Why are Bed Bugs Common in Hotels?

If you travel often, your odds of encountering a bed bug infestation are slightly raised. That’s because bed bugs are increasingly common in hotel rooms around the world. That unfortunate fact is part of the reason we have seen a resurgence in bed bug cases in several areas that hadn’t seen an infestation in years. There are several reasons that bed bugs are common in hotels. Keep reading to find out a few of the most prominent.

For one, hotels are the perfect spot for bed bugs to camp out because they have incredible numbers of sleeping people in one spot. What this means is there is a constant stream of humans for these bugs to feast on. Bed bugs are on the hunt for one thing, and that is human blood. Since hotels have person after person coming in and camping out for a night or two, bed bugs have a constant source of food. This is the perfect set up for bed bugs since they don’t have to go far for their next meal. 

This brings up the next reason: the bed bugs can travel from room to room, bed to bed, if the food source in their first room goes away. Bed bugs are notorious for traveling quickly from place to place in search of food. If a hotel room is vacant for a day or two, they can simply move on to the room next door.

This also means that a minor bed bug issue can become a full-blown problem quite quickly inside a hotel. A single female bed bug can lay up to 20 eggs at a time, and these eggs will become adults within a matter of weeks. Imagine how quickly a bed bug infestation can spread if there are only a few females laying eggs. Since hotels are chockfull of places for bed bugs to hide out, the problem can get out of control quickly.

Hotels are also hot spots for bed bug infestations because of the constant stream of people coming and going. Bed bugs are notorious for hopping a ride from place to place, so if they’ve attached themselves to someone’s luggage or their jacket, once they’ve reached their hotel destination they can easily jump from their mode of transportation to the nearest bed. All that is needed is one person bringing in a stray bed bug or two from their home, and you’ve got the beginnings of an infestation on your hands.

As you can see, it’s important to inspect your hotel room thoroughly upon arrival to ensure that you don’t see any visible signs of bed bugs before settling in. Remember that bed bugs aren’t only camping out on the bed, so it’s a good idea to inspect the entire room. When you arrive, place your luggage in the bathroom, since this is the least likely place to be infested. The bed, headboard, bed frame, and box springs are the first place you should check. You’re not only looking for live bugs, but for signs that they’ve been there, such as dried blood spots or fecal stains. You should also check bedside tables, any other furniture in the room, and strip the bed totally to inspect the sheets and blankets.

While this may seem excessive, a bed bug infestation is no joke, and the last thing you want is to take the infestation home with you. Even if you are fairly sure your hotel room was bed bug free, it’s still a good idea to inspect your luggage once you return home and to wash and dry all clothing and other materials on the hottest setting possible. It’s definitely better to be safe than sorry when it comes to these pesky little critters.