What to do If You See Bed Bugs in Hotel Rooms

What should you do if you find bed bugs in your hotel room?

Whether or not you’ve ever stayed in a hotel room that had bed bugs, it’s no secret that this can really put a damper on your trip… to say the least. While this might not be a regular occurrence for most people, it’s definitely something you should be prepared for. To help you out, let’s take a look at what you should do if you come across bed bugs in hotels.

Know the Warning Signs

Bed bugs in hotels can be a huge issue, but you first need to make sure that’s what you’re dealing with. Be on the lookout for these common warning signs:

  • Visual sighting — Visual sighting are rare, but just bed bug may mean there are more around.
  • Itchy bumps — Bed bug bites present themselves as itchy, red bumps found after you wake up.
  • Blood stains — Red dots found on mattresses and box springs are the result of bed bugs feeding on you.
  • Feces stains — Reddish brown or rust-colored spots on the sheets can typically be attributed to bed bugs.

Check the Room Right Away

We get it. When you arrive at the hotel, the last thing you want to do is check the room for bed bugs. However, no matter how expensive or clean the hotel seems to be, bed bugs can happen anywhere. Take the time to do a quick check of the sheets and even under the mattresses before you start getting settled.

Separate Your Belongings

If you think there are bed bugs in your hotel room, take everything out of the drawers. Then, examine every piece of clothing just in case they’ve gotten into the dresser or on any clothes that have been on the bed since you arrived. If your room has a luggage rack, set your suitcases on it so they’re away from the bed and floor.

Inform the Hotel Staff

If you see any signs of bed bugs, be sure to notify the hotel staff right away. As you can probably guess, having bed bugs in a room is something any good hotel is going to take very seriously. They’ll want to act quickly because if they don’t and any other rooms get infested, there could be a degree of liability involved.

Get Photographic Evidence

If you find bed bugs or proof of an infestation, it’s a good idea to obtain some physical evidence you can show to the hotel staff. If you can’t take a picture of a bed bug itself, snap pics of sheets with blood or feces stains on them. If you’re not too squeamish and find a dead or live bed bug, put it into a container and show a staff member.

Switch Rooms or Leave

Finding even a single bed bug in your room can be quite alarming, so you have an important decision to make. You could ask to switch rooms, possibly to one that’s on the other side of the hotel or on a different floor. Your other option is to simply leave. In these types of cases, you shouldn’t get any pushback from the hotel staff.

Ask for Compensation

Whether or not you decide to stay at the hotel, it never hurts to ask for some kind of compensation. Hotel management will want to avoid the reputation of having bed bugs at all costs, so they’ll often provide a full night’s stay for free, at the very least. This is also true because if there was negligence involved, then you could potentially file a lawsuit against the hotel.

Check Your Belongings

Returning home is definitely a different sort of experience once you’ve been exposed to bed bugs. After all, the last thing you want is to bring bed bugs home with you. Before you leave, check your belongings for any evidence of these blood-sucking creatures. Once you get home, do this again and wash all of your clothing in hot water as soon as you arrive.

Contact ProHealth Pest Control for Bed Bug Control

ProHealth Pest Control has dealt with many bed bugs in hotels, other businesses, and homes. Our pest control services include a bed bug heat treatment that will get rid of them right away. If you have any questions or would like to set up an appointment, reach out by calling (727) 308-2543 today.

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