How Tourists Can Avoid Hotel Bed Bugs

Protect Yourself from Spreading Infestations

Bed bugs can be found in many hotels and hostels, regardless of their quality and reputation yet most travelers don't make choices about accommodation by taking this into account. Bed bugs are often easily spread from place to place on clothing and in luggage so it is important to protect yourself while traveling and avoid bringing home this nasty memento of your trip.

Bed Bug Facts

Bed bugs are parasitic insects that feeds on human blood and though they carry 24 known pathogens they don't spread disease as mosquitoes would spread malaria. They are so named because they prefer to nest in areas where people sleep but can also be found in chairs, couches, baseboards, curtains, wallpaper.

They are red-brown and about the size of an apple seed and scuttle so can often be seen when they move. They smell like rotten raspberries and almonds and often leave red-brown streaks on the sheets. They can lay up to 500 eggs in their lifetime and can survive extreme temperatures.

Bed bugs were nearly entirely exterminated but when broad spectrum pesticides like DDT were discontinued due to health and environment concerns they were reintroduced. Since then, bed bugs have become an increasing concern, especially for travelers whose backpacks and sleeping bags often transport them.

Bed Bug Myths

Myths surrounding bed bugs and travel abound. The first myth is that hostels are more likely to have bed bugs than higher end hotels. In fact, hostels have always acknowledged the issue and most actually ban the use of personal sleeping bags in their rooms in order to limit the transfer of bed bugs.

What You Can Do to Protect Yourself from Bed Bugs

There's not much that can be done to protect you from bed bug bites. Following a Dateline special about bedbugs, MSNBC released a page answering many of the questions that were emailed in.

They suggested that the best way to protect yourself is to thoroughly inspect the mattress, sheets, and headboard for signs of bed bugs. Silk sleep sacs are not completely effective in staving off bed bugs but the tight weave will make it harder for the bugs to bite you through the fabric.

If you do find them, vacuum everything thoroughly and empty the bag outside, and wash everything in boiling hot water. If they persist, call an exterminator who can get behind light switches and walls, use strong chemicals and caulk up cracks where they may hide. In worst cases you may have to throw out mattresses and furniture.

Bed Bug Bites & Treatment

Bed bug bites can cause both physical and psychological reactions. Anxiety and loss of sleep, itchy welts similar those caused by mosquito bites, and a skin rash can result. If a bed bug does bite you (usually at night), you should treat the bite as you would treat a mosquito bite.

If you scratch the bites, your reaction will continue to worsen. It's been suggested that the affected area be cleaned with warm water and soap and then apply ice and an anti-itch cream or antihistamine.

The best way to protect yourself is to thoroughly examine every room you stay in for signs of bed bugs, notify staff and move. If you happen to acquire bed bugs in your belongings, eradicate them using the methods described above and hope the next place you lay your head is critter-free.