Traveler's Guide To Avoiding Bed Bugs

There are few bugs that can destroy a vacation like bed bugs. There is nothing quite like waking up with several dozen itchy or swollen bite marks, especially if you planned on spending any time at the beach. Bed bug bites also have the unfortunate characteristic of causing trauma for some people. That is why it is important to get to know these unsavory bugs before you head anywhere for vacation. Hopefully, this guide will help you avoid an unwanted run in with these blood-eating pests.

Call Ahead

Before you travel, it is a good idea to learn about the place you'll be staying. If you're going to be in a hotel, resort, or motel, there is a good chance you can learn about them from reviews. A great place to start is bedbugregistry.com. It is a site that is dedicated to helping people find out where bed bugs are being reported.

 Do A Quick Inspection

When you arrive at your accommodations, take a few minutes to do an inspection of your room. Those few minutes could save you from having a horrible vacation, and stop bed bugs from coming back home with you. Before you bring your bags up to your room, check mattress seams, box spring seams, bedspreads, pillowcases, baseboards, outlet covers, and the stitching on upholstered furniture for black streaks, black droppings, tiny white eggs, shed insect skins, dried blood stains, or six-legged insects huddled together.

Protect Yourself During Your Stay

No inspection is foolproof. Bed bugs can live in a wide range of locations. They can even be inside electronics. So, for added protection, here are a few things you can do to reduce your chances of picking these hitchhikers up:

Store your luggage high, or inside a plastic bag.
When you open your luggage, use the luggage rack that comes with the room, or place your luggage on a table.
Refrain from laying towels or clothing on the floor, draping them over a chair, or placing them on a bed.
Keep an eye out for tiny, six-legged, pale insects feeding on your skin. Immature bed bugs do not look like adult bed bugs. They are a milky white color rather than rusty-brown. And, if you have one feeding on you, you should see your bright red blood in its abdomen. These bugs will be a mere 1-1.5 millimeters.

 Know What To Expect If You Find Bed Bugs 

If you see an individual bed bug, find a bed bug infestation, or wake up with bites, there are a few things you should know: 
It is important to report those bugs to management immediately.
If you are offered a new room that is not above or adjacent to your current room, it should be okay to take it. Bed bug infestations are seldomly widespread in an establishment that caters to the public, especially in this age of technology and instant reviews.

 Know How To Look For Stowaways

Whether you see bed bugs during your trip or not, it is always a good idea to search your belongings when your return home. Bed bugs love creases, seams, and other hidden places. Use a flashlight and look closely. You'll want to look for tiny white eggs in a batch or littered around, and the presence of six-legged bugs that are pale, tan, or rusty-brown in color.

 Added Protection When You Get Home

Bed bugs can be killed with heat. If there are any eggs or bugs you missed during your inspection, you can eliminate them by washing your clothing on the hottest temperature. That hot water will get into all of your seams and hidden places and destroy bed bugs in all stages of development.
 
If your bed bugs manage to get past all your defenses to keep them from coming home with you or they find a way into your home by some other means, contact a pest control professional. These disturbing bugs are extremely hard to get rid of. They have been dwelling almost exclusively with humans since the dawn of time. They are experts at avoiding extinction.
If you are in our Massachusetts or Connecticut service area, let American Pest Solutions help you quickly resolve your bed bug issue. Our team of professionals is educated in the most advanced bed bug protocols and experienced in resolving this issue discreetly. For more information, or to schedule service, leave us a message or give us a call at (857) 524-2991.