You may not know it, but bed bugs can really ruin your vacation. Since the winter months are already here, many people will try to spend their vacations in hotels.
But, even if you're not on the beach, forests, or other outdoor places, bed bugs can still "bug" you and your family. This is true even in air-conditioned hotel rooms.
Travel Safety Guide 2023: Check for Bed Bugs in Hotel Rooms
Cari Curri, a flight attendant TikToker, said that it is important to check for bed bugs in any Airbnbs, such as hotels.
"It is more important now than ever to be checking your hotel rooms for bed bugs - and your Airbnbs," she said via Travel+Leisure.
She said that no matter where she goes-whether it's a cheap hotel or a 5-star one-she always checks for pests, especially bed bugs.
Her warning about these annoying insects comes after news about bed bug infestations over France, the United Kingdom, and other parts of the globe.
To help other travelers Curri decided to provide her personal tips on how to check for bed bugs in hotel rooms. The most important thing she always does is to avoid allowing her bags to touch the hard floor onto the carpet and on the bed whenever she checks in.
Instead, she will pull the bedding all the way to the mattress level to check every corner. The TikToker said that she usually does this using her handset's flashlight.
After that, she will check the fabric seating and luggage racks to see if there are signs of bed bugs hiding in the tiny spaces.
Once she sees that there are some bed bugs, even if they are few, the flight attendant will call the front desk immediately for assistance. Most of the time, she will request to be transferred to another room and repeat the process.
Avoiding Bed Bugs
If you think that checking for bed bugs is the only thing you need to do, then think again. The New York Times provided other important habits you need to practice when traveling during bed bug seasons:
Arriving at the Hotel
Before doing your bed bug inspection, bring your luggage and other belongings to the hotel room's bathroom since this area is cold (bed bugs are usually attracted to warmth, carbon dioxide, and the blood of humans). After that, check anything where bed bugs can hide, such as side tables, bed skirts, box springs, bedding, and even the alarm clock.
When Staying at the Hotel
Instead of placing your clothes, bags, and other belongings inside the hotel room's cabinets and other storage, place them in sealable plastic bags. Make sure that they are large enough and airtight to prevent these pests from invading them.
When Returning Home
Once you are in your house, the best thing you can do is to put all your clothes and other belongings you brought in a light-colored surface. This will allow you to see bed bugs that accidentally came along with you. If you really brought some of these pests, use a vacuum to capture them or shake your infested clothes in a bathtub filled with water.
