How to Avoid Bringing Home Bed Bugs When You Travel

Traveling opens doors to new adventures, cultural experiences, and unforgettable moments. But unfortunately, it also opens the door to something much worse: bed bugs. Unlike most pests that tend not to venture far from home, bed bugs are travelers at heart and they want to come home with you. They’ll crawl into your luggage, clothing, or other personal items, and hitch a ride back across the country or even the world. Yes, bed bugs are the world’s worst travel souvenir. Fortunately, you can learn how to avoid bringing bed bugs home when you travel. Here’s what we recommend:

• Research where you’re staying. Often, there are warning signs that a hospitality establishment has had issues with bed bugs.
• Inspect your room upon arrival.
• While staying there, do what you can to keep your luggage inaccessible to bed bugs.
• Thoroughly check your luggage and belongings when you get home.

Now that you know the basics, let’s dive deeper and discuss the important details of each step.

Bed Bug Prevention Tips Before You Travel

Before you start your trip, make sure you know what you’re getting into. A little research beforehand goes a long way toward preventing bed bugs afterward.

• Read reviews: If a hotel, motel, resort, or hostel has a history of bed bug problems, you’ll likely read about it in online reviews. You don’t have to avoid every place that has dealt with bed bugs in the past, as it’s a common occurrence in the hospitality industry. Just be aware of the history.
• Call and speak with someone there: Ask them about their bed bug protocols. Reputable hotels should have no problem talking about it. If the person seems deceptive or invasive, that’s a red flag.
• Choose reputable hotel chains: Well-known brands often have strict cleanliness standards and pest management programs. This isn’t always the case, but it can help guide your decision. Avoid booking the cheapest options, as budget accommodations may have less rigorous maintenance.
• Use hard-cased luggage: Fabric luggage is much more vulnerable to bed bugs than plastic or hard-cased luggage. It’s difficult for bed bugs to cling to smooth, hard surfaces. Opt for a sturdy, hard-sided suitcase over traditional fabric luggage to reduce the chances of hitchhiking pests.
• Pack clothing in sealed bags: Plastic bags work well, and some even opt for vacuum-sealed containers. This adds a protective barrier that makes it harder for bed bugs to sneak into your belongings.
• Consider spraying your luggage with bed bug spray: Bed bug spray, also known as permethrin, does not kill bed bugs and isn’t effective for eliminating infestations, but you can use it on your luggage as a repellent. It’s rated to last for about six days, after which you will need to reapply it.

How to Spot Bed Bugs Where You’re Staying

After a long journey, you’ve finally arrived at your accommodations. Now, you’re ready to relax. But, hold on – before you start unpacking, do a sweep around the room searching for bed bugs. Here’s how we recommend you do it:

• Inspect the bed: Peel back the sheets, blankets, and mattress cover. Check the seams, tufts, and edges of the mattress for bugs, stains, or tiny eggs.
• Check the headboard: Investigate the headboard, especially the crevices where bed bugs could hide.
• Scan furniture: Look at nearby furniture for any signs of bugs or their droppings.
• Full room sweep: Check behind picture frames, along baseboards, and in electrical outlets where bed bugs might lurk.
• Grab a flashlight: A flashlight can reveal these sneaky critters in darker, hard-to-see spots.

Tips to Prevent Bed Bugs While Staying in a Hotel, Motel, Resort, Hostel, or Airbnb

Unfortunately, even with due diligence, it’s still possible to end up in a situation where bed bugs may be present. When this happens and you’re unable to find another place to stay, we recommend a few easy tricks to reduce your risk of bringing bed bugs home with you.

• Keep luggage off the bed and elevated on a rack: This makes it less likely that bed bugs will be able to find or access your luggage.
• Use sealed bags or organizers for protection: Keep bed bugs on the outside whenever possible with bags, dividers, and organizers. Plastic is great because it gives them nowhere to hide.
• Inspect belongings before packing to return home: Sift through your clothing and items before you zip your bag up and check out. Make sure you’re not transporting any stowaways.

Preventing Bed Bugs When You Get Home from a Trip

OK, you’re finally home, and you’re almost home-free in the quest to avoid bed bugs. The last thing you want is to release bed bugs into your house, so make sure you’re very careful with how you unpack and put everything away.

• Don’t unpack in your house: If possible, unpack everything outside or in an area away from living spaces like the garage. Don’t unpack on upholstered furniture or carpeted areas where bed bugs can easily hide.
• Wash and dry clothes on high heat: High heat is especially important as bed bugs can survive lower temperature settings.
• Separate potentially infested items until inspection or cleaning: If you can’t wash infested items with high heat immediately, keep them quarantined in plastic bags or garbage bags until you can. Otherwise, bed bugs will disperse, and it becomes much harder to eliminate them.
• Vacuum and wipe down luggage before storing: If you can’t wash the luggage itself, be sure to vacuum it and empty the vacuum outside or throw away the bag immediately.
• Monitor for signs of infestation: For a few weeks after you return from vacation, stay vigilant and monitor closely for signs of bed bugs. If you notice bites on your skin, stains on bedding, or dark spots on furniture, it may be a sign there are bed bugs present. If you suspect a bed bug infestation, contact a licensed bed bug control expert ASAP!

If You Do Need a Bed Bug Exterminator, Call Us

Once bed bugs sneak into your belongings, they hitch a ride back to your home and start breeding at lightning speed. From there, a few bed bugs can quickly spiral into a major infestation, resulting in itchy bites and overwhelming levels of stress. Don’t let bed bugs spoil your vacation. Stay alert, follow our tips, and if bed bugs invade despite your best efforts, our bed bug exterminators are here to help. We have the tools and know-how to evict these unwanted guests, ensuring peaceful nights without bed bug worries. Do you need fast and effective bed bug control for your home? Give us a call today and get started with a free estimate.

Avoid Bed Bugs During Travel FAQs

Does spraying bed bug spray on your luggage prevent bed bugs? Yes, bed bug sprays, particularly those with permethrin, can temporarily repel bed bugs. Use luggage-specific sprays on luggage exteriors, seams, and zippers before and after travel. Products with residual effects offer ongoing protection; check labels for safety and effectiveness. Does bed bug spray work for travel? Travel bed bug sprays can protect belongings by repelling bed bugs, which makes them useful for luggage and hotel rooms. However, they don't replace inspection and prevention methods like using hard-sided luggage and sealing clothes in plastic bags. How likely is it to get bed bugs from a hotel? Hotels vary in bed bug risk due to recent infestations and guest turnover. All hotels can get bed bugs, not just budget ones. Checking rooms for signs like stains or shells helps prevent bringing them home. Knowing how to identify bites enables quick action while traveling. Early detection reduces the risk of bringing bed bugs home. Is it common to get bed bugs from a flight? While less frequent than in hotels, yes, bed bugs can spread on flights due to close proximity and luggage movement. Protect yourself by keeping items off the floor and checking your belongings after landing.