Bed bugs are one of the more difficult pests to deal with and we know full well how frustrating they can be. We have a couple of tips for you as you travel to try to stay safe and pest free! Don’t make the mistake of assuming that because you are not checking into dingy rooms that bed bugs won’t be waiting for you. They are more common than most people think and even some major airport hubs have reported have bed bug problems.

Inspect Every Sleeping Area

This is a simple step that most people forgo when they check into a room at a hotel or a vacation home. Even if you have had a long day of travel, spending a moment to inspect the sleeping areas is essential. Using your cellphone flashlight, do a scan through the bed layers one at a time, including the pillows and seams of the mattress. While eggs are very difficult to spot, you can still see them without a magnifying tool. Their eggs have a mild transparent appearance and are between 1.5mm and 2.5mm in size.

If there is an active bed bug infestation, you will see discoloration in the folds and seams of the mattress where the sheets are fitted as well.

We recommend either leaving your luggage in your vehicle or outside the room as you do a cursory check to ensure there are no bed bugs present.

If you see any signs whatsoever that you might have bed bugs present, immediately leave the room and contact the concierge, front desk or the home owner if it’s a vacation rental. It’s important that you do not expose any of your luggage to a possible infestation as quickly as possible.

Do Some Quick Research

There are some easy to use tools to see if there have been bed bugs at a potential destination. There are no “rules” that bed bugs follow when they decide to take residence. Despite a reputation of being in seedy motel rooms that are not clean, in reality they can be found virtually anywhere because of how resilient they are.

The Bed Bug Registry is a great place to start to begin researching locations that may have had bed bugs in the past. We recommend that you start here.

Be Smart About Your Luggage

Keep your clothes in your suitcase during the entirety of your stay if there isn’t a suitable storage option you can confirm is pest free. Piling clothes on the floor is an easy way to end up taking bed bugs back with you as you travel home. Anything you can do to elevate your belongings off of the floor is ideal.

We’re Here for You

If you think you might have bed bugs at your home, regardless of their source, please give us a call today. Dealing with bed bugs to ensure they no longer plague you (and stay gone!) can be a daunting task. Our professionals know the steps necessary to rid you of bed bugs for good. Contact Us today and we will be happy to help answer any questions you might have.