TRAVEL TIPS
How to check for bed bugs
One thing that can quickly ruin your vacation is bed bugs. Unfortunately, they may be hiding in your hotel room
Checking for bed bugs
One thing that can quickly ruin your vacation is bed bugs. Unfortunately, they may be hiding in your hotel room – often in the mattress, bedding, or even furniture. It’s always a good idea to check for them as soon as you enter your room.
What do bed bugs look like?
Depending on their age, their appearance varies.
Adult bed bugs
- about the size of an apple seed (3/16 – ¼ inch long)
- long and brown with a flat, oval-shaped body (if not fed recently)
- balloon-like, reddish-brown, and more elongated (if fed recently)
- a beak with 3 segments – antenna with 4 parts, wings that are not used for flying, and short golden-colored hairs
- smelly with a “musty-sweetish” odor produced through gland on the lower side of the body
Young (nymph) bed bugs
- smaller, translucent or whitish-yellow in color
- if not recently fed, can be nearly invisible to the naked eye because of coloring and size
Bed bug eggs
- tiny, the size of a pinhead
- pearl-white in color
- marked by an eye spot if more than 5 days old:
What to look for when searching for bed bugs
Bed bugs are so small, you may not actually see them. Fortunately, they leave tell-tale signs that they’re there.
The most common signs are:
- small reddish-brown bugs
- tiny white eggs
- dark fecal spots (small black or brown stains)
- small bloodstains
Here’s how to conduct a search of your hotel room:
- When you enter your room, do not place your luggage on your bed where bed bugs often lurk. Instead, immediately put your luggage in the bathroom or on a luggage rack away from the bed and upholstered furniture.
- Use a small flashlight (add to your packing list) to begin your inspection.
- Inspect the bed, the most common hiding place for bed bugs. Check the sheets, pillowcases, and blankets for signs of bed bugs. Next, check the mattress by carefully lifting and checking all corners and seams on both sides. Finally, examine the box spring. Lift it and check the underside, paying attention to seams and folds.
- Examine the headboard and other furniture. Bed bugs can hide in or around the headboard, especially if it’s upholstered. Inspect chairs, sofas, and nightstands. Pay attention to seams, creases, and cracks where bed bugs may hide.
- Inspect any wall-mounted decorations or frames near the bed. Bed bugs can sometimes hide behind or inside them.
- Although less common, bed bugs may hide in electrical outlets and switches. Look in these, especially those near the bed.
Fortunately, it is rare to find bed bugs in reputable hotels, but it can occur. They can be found even in clean and well-maintained properties. Take the time to do an inspection for your peace of mind. If you find bed bugs, inform the hotel staff immediately and request a room change or refund, if necessary.
Tips
- Run the edge of a credit card or piece of cardboard along seams and folds in furniture and bedding. This can dislodge bed bugs, making them easier to spot.
- Be systematic and thorough in your inspection. Take your time and check all potential hiding spots.
- Before you leave the hotel, inspect your luggage and belongings for signs of bed bugs. You do not want to take them home with you!
