How to Avoid Bedbugs in Hotels

Reported by: John Matarese

Lots of us are preparing for vacations right now. We're booking our hotels and planning the big week.

But you're probably not planning for some uninvited guests, who could spoil the trip. I'm talking about Bedbugs!

And its very tough to get these surprise guests to check out.

How bugs can ruin your trip

Allison Rothbaum will never forget a friend's wedding night ...where the wedding party found themselves under attack by these tiny creatures.

Allison says "some of us had to switch rooms, cause the first room had bedbugs, and that pretty much gave me the willies!"

A rare case? Or should you be concerned?

We went to Health Department experts, and insect specialist Thomas Hooper told me point blank "there is a pretty big problem in hotels."

While he says most hotels do a good job exterminating, he pointed out that even a five star hotel can have them.

What to do when you Arrive

The first thing, Hooper says, is to place your bag on a hard clean surface, like a table. Then its time to turn your attention to the bed, where bedbugs hide in bed frames, between cushions, and in the edge of mattresses.

He says "if you dont find bedbugs, you look for rust stains. After they get a blood meal, they excrete the blood."

But Hooper says sheets are almost always fresh... So check the mattress.
"Look at the tufts,"he says, "the edges of the bed."

"The next spot you want to look at is the headboard, nighstand and picture frames."

He suggests you look under the phone, even pull out the nightstand. 

If the room looks clean....

Even if nothing's moving, and the room looks clean, Hooper suggests keeping your bags off the carpet.

And he says ever leave dirty clothing on the floor, or you can take unwanted souvenirs home with you.

Rather, he says, "always take a plastic garbage bag. Put your dirty clothing in them."

Still nervous? He says you can put two sided tape around the feet of the bed. You can even buy a bug proof mattress cover from several websites! But that's extreme.

Hooper says bed bugs are rarely in every room: So if youre suspicious, just ask for another room.

Check before you Book your Room

One final tip: Check websites like Bedbug Registry dot com, Hotel Chatter dot com, and TripAdvisor dot com...where travelers often list infected hotels.

Allison Rothbaum wishes she had done that before she checked in.

What if you bring some Bugs home?

Finally, if you think you brought bedbugs home, experts tell us you can easily kill them by washing and drying your clothes.

Then, put your luggage in black garbage bags and set them out in the hot sun: Bedbugs cant survive temperatures above 125 degrees.

So stay safe on your travels, and don't waste your money. I'm John Matarese.