Bed bugs are a serious concern whenever you are going to a hotel.
We have been to some parts of the world where it’s been more than possible to see bed bugs sifting around in the bed sheets. This is when you realize not all hotel rooms are clean and it’s essential to be aware before resting on a hotel bed.
Don’t dry clothes in a hotel room or use a hotel hot tub until you are sure it’s clean. We have also mentioned checking for hidden cameras in hotel rooms, but looking for bed bugs is also essential along the way.
Otherwise, you are going to be sleeping with bed bugs all around you!
Over time, we have built up enough experience to figure out how common bed bugs are. This is essential for those who want to learn more about bed bugs.
For the most part, bed bugs are rare.
Bed bugs only become an issue in older, poorly constructed hotels where the cleaning staff is not on top of things. We tend to notice this in certain parts of Asia but it is common anywhere.
Bed Bugs In Hotel Rooms
Bed bugs become an issue because of how a hotel room is set up. This includes the building as a whole.
If you ever notice bed bugs in hotel rooms, you are going to realize the building is poorly constructed. This is a serious concern because bed bugs will come through those gaps and become an issue inside the hotel room.
It’s common to think the hotel room has not been cleaned and that is an issue when it comes to general awareness of whether or not bed bugs are present in the room. However, even a clean hotel room can have bed bugs if cracks are running alongside the room where the bed bugs can come from!
This is why you have to be diligent and not just trust the hotel staff.
We have also been in a situation where a lot of hiking was being done in the nearby woods when we were in Mexico. This resulted in a situation where the bed bugs started to come through with us. This is not a good sign because you won’t realize what has happened until it is too late!
It’s essential to keep yourself clean and also understand that others can also bring bed bugs in with them.
How Common Are Bed Bugs In Hotel Rooms?
We can only share our experiences with you.
For the most part, we have noticed older hotel rooms tend to have a higher chance of having bed bugs in them. This becomes a real concern because those bed bugs tend to come out of nowhere and if there are cracks in the structure, they are going to find a way through.
This also includes other types of insects depending on where you are staying.
In our experience, all of the issues we have had with insects tended to be in Asia or Mexico. Otherwise, we have not had this issue anywhere else.
How To Check For Bed Bugs In A Hotel Room
Check The Entire Room
The main thing you are going to want to do is inspect the hotel room.
It shouldn’t matter which hotel chain you are choosing. If the room is being booked, you are going to want to inspect it in detail. Of course, you are also going to want to look for safety risks and/or hidden cameras but bed bugs are an issue too.
Look into this by starting with the bed and then working your way around the hotel room. Any furniture is a common spot for bed bugs to settle into.
Take out your phone’s light and check deep into the mattress and furniture to see if there are bed bugs or not.
Alert The Hotel Staff
Let’s assume you do find bed bugs in a hotel room.
What are you going to do next?
We would alert the hotel staff to let them know what’s going on. This is essential because it’s more than common for bed bugs to then start spreading throughout the hotel room and also becoming a problem for those who are inside the hotel room.
The hotel staff is going to seal the room and then will help you find another room in the hotel. Do not attempt to resolve this issue on your own as this is not your problem. You are paying for the hotel room and they are going to take care of it.
What To Do If Hotel Room Has Bed Bugs?
Check Your Clothing
If you have found bed bugs in the hotel room, it is essential to check your clothing. We would also take a shower as soon as we are out of the room to make sure you don’t take the bed bugs with you all over the place.
This is going to include changing your clothes.
You should always be thorough when you have found out there are bed bugs in a hotel room. A lot of people also don’t check their luggage but that is one spot where the bed bugs can be.
Keep Your Items Away
You will want to keep your items away from the infested areas.
These are areas where the bed bugs are going to be settled. For example, it is bad to put your suitcase and/or clothing on the mattress because the bed bugs are going to find their way onto your clothing.
This is going to mean you will take the bed bugs with you to the next hotel room.
Talk With The Hotel Staff
Hotel staff will also know what to do next.
This is essential because they are going to have experience managing these situations and can help you along. This includes where to go, what to do, and how to resolve the issue.
We would also look at asking for a few perks when this happens. A lot of people don’t do this as the hotel staff is going to want to make sure their customer service is on point. Take advantage of this and let them know you are unhappy.
Final Thoughts
These are the things to focus on when it comes to managing a hotel room with bed bugs.
We know it’s going to be tough but you can manage this situation by being alert and speaking to the hotel staff.
Learn more about hotels here – how to operate a microwave in a hotel room, best breakfast at a hotel, and the reason for connecting rooms in hotels.
Amanda Harper is a travel enthusiast with 10+ years of traveling experience across the planet. Her passion for writing and travel makes her a walking bibliography on modern-day tourism.