As the Christmas travel season is once again upon us, many families will be traveling to places far and wide over the holiday break.  Bed bug infestations continue to be high in all areas throughout the United States.  The bloodsucking pests can be picked up in a multitude of places, especially with so many people on the go.  Now is a good time to remember the dos and don’ts of traveling so that you can avoid bringing bed bugs home with you this traveling season.

Here are a few reminders from Manhattan pest control experts that will help you keep safe from bed bug infestations…

Remember that bed bugs can be present in any place that humans frequent.  Restaurants, hotels, taxis, buses, airports, airplanes, trains, and rental cars are all subject to the little vampires.  If you must place your belongings down on the floor, always inspect for bed bugs upon your arrival at your next destination.  Remember to check purses, laptop bags, backpacks, and luggage pieces.

Hotels are hot spots for bed bug activity because of the constant turnover of hotel guests.  A hotel can look spotless and still have bed bugs hidden in the bedding, dressers, under the box spring, in the mattress, along carpet edges, behind headboards, in electrical devices, behind pictures or mirrors, in book bindings, and in curtains.  A thorough inspection for the pests is an important step in avoiding them.  Even if you don’t find them, they still could be there!

Never place your luggage on a bed in a hotel room as it will be an easy target for a wondering bed bug to crawl inside and hide until it reaches your home.  Instead, place all luggage in the bathroom (preferably the bathtub) while the room inspection is being completed.  I personally leave the all luggage in the bathroom at all times as bed bugs cannot crawl with ease on slick surfaces.

Do not discount the evidence of bed bugs.  If you find blood smears, fecal matter (looks like pepper flakes), shed bed bug skins or actual live or dead bugs, change rooms immediately, or better yet change hotels.  It is not worth bringing these blood thirsty pests home with you.

If you do happen to bring bed bugs home to NYC, NY, NJ, or CT, Stern Environmental Group will be able to expertly remove the pests for you.  Call us at the first sign of any hitchhiking bed bugs.