The curtain sways with the cool night air, the glow of the street below lingering just for a second. The room is silent except for the deep rhythmic breathing of the couple that lies there. Asleep they are unaware of the vile creature that lurks in the darken corners, waiting for a taste of their warm blood.

It may not be a story about vampires, but Bed Bugs are a real concern to many, especially those that travel. It doesn’t matter if you’re in a luxury hotel or in a hostel, if you’re abroad or in the states. What really matters is who stayed in this room before you, be it days or months. Bed bugs are easily transferred from room to room and from place to place.

The first thing I do when we arrive in a hotel is to run down my bed bug checklist! Lucky for me, I know a few people in the Pest Control industry who showed me what to look for & what not to do.

1. Remove the bed coverings looking for little stains of blood. Bed bugs can sometimes be messy eaters!

2. When you’re down to the bare mattress inspect the seams, both top and bottom. Pay particular attention to areas where the seams are folded closely to the rest of the mattress. For example, some mattresses that have a plush/pillow top may have seams that fold up creating a very tight crevice. The two most obvious signs would be the bugs themselves or their droppings. For an idea of what their droppings look like imagine someone with a black felt pen going along the edges making dots and very small lines. Other things to look for would be eggs, which are translucent white, oval and extremely small, as well as blood stains.

3. Inspect the rest of the bed and the surrounding areas. Bed bugs are generally not just contained to the mattress. Check the seams (and underside if you can) of the box spring, the pillows, the crevices of the bed frame, any headboard/footboards especially the underside and backside, the baseboards, and any nightstands (check the drawer, back, and any crevice you can find).

4. Sheets are dry cleaned, new sheets are used, and mattresses could be new. Just because you don’t see evidence, doesn’t mean they aren’t there. I tend to take a pessimistic approach when it comes to bed bugs. Don’t keep any luggage, bags, purses, jackets or anything that they could possibly hide in during the day near or under the bed. You won’t feel them biting you when you sleep, but you may wake up with itchy red bumps (they resemble mosquito bites and not everyone will have that reaction). Their may be many or just a few and they can happen anywhere on your body.

5. If you find anything that doesn’t look right, ask for a different room! One room may be infested, but it is unlikely that they all are. Unfortunately for the hotel, every guest can’t be scanned for problems before they bed down. Additionally, even if the room has been previously treated, there is always the possibility of a reinfestation or some overlooked eggs hatching.

6. If you suspect the place you stayed in had bed bugs wash everything in hot, hot water right away! The hot temperature will kill any adults and eggs. For luggage and anything else that can’t be washed – clean with a steam cleaner right away! The longer you wait the more risk you run of infesting your home.

For more information on bed bugs, contact your local pest control specialist.