Who wants to turn a dream vacation into a nightmare? Think tens of thousands of dollars spent on exterminators and storage for your things. Nevermind the psychological cost of having a bed bug infestation. That’s why you need to be aware of what to look for as you travel in hotels given that bed bugs have become a prevalent problem across North America. Indeed these bloodsucking parasites are often found in hotels where they can easily travel both from room to room as well as sneak into your luggage and hitch a ride back to your place. And high end and luxury accommodations won’t guarantee you’re safe either. These bugs don’t discriminate.
That’s the bad news. The good news is that if you’re armed with knowledge you can significantly decrease your chance of bringing this pests home with you. Your work starts prior to your getaway and the good news is this is part of it. Do your research: while staying at highly regarded places helps, make sure to do your due diligence by logging on to independently run travel and hotel review websites where clients post reviews of their stays at resorts, hotels, and motels. These sorts of testimonials (or complaints) are your ticket to information about previous bed bug problems. A lot of these travel sites allow their users to post pictures as proof of their bed bugs claims. This should help you make a decision about where to stay. And just because no one’s ever identified bed bugs as a problem before doesn’t mean that your stay won’t be affected. So once you reach the hotel, don’t forget to look thoroughly in the room before you unpack your bags. Bed bugs mostly are nocturnal, so if you are examining in during the day, examine the bed and everything within a five foot parameter of the bed (by everything I mean bring a flashlight, move furniture, check electrical outlets). Here are a few tips to keep you on the right track:
