These tiny pests are expert hitchhikers, and it only takes one or two to turn your home into a hotspot for infestation.
With a few precautions, you can stop them in their tracks.
Why Travel Increases Your Risk
Hotels, hostels, coaches, airports — bed bugs thrive in places where lots of people come and go.
Unlike other pests, they don’t need crumbs or dirt. They need one thing: blood. So, wherever people sleep, rest, or sit for long periods, you’ll find potential hiding spots.
Bed bugs may crawl into your belongings without you ever noticing. Luggage stored under hotel beds or left sitting on the floor is especially vulnerable. Clothing casually draped over chairs or placed on upholstered surfaces can also become infested. Even rucksacks or handbags that come into contact with contaminated bedding are at risk.
You won’t see them. These pests are expert hiders, resting deep in seams or fabric folds during the day and emerging only at night. But once they make it into your suitcase, they can survive the entire journey home. And when they arrive, they don’t waste time — they start multiplying fast, turning a relaxing trip into a pest control nightmare.
How to Check Your Hotel Room
The first step in preventing bed bug removal services later is to inspect your room as soon as you arrive.
Before you unpack, do this quick check:
- Pull back the bed sheets and look closely along the mattress seams.
- Shine a torch (your phone light works) into corners, behind the headboard, and along baseboards.
- Look for tiny black spots (droppings), white eggs, or small, reddish-brown insects.
- Check soft furnishings, curtains, and nearby furniture — bed bugs don’t just stay in beds.
- A sweet, musty odour can also indicate a large infestation.
If you spot signs, ask for another room — ideally not adjacent to the one inspected.
Keep Your Luggage Bug-Free
How you handle your suitcase during your stay matters more than you might think. Using hard-shell luggage can make a big difference, as it provides fewer hiding places for bed bugs compared to soft fabric cases. Always place your bags on a luggage rack — ideally a metal one — instead of putting them on beds, floors, or soft chairs, where bugs are more likely to hide.
It’s also smart to store your clothes in sealable bags inside your case to limit exposure. And while it might be tempting to unpack into drawers or wardrobes for convenience, don’t do it unless you’ve inspected them thoroughly first. These simple steps help create a protective barrier between your belongings and any potential infestation, reducing the chances of bringing bed bugs home.
What to Do When You Get Home
You might think the risk ends when you leave the hotel — but bed bugs may still be in your bag.
Here’s how to protect your home from uninvited guests:
- Unpack your suitcase outside or in a utility area, not in your bedroom.
- Wash all clothes — even clean items — on the highest heat setting they can handle. Heat kills both bugs and eggs.
- Vacuum your suitcase thoroughly, inside and out. Pay close attention to zips and seams.
- Store your suitcase in a plastic bag or sealed box away from sleeping areas.
- These actions take minutes but could save you hundreds of pounds in pest control later.
Signs You Might Have Brought Them Home
Bed bugs aren’t always visible — but they leave clues.
- Itchy bites, especially in lines or clusters on arms, legs, or neck
- Blood spots or black marks on your sheets or mattress
- Musty odours in the bedroom
- Live bugs spotted in seams or folds near your bed
- Pets acting strangely — they may also react to bites
When to Call in Professional Bed Bug Removal
DIY sprays and online hacks rarely solve the problem once bed bugs are in your home.
They hide deep inside furniture, walls, and flooring — places you can’t reach with a can of spray.
If you see signs within 1 to 3 weeks of returning from a trip, it’s time to call a bed bug removal specialist. Professionals use heat treatment or targeted insecticides to reach every bug and every egg.
A fast response can make all the difference when dealing with bed bugs. Acting quickly helps stop the infestation from spreading to other rooms or areas of your home. It can also save you money by preventing damage to furniture or the need to throw items away entirely.
More importantly, prompt action protects your sleep, your peace of mind, and your family’s comfort. Delaying treatment only gives the problem time to grow — and when it does, the cost and stress of dealing with it increase dramatically.
Final Thoughts
A few quick checks during, and after your trip, can dramatically lower your chances of needing emergency pest control when you get home.
Inspect your room. Handle your luggage with care. And take a few minutes to unpack smart.