How to Check a Hotel Room for Bed Bugs

Bed bugs in a hotel room can be one of the biggest complaints among the weary traveler. While these insects are dormant by day, they stir by night, feeding off your blood. Unfortunately, it is not always a guarantee that your hotel's management will have rid your room of the pests. Before you unpack, it's a good idea to check the room for these unwanted guests.

Instructions

1. Know what to look for. Bed bugs are visible to the naked eye, and they are flat and reddish-brown. In addition to the bugs themselves, you may find their excrement in the form of tiny black dots, as well as shed skin.

2. Remove your bed's sheets and blankets. Check the mattress seams, tag and box springs. Look at the headboard as well.

3. Inspect the room's furniture. Look around and inside of your nightstand and dresser. Bed bugs also tend to hide in upholstered furniture.

4. Move beyond the bed. In particular, examine the hotel room's window treatments, light switches and moldings. Peek behind loose wallpaper or inside of any cracks in the wall.

Tips & Warnings

• If you find any bed bugs, report the problem to your hotel's management.

References

• Purdue University: Bed Bugs