How to Check for Bed Bugs when Traveling

Hotels, vacation rentals, and even public transportation can harbor these elusive pests, which often hitch a ride home in your luggage or clothing. According to the National Pest Management Association, 80% of pest professionals report treating bed bug infestations that originated after travel. Whether you’re headed out for the weekend with family or you’re jetsetting on a business trip, knowing how to check for bed bugs can help protect your home and belongings from the most undesirable souvenir.

While the most obvious sign of bed bugs is seeing actual live bed bugs, there are other things you can look for when inspecting your hotel room. Since bed bugs are nocturnal, these other signs are crucial to identify an infestation before you go to bed or unpack your luggage. Here are a few telltale signs of a bed bug infestation in your hotel room:

Bed bugs are roughly the size of an apple seed and are excellent at hiding, making them particularly challenging to identify. However, if you know what to look for and where bed bugs hide, you can reduce your risk of bringing bed bugs home. As you conduct your search, place your bag on a bellhop or the luggage rack (these are typically available at the front desk or in your room.) You may want to use a flashlight or magnifying glass during your inspection, as bed bugs can be difficult to detect with the naked eye.

Check for bed bugs on and around the bed.

Bed bugs are most active where people sleep, so this is the first place you should inspect. Use a flashlight or your phone’s light to check:

• Along mattress seams and piping
• Underneath mattress tags and handles
• Between the mattress and box spring
• In crevices of the headboard, especially if it’s upholstered or mounted on the wall
• Inside the cracks or joints of the bed frame
• Beneath the bed and along bed slats, if accessible
• In severe infestations, you may even find bugs or staining on the bed skirt or dust ruffle.

Next, check furnishings for bed bugs.

Bed bugs don’t limit themselves to beds. If your room has any upholstered furniture, including chairs, ottomans, or couches, be sure to:

• Remove cushions and inspect seams, folds, and zipper areas
• Look underneath the cushions and along the furniture frame
• Check inside drawers of nightstands or dressers, especially the corners and undersides
• Inspect the back and underside of furniture for signs of bed bugs or staining
• Look around the edges of carpet or rugs where they meet walls or furniture legs

When major furnishings have been checked, move on to check the floors, walls, and other fixtures for bed bugs.

While these areas can harbor bed bugs, you’re unlikely to spot them unless the hotel is experiencing a severe infestation. Still, it’s always better safe than sorry.

• Inspect the perimeter where the carpet or rug meets the wall
• Check under area rugs, especially near beds and sitting areas
• Look around the legs and base of furniture for signs of bugs or staining
• If the room has wood or laminate floors, inspect cracks between boards or under loose flooring
• Behind wall art, mirrors, or picture frames
• Inside cracks in baseboards or behind wall paneling
• Behind loose wallpaper
• Around electrical outlets or light switch plates (look, but don’t remove covers)
• On curtain seams and folds, especially near the bed or seating area

Will bed bugs hide in the bathroom?

Bed bugs are rarely found in bathrooms. These areas don’t provide the warm, dark, and fabric-heavy environment that bed bugs prefer. However, in the case of a significant infestation, it’s possible they could migrate into adjoining areas—including the bathroom. If you notice signs of bed bugs elsewhere in the room, it’s a good idea to do a quick check of baseboards or behind any wall hangings in the bathroom, just to be cautious.

After you’ve checked your room and have deemed it free of bed bugs, you can start unpacking your bags. Throughout your stay, remain aware of the common signs of bed bugs listed above, and take other preventative measures, like placing worn clothing in sealed plastic bags until you get home and keeping as much of your belongings off the floor as possible. Continue checking luggage and pay close attention to your room throughout your stay to ensure that you didn’t miss them on the first look.

Even if you perform the most thorough checks when traveling, it’s still possible for bed bugs to hitch a ride back home. Here are a couple of steps you should always take following your trip to ensure your belongings are bed bug-free:

While these steps can’t always prevent a bed bug infestation, you can reduce your risk if you are cautious and follow this protocol when you travel. After your trip, keep a close eye out for the same signs of bed bugs you looked for when traveling.

Learn More about Early Signs of Bed Bugs