Travel and Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are a souvenir no one wants to bring home from a trip. Recent headlines from Paris have reignited fears of encountering these blood-sucking menaces while traveling.

You don’t have to let concerns about bed bugs ruin your travel plans. There are common sense precautions you can take to protect yourself when you’re on the road, and to protect your home when you return.

How Likely Is It to Get Bed Bugs from Traveling?

Whether you’re staying in a five-star Parisian hotel or at a roadside motel in New Jersey, your risk of coming into contact with bed bugs may be lower than you might think. No one in the hospitality industry wants the negative PR or liability issues that bedbugs bring, so hoteliers are extremely proactive about preventing and addressing potential bed bug problems.

Still, as recent news from Europe has indicated, infestations can start easily and be difficult to stop. Even if your likelihood of encountering bed bugs is low, it’s never an impossibility. That’s why it’s important to be bed bug aware, and to look for the signs of a potential infestation.

Can Bed Bugs Get into a Closed Suitcase?

Bed bugs are roughly the size of an apple seed and can squeeze through tiny openings. Keeping your suitcase closed and zipped makes it much more difficult – but not impossible – for them to get inside. Bed bugs are attracted to even the faintest traces of carbon dioxide that remain on worn clothing, so they will try to crawl inside your suitcase if possible.

How Long Can Bed Bugs Live in a Suitcase?

While bed bugs require blood meals to survive, they can live without feeding for several months. This means a bed bug that finds its way into your luggage can survive until you return home.

How Do You Deal with Bed Bugs When Traveling?

• Be bed bug aware: Before traveling, know what bed bugs look like, where they hide, and how to identify a bed bug bite. Pack light-colored clothing to make spotting bed bugs easier, and if possible, only pack clothing that can be laundered in hot water.
• Do a bed bug check: When you arrive at your hotel, check for bed bugs before you unpack and settle in. Pull down the sheets on the bed and examine the mattress for signs of bed bugs. These include rusty stains, pinhead-sized droppings, tiny eggs or eggshells, shed exoskeletons, or – of course – actual bed bugs. Be sure to check around the seams of the mattress and behind the headboard. Also check inside drawers, and around the seams of upholstered furniture.
• Protect your suitcase: Avoid putting your suitcase on the bed or floor; rather, place it on a hard, smooth surface like a dresser, table, or luggage rack. This makes it more difficult for bed bugs to find their way into your luggage. Keep your suitcase zipped completely closed when not in use. For an added layer of protection, purchase a bug-proof suitcase cover, or use a specially formulated bed bug repellent spray.
• Pick up your clothing: Do not put clothing on the bed, floor, or upholstered furniture; either hang it up or keep it in your suitcase. Bed bugs are attracted to soiled clothing. So, if possible, place worn clothes inside sealed plastic bags.

Is it Possible to Get Bed Bug Bites at a Hotel and Not Bring Them Home?

If you follow the suggestions above, it’s unlikely you will bring home any bed bugs. To be safe, upon returning from your trip, check your luggage for signs of bed bugs before you enter your house. To kill any bugs you may have missed, immediately wash clothing in hot water and dry it on the highest setting possible.

Travel Safely, and Call Us If a Problem Follows You Home

By following these guidelines, you should be able to travel confidently, enjoy your trip, and come home without any unwanted stowaways. If you find you’ve brought home bed bugs, it’s crucial to attack the problem immediately. Twin Forks Pest Control® is your bed bug eradication expert, with more than 25 years of experience. Contact us online for a free estimate, or call (631) 324-9020 in or near East Hampton; (631) 287-9020 in Southampton, or (631) 298-0500 in the Southold area.