Bed bugs are one of the most unpleasant experiences you can have when traveling. These little critters can make lovely red bites that itch like nobody’s business. The worst thing is, they can also live in your precious luggage and on clothes, another reason why bed bug prevention while traveling is a must. Here’s how to do it! Bed bugs have become a growing problem in hotels across the United States. Given this increase in reports, it is becoming apparent that travelers are at the highest risk of picking up bed bugs while on the road. While this may be disconcerting news, there are many things you can do to help prevent bed bugs while traveling. About 1% of travelers report picking up bed bugs while staying in a hotel. What can you do to lower your risk? Have you ever stayed in a hotel room or stayed with friends and thought, “are there bed bugs in this room”? You’re not alone. It’s been reported the bed bugs are becoming more and more of an issue for travelers. Today I’m going to give you some tips that will hopefully be useful when it comes to your next hotel stay.

Bed Bug Prevention When Traveling

Do some research before booking a room.

Before booking a hotel room, do some research. Check online review sites and social media for the hotel you plan on staying at—you may find that other guests have reported bed bug issues. If you have friends or family who travel frequently, ask if they’ve stayed at this particular location before. A word of advice: don’t be afraid to ask management about any potential problems you might encounter during your trip! You’re paying for a service; it’s only fair that you know everything about what you’re getting yourself into.

Finally, check out this helpful infographic from the CDC regarding bed bug prevention when traveling:

[link](https://www.cdc.gov/travel/tips-prevention/bedbugs/)

Check the room for bed bugs before you get settled.

• Check for bed bugs before you unpack. Before you settle in, take a look at your hotel room to make sure it’s as clean and bug-free as possible. Bed bugs can hide in the most unlikely places, so be thorough when checking out your room—it’s a good idea to do this even if you’ve stayed at the same place before.
• Look for blood spots or shed exoskeletons on sheets and mattresses. If there are any signs of bed bug activity (a dark red stain that looks like dried blood or tiny black dots that may be bed bug feces), don’t take the chance of bringing them home with you! Make sure to report this immediately to your management team so they can treat the affected areas quickly and efficiently

Cut off their food supply: Don’t let them eat you!

As you can see, bed bugs are attracted to the carbon dioxide we exhale and the heat our bodies generate. To keep them at bay, you need to make sure they don’t get a meal.

The first step is to check your hotel room for signs of bed bug infestation before unpacking your bags. If there are stains on the mattress or in other parts of the room that look like blood spots or rust-colored dots, be wary: these could be signs of a recent infestation. Check under your sheets as well—another common hiding place for these insects is between mattress seams where they’ll burrow into fabric fibers and stay out of sight until it’s time to feed.

If you do find evidence that bedbugs have been around recently (even if it’s just one bug), ask for another room or consider changing hotels altogether if possible; this will help reduce your risk of being bitten by an infected insect during your stay in whatever accommodation you choose next time around!

Store your luggage off the floor.

There are several ways to store your luggage off the floor. If you have luggage that allows you to store it on a shelf or rack, then do so. If not, many hotels and motels provide spots for hanging your suitcases and bags from hooks on the wall. This will keep them up out of the way and away from bed bugs who may be crawling around in your hotel room looking to steal some blood!

Another option is to create a makeshift rack with two pieces of wood that are nailed together at a 90 degree angle (this can be done by nailing one piece into another). You can then place this between two beds or couches in order to make sure there is enough space for both items without anyone bumping into each other when walking through their living area.

Clean your stuff before you leave.

• Clean your stuff before you leave. You’ll want to clean your bedding and clothes, especially if you’re going on a trip and won’t be able to wash them for a few days.
• Put everything in the dryer for 10-15 minutes on high heat or run it through the dry cycle of your washing machine. This will kill any eggs that may be present on towels or clothes, as well as any eggs that may have been hidden in crevices around zippers or buttons.
• Freeze things like shoes and jackets for four days at 0 degrees Fahrenheit (this can also help with bedbugs in those areas). While freezing isn’t necessary for items such as sheets and pillows, it’s still worth doing this because it doesn’t take long and will help kill any bugs hiding inside pockets while they’re frozen. Freezing also kills their eggs without damaging your stuff too much!
• Wash all bedding items at home before packing them up; use hot water if possible so that any parasites are killed off by friction against one another when they touch each other during agitation within the machine (don’t worry about staining). If you don’t have access to laundry facilities when traveling then consider bringing along hand sanitizer—it will kill off any bugs trying these tactics against you!

You can prevent bed bugs when traveling by doing some research ahead of time and taking some precautions while on the road.

• Look for hotel reviews about bed bugs.
• Stay at reputable hotels.
• Check the reviews before you book.
• Check the room for bed bugs before you get settled in, or ask a staff member to do it for you. If there are any signs of bed bugs, ask to be moved or given another room immediately!
• Wash your clothes in hot water and dry them as soon as possible after your trip is over—this will kill any eggs that may have snuck home with you on your clothes or in your luggage!