subject: How To Avoid Hotel Bedbugs [print this page] If you're going to be sleeping in a room that is somewhere other than your home, you should always be careful of the risk of bedbugs. Bedbugs are making their presence known more and more these days, and hotels are often their favorite place to hide and hang out.
First, do the proper research about the place that you will temporarily call home. Seek out any reviews that may mention bedbugs. However, keep in mind that there is zero accountability for what people can say on the Internet, so never believe that one review is completely accurate. However, it is good to see if the place you're staying is listed on any bedbug databases. If you see your hotel associated with past infestations. that is likely a red flag. Don't be afraid to call and ask about any preventative measures that are being taken against these pests.
If you're the kind of person who has the need to do their own inspection of a room, there are several places you can check for these bugs. First, before inspection, stash your personal items in the bathroom. Bedbugs have few places to hide in the bathroom and they'd rather crawl around where you sleep. Hence, the next logical step is to check the bed itself. Pull back the linens on the bed and check around the mattress and don't forget to look behind the headboard, if there is one. If you find any bloodstains or spots that look like mold, this may be the sign of an infestation, and you should contact someone right away. If the bed checks out, don't forget to search in the immediate area of the room. Look behind any hanging picture frames, behind the television and under the telephone. Look in any and all of the drawers. These pests are often found within fifteen feet of a bed, so make sure to inspect any other furniture that is in the room.
Even if you find no evidence in your room, there are chances that these pesky bugs could be hiding in another area of the hotel. Since they can travel from room to room, it might be a good idea to keep your luggage off the ground. By putting your luggage on a dresser or luggage rack, you can ensure that you will not be bringing home any unwanted pests. Also, consider placing your luggage in plastic. Many retailers will offer zip-up bags that server the purpose of keeping bugs out. These plastic bags will also protect your luggage in transit as well as the hotel room. Keeping clothes off the floor is essential as well. Once you have accrued some dirty clothes on the trip, make sure to pack them away in a bag instead of letting them lie around on the floor.
Keep in mind that bedbugs have been found in all 50 states. By staying in hotels that take preventative measures and doing a little preparation for yourself, you can increase your chances of having a night free of bedbug bites.
