10/07/2025
HOW YOU CAN TAKE BED BUGS HOME FROM THAT BEAUTIFUL HOTEL.
Any hotel can have bed bugs. How travelers carry bed bugs home
There’s nothing like hitting the sack after a long day on the road, but there’s something travelers may want to consider doing first if they don't want to be the only ones crawling into bed: Checking for bed bugs.
“They really could be anywhere that we sleep,” Orkin entomologist Benjamin Hottel told USA TODAY. “Regardless of the hotel or whether it's an Airbnb or a cabin up in the woods, it's possible that you could encounter those.”
That’s because they’re carried from place to place by other people.
Even though he says they are relatively uncommon, Hottel added, “I just assume there could be bed bugs anywhere I stay.”
For travelers who’d rather be safe than sorry, here’s how to check for bed bugs and how to avoid bringing them home.
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What are the first signs of bed bugs?
For many people, the first sign may be bites, but the Environmental Protection Agency says those aren't the best indicator because bed bug bites may look like bites from other insects, rashes or hives. Additionally, some people have delayed reactions or no reaction to bed bug bites.
“One of the important things is that you actually see bed bugs themselves,” Hottel said.
Travelers can look for live bed bugs, their shed skin, eggs and dot-like f***s around mattress and box spring seams, piping and tags, as well as around headboards. Other signs include rusty stains on mattresses, bedding and nearby objects.
In cases of high infestations, bed bugs may also be found in places like drawer joints, curtain folds and under wallpaper. However, Hottel said these days, most large hotels have protocols in place, so it typically doesn’t get that bad.
“Hopefully, there are other eyes looking at this bed other than just the guests,” he said. “The staff would notice something.”
A live adult bed bug crawls around a Petri dish of Jinbo Song, a Phd candidate studying them in the entomology lab at Clemson University … Show more
How can I tell if it's a bed bug?
Unless they’re newly hatched, bed bugs are visible to the naked eye.
Adults are about the size of an apple seed, oval and relatively flat, allowing them to fit in small spaces.
Depending on age, coloring can range from translucent, yellowish-white to reddish-brown.
They have six legs, no wings, and a sweet, musty scent.
How to avoid bed bugs
Orkin came up with an acronym to help travelers protect themselves: SLEEP.
S: Search the room for signs of bed bug infestation
L: Lift sheets, curtains, and cushions to check for bed bugs
E: Elevate your luggage on racks and keep it away from the bed
E: Examine your luggage carefully while repacking and again when you return home
P: Place all dryer-safe clothing in a dryer on high heat for 30 minutes upon returning home
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Where do bed bugs come from? How they get could get into your home
Does the thought of bed bugs keep you up at night? Here's what to know.
What do you do if you find a bed bug?
The Bed Bug Legal Group advises travelers to:
Take photos of any signs of bed bugs in the room
Take photos of any injuries or damage to your belonging
Report the infestation to the hotel manager
Can I get a refund if my hotel room has bed bugs?
You may be able to get a refund, but resolutions can vary by hotel and destination.
Some travelers seek legal recourse for bed bug incidents.
Bed bug lawsuit: 2 hotel guests in California awarded $2 million
What to do if I slept in a hotel with bed bugs?
Travelers should carefully inspect their luggage and belongings for unwanted hitchhikers.
“Any non-clothing items that may have come in contact with bed bugs should not be brought into the house at all,” according to Michigan State University Extension, which partnered with the Michigan Department of Community Health on addressing bed bugs. “Unpack suitcases on a hard surface under bright light so you can see any bed bugs.”
The EPA recommends washing and drying clothing at the hottest temperature the fabric can stand.
“If you had a large freezer, you can also put stuff in the freezer for like a week or two. It would kill all life stages,” Hottel said. “And then, with your luggage, you could put it in a garbage bag or something like that and leave it in your in your garage.”
He said bed bugs can survive a long time without feeding, but “if it's 90 or 100 degrees in your garage or your shed or something ... they're not going to last very long.”
If travelers are still worried, pest control companies can come out to check.
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