Before 2000, only 25% of pest control professionals dealt with bed bugs at least once a year. However, in the past twenty or so years, that number has soared. According to the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) survey, around 95% of pest control professionals encounter them regularly.
If you are eager to travel this summer, you should also know that the number of these cases traditionally increases during the vacation and summer seasons. Popular vacation spots are packed with tourists, making them incredibly convenient for bed bugs to hide, feed, and multiply.
So, let’s take a closer look at how common bed bugs are in hotels and what to do if you notice them in your hotel room.
Bed Bugs Hide in Nooks and Crannies
It is certainly possible to notice adult bed bugs with your naked eye, but only if you know what you’re looking for. Bed bugs are relatively small (approximately the size of an apple seed), so unless you know what they look like, it may be difficult to instantly spot evidence of a bed bug infestation. t. The first sign of a bed bug infestation that a hotel guest usually discovers are bites, which are usually red itchy bumps with a dark center.
Other signs that bed bugs might be living where you sleep include:
- Dark or rusty spots on your sheets and linen
- Tiny blood stains on sheets and mattresses
- Yellowish eggshells or shed skins in the bed
Bed bugs usually try to hide during the daytime. However, there are certain spots that are always good to check for infestations, such as on the mattress and box spring. You may even find them in the cracks of different types of furniture or walking on linens, but they usually prefer dark, enclosed spots where they can lay eggs.
Bed Bugs Prefer Family Homes and Hotels
Following closely behind single-family homes and apartments, hotels are the next most common place you’ll find bed bugs. According to the Bugs Without Borders Survey, the top three places where pest management professionals found bed bugs over the past year include single-family homes (91 percent), apartments/condos (89 percent) and hotels/motels (68 percent).
Respondents reported that rooms containing upholstered and wooden furniture, such as couches, bed frames and mattresses, provide more areas for harboring bed bugs. And in terms of cleanliness, bed bugs are not picky. Even top-rated hotels have to deal with bed bug infestations.
That’s why choosing a five-star hotel is still not a guarantee for avoiding bed bugs.
Different types of hotels and motels across the country experience the same problems with bed bugs. The more people visit them, the more likely it is for bed bugs to arrive at the hotel with unassuming guests and decide to stay there. And if one hotel room has bed bugs, you can pretty much guarantee the entire hotel is infested.
Additionally, on average, an adult female lays around 500 eggs during her lifetime. This high reproductive rate explains why these pests spread so rapidly and why they are virtually impossible to exterminate without professional help. This is why it is so important that hotels put in place proper bed bug inspection and cleaning protocols to help keep guests safe.
How To Stay Pest-Free During a Hotel Visit
Bed bugs are a common problem in hotels, but there is a way to avoid them. When you’re dealing with bed bugs, prevention is the best solution. Bear in mind that some people don’t get bitten by bed bugs but still pick them up while traveling, so you need to be especially careful that you aren’t bringing them home with you.
Here’s how to make sure your hotel room is pest-free and avoid bringing bed bugs home with you:
- Leave your bags in the bathroom, where bed bugs are least likely to be found
- Inspect the room thoroughly, and use your phone to light up and check different areas
- Look at the bed frame, box spring, headboard, and beneath the mattress
- Keep your suitcases and backpacks away from the bed during your hotel stay
If there are clear signs of a bed bug infestation, inform the hotel personnel immediately. If the hotel staff fails to move you to another room, you have every right to insist on it. And if you’re allowed to choose, pick a room that’s far away from the infested area or even try to get transferred to a different hotel. You shouldn’t agree to anything below par, no matter how much you’ve paid for your hotel room.
What To Do If the Hotel Refuses to Cooperate
If hotel management refuses to meet your demands regarding a possible bed bug infestation in your room and/or you suffered damages, you may be able to take legal action against the ownership. Before you contact a lawyer, make sure you take photographs of the bed bug infestation and your injuries.
Contact Us Today for Help with Bed Bug Compensation!
Have you had an experience with bed bugs? If so, we may be able to help! Our bed bug attorneys can represent certain types of clients throughout the United States. Contact us today and explain the circumstances surrounding your incident and we will let you know if you have a case we can assist with!
