We will be going on vacation soon and I am worried about all the reports of bed bugs. I bought a spray container of bed bug spray today but have no idea if the bug sprays work. Does anyone have any ideas to help us decide what hotels would be safe to stay in or any ideas of how to check the rooms. We are leaving this Sunday.
I want to thank everyone for their ideas. We will be leaving this Sun. when we get back I will write and let you all know how things turned out. I do plan on taking the laptop and checking bedbugregestry.com. I may even ask If I can check out hotel rooms before we rent them for the night.
Bed bugs are no respecter of persons. They can be anywhere. I carry Soulmel by Melaleuca whenever I travel. It kills bedbugs and drives off eveything else. Melaleuca oil (high grade tea tree oil) kills lice, fleas, and repels every other bug. I give the room a once over everytime I travel.
My two cents...
M.
When you go to check in to a hotel, I would immediently lift up the mattress. If you see any types of red smears, or well, bugs, then you know the room is infested with bed bugs. Although small (about the size of a tick), bed bugs are not that hard to spot. They leave red smears on beds, clothes, carpets, ect. If you see the, report to the manager and ask for a refund.
Anytime I travel I check the room like a hawk before I take any of my things in.
As a few people have posted already: pull off the sheets & look in the seam of the mattress. Check the headboard & night stand. You are not necessarily looking for the bug themselves as they are usually dormant during the day. You are looking for their (so gross) feces. Tiny black spots. You can google search bed bugs & see detailed pictures on what to look for.
I also (just for peace of mind) always ask the hotel manager what they do to prevent the spread of bedbugs in their hotel.
Another place I check..... Go to expedia.com & pretend like you're wanting to book that hotel. Go to that hotel's page & read the other guests reviews. I dodged a hotel infested by bed bugs because of that. And it was a big name hotel.
Good luck & have a good vacation. :)
A magazine I JUST read featured a site called bedbugregistry.com - you can actually see hotels where people have reported bedbugs. Good luck... I JUST posted about myself stressing and this is one of those things I stress on too. At least the website can hopefully narrow it down for you in terms of choosing a hotel
Bedbugs can be in ANY hotel, home, business, etc. The type of hotel doesn't matter. There are VERY expensive hotels that have them and small, old motels that don't. They are carried into a hotel, usually in a guests suitcase) and then they multiply and multiply, etc. I would pull back the bottom sheet on the bed and look closely at the seam on the mattress, pull the mattress away from the wall a bit and look at the headboard (the part of it that would be covered by the mattress), look at the framed artwork in the room, check the drawers of the dresser, desk etc. If you're very nervous bring garbage bags and keep your suitcases in them so if there are any bugs they won't get into your bags and end up in your home. I know that the little buggers are resistant to many formulas of spray and even the exterminators have a hard time with them but it's always worth a try. If you do find even ONE bug put it in a baggie or cup and bring it to the manager's attention. They should be happy to move you, release you of your agreement and offer you a refund. Try no to stress too much and have a good vacation.
PS...I'm a hotel manager.
Definitely check Bedbugregistry.com and bedbugdatabase.com and then go to tripadvisor.com and read the reviews for the hotels you are considering. Then once you enter the room, check the beds at the rolled seams of the mattress under the sheets before you set your luggage down. That is where you will find brown spots that indicate bed bugs. If you see any brown spots, leave!
ditto on that bed bug registry site...also you can always ask the hotel before you book...most of them have to tell you (if you ask) when their last pest inspection was. although if they had a problem in the past, they probably won't be happy to tell you about it. just don't put your stuff down until you really inspect the room...and not just the bed...look on the chairs, carpets, etc too. we're travelling this summer too and i'm already starting to worry about that!
before the kids even get into the room or your stuff, go in and peek at all the mattresses. If you see brown staining AT ALL or discoloration, then get out and request a new room. Those mattresses have bed bugs.
