbugs
My first reaction would be to run. But seriously, call the front desk immediately and demand a new room far away from the current one. Tell them to report the infestation to management and get the property treated right away. Personally, I would also call the local Health Department.
Bedbugs are nasty. While they don’t transmit actual diseases, they can carry germs. A 2011 Canadian study found that they could carry germs from one person to another—including the antibiotic-resistant germ, MRSA.
How Do Hotels Get Infected?
Don’t think that because your hotel is a 4 or 5 star property that bedbugs would never occur there. Bedbugs are third only to food poisoning and lost luggage for travelers. They can happen anywhere. People bring in the insects or eggs and with more travelers circling the globe, more infestations are likely.
