Bed Bugs In Hotels
Bed bugs, a pest thought to have long been eradicated from North America, are making a comeback and not just in homes. All over America there have been reports of bed bugs in hotels.
Even the cleanest looking, most luxurious hotel can become infested with bed bugs. No matter how sanitary a hotel is, guests can still bring bed bugs in unintentionally. If you are traveling, here are some tips on how to identifyhotel bed bugs and what to do if you suspect a problem.
- Before booking your room, check the Bed Bug Registry. This is an online resource that compiles hotel bed bug encounters from site contributors. You can also check TripAdvisor and IgoUgo for reports from travelers.
- Once you arrive at your room, inspect the beds. Look for brown, brownish-red or black spots or smears around the mattress seams and tag, headboards and along the wall of the side of the bed. These markings are key signs of bed bugs. If you see this, it is imperative that you do not stay in that room. Request another room right away or leave and find another hotel. Be sure to inform the hotel staff of the bed bug problem.
- As a precaution, do not place your luggage on the floor. Elevate it on a luggage stand.
- If you wake up at night itchy with red spots usually in a straight line on your arms or legs and find tiny bloodstains on your sheets or mattress, these are clear signs of hotel bedbugs. Leave the room immediately.
- If you suspect that you have encountered bed bugs in your hotel room, even briefly, make sure you wash all of your clothes in hot water before returning home. Bed bugs can hide in clothes and suitcases and you can end up bringing home a souvenir you definitely do not want. It is recommended that you even throw away your suitcases if at all possible.
While many hotels and motels are taking preventative measures against bed bugs, all it takes is just one visitor with a few bed bugs in their luggage to cause an infestation. By taking a little time during your travels to inspect your room, you can prevent a lot of long-term headaches that you'll carry home.
