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Since 1893,

Providing Peace of Mind
to New England & New York State Residents and Businesses

How to travel safely and avoid bringing bed bugs home.

Everyone has read about the increasingly common
incidence of bed bugs in hotels and other places. Despite becoming more common, the likelihood of running into bed bugs is still slim.  Bed bugs are not a sign of filth and a poorly run hotel. We recommend you don’t stop traveling and enjoying everything life has to offer.  Traveling smarter will reduce the likelihood of bringing bed bugs home and increase the odds of having a satisfying  travel experience. 

On first entering the hotel room:

  1. Place luggage on luggage stands located away from the bed. 
    (Do not place luggage on, or next to the bed.)
  2. Ask for additional luggage stands if needed to accommodate multiple bags.
  3. Live out of the luggage and avoid placing clothing inside bureau and dresser drawers.
  4. If on an extended stay and you need to place clothing in the drawers, remove and inspect the inside and underside of the drawers, as well as inside the bureau frame.
  5. Avoid traveling with your personal pillows and bedding.
  6. Inspect the bed for staining and insects by pulling open all the bedding layers in the four corners, right down to the bare mattress.*
  7. Lift the bed skirt around the bottom of the bed and look for signs of bed bugs.*
  8. A thorough inspection of the headboard, including when the nails are is recommended.


If you find bed bug evidence do not open and unpack luggage. Ask your room be changed to another well away from the suspect room. Save the bed bug evidence for identification confirmation by hotel staff, as it is not uncommon for the average person to misidentify other insects or small debris as bed bugs.

Including a small pen light with toiletries and other personal items when traveling will insure you can see into cracks, crevices and other darks spaces where bed bugs like to hide. Don’t stop traveling, just travel smarter.


(*Bed bugs signs include fecal staining, eggs, cast skins, live and dead insects.)
Contact your local branch office for more information!
888-970-5170
Contactus@walthamservices.com