How to Protect Yourself Against Bed Bugs in Hotels and Short-Term Rentals

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Summer means travel, and while you may be looking forward to your annual vacation as a way to rest and unwind, it’s important to stay on your guard for one insect that can become a very unpleasant souvenir of your travel adventures.

Nobody likes to talk about bed bugs, but they are an unfortunate reality in the travel and hospitality industry. Here’s how to check for bed bugs at your hotel, motel, or short-term rental and how to avoid bringing them home with you when you leave.

How to check your hotel mattress for bed bugs

It’s a good idea to check your hotel room or short-term rental for bed bugs when you first arrive. That way, if you find any, you can find different accommodations before they have a chance to infest your clothing or luggage. Here’s how to check mattresses and furniture:

Remove the sheets and mattress covers from beds and check the mattress carefully for any insects. They will look like clusters of tiny black dogs. Be sure to look carefully in the piping and seams of the mattress, and around the tags. Bed bugs are very small and can fit into these tight spaces. Also check for clusters of dark brown and black material that could be bed bug feces.

Check the mattress surface, sheets, and pillowcases for any dead insects or any reddish-browning stains or smears. This could indicate where bed bugs have been crushed. Also check for tiny eggs or eggshells, which are pale yellow in color.

In all cases, take note if you notice any sweet, musty odors near the furniture or mattress. This could be emitted by bed bugs’ scent glands.

Outside the bedroom area of your rental or hotel, check the furniture, including sofas and armchairs. Be sure to look under cushions, in the cracks of the sofa, and around the arms for stains, insects, or eggs, as described above.

If you do find evidence of bed bugs, alert your hotel or rental host right away and ask for alternate accommodations. Because bed bugs can travel easily in your luggage or in your clothing, do your vacation laundry promptly after arriving home.