- Before You Arrive: Research and Pack Smart
- During Your Stay: Inspect Before You Unpack
- After You Get Home: Don't Bring Them Inside
- What to Do If You Think You Brought Them Home
- FAQs
Finding bed bugs in a hotel room isn't something anyone plans for — but it happens more often than most people realize. These small, flat insects hide in mattress seams, headboards, and upholstered furniture, coming out at night to feed. What makes them especially frustrating is that even well-rated hotels can have them. Bed bugs travel with guests and spread quickly through shared spaces, so a high star rating offers no real protection.
This guide covers what to do before you check in, while you're there, and once you're back home — so you don't accidentally bring any unwanted guests with you.
Before You Arrive: Research and Pack Smart
Check Recent Reviews
Before booking, search the hotel's name alongside "bed bugs" on Google, TripAdvisor, and the Bed Bug Registry. Focus on recent reports — something from a few months ago matters far more than a single complaint from years back. Also check whether management responded and how they handled it — especially for hotels in Astoria and other Queens neighborhoods.
Pack With Protection in Mind
Bring a small flashlight. You'll want it for your inspection when you arrive. Pack your clothes in resealable bags inside your luggage rather than loose — if you do run into bed bugs, they'll have a harder time getting into your belongings.
Some travelers also pack a large plastic trash bag to store their suitcase in while at the hotel. It sounds like overkill until you're dealing with a post-trip infestation at home.
During Your Stay: Inspect Before You Unpack
This is the step most people skip because they're tired from travel. Don't skip it.
Where to Look
When you first arrive, set your luggage on the bathroom tile floor. Bed bugs rarely infest bathrooms, so it's the safest spot while you check the rest of the room. Then do a thorough inspection of the sleeping area before you touch anything.
Focus on:
- The mattress — pull back the sheets and check the seams, corners, and tags for small reddish-brown insects, tiny white eggs, or dark rust-colored spots (fecal staining)
- The box spring — lift the mattress and look along the edges and underside
- The headboard — pull it slightly from the wall if you can; this is one of their favorite hiding spots
- Upholstered furniture — any chairs or couches near the bed deserve a look along the seams
- Nightstands and baseboards — check crevices and the edges where the floor meets the wall
Use your flashlight throughout. Bed bugs are roughly the size of an apple seed and easy to miss in dim lighting.
If You Find Them
Tell the front desk immediately. Ask to be moved to a room on a different floor and in a different part of the building — not just the room next door. Bed bugs spread through walls and shared pipes, so an adjacent room may already be affected.
Before you leave, document everything. Take photos. If the hotel disputes your claim later or you need to file a complaint, those photos are your best evidence.
If you're not satisfied with how the hotel responds, you can report the issue to your local health department.
Keep Your Luggage Off the Floor and Bed
For the rest of your stay, keep your suitcase on the luggage rack and away from the bed. Avoid draping clothes over upholstered furniture, and store worn clothing in a sealed bag rather than leaving it on the floor or a chair.
After You Get Home: Don’t Bring Them Inside
This is where most people make the mistake that leads to a full infestation. You walk in the door, drop your bag, and go about your day — while any hitchhiking bed bugs start exploring your home.
Treat Your Luggage Before It Comes In
If possible, leave your suitcase outside or in your car while you handle your clothes first. In a New York City apartment, a hallway or entryway works fine.
Wash and Dry Everything Immediately
Heat kills bed bugs at all life stages. Wash all your travel clothes in hot water and dry them on the highest heat setting for at least 30 minutes — everything in your bag, worn or not. For items that can't be washed, like shoes, bags, or small accessories, the dryer on high heat for 30 minutes will do the job if they're dryer-safe.
Inspect and Vacuum Your Luggage
Go over every pocket and seam of your suitcase with a flashlight. Vacuum the interior thoroughly, then seal the vacuum bag in a plastic bag and dispose of it outside. Store your empty suitcase in a sealed bag if you can.
Watch for Signs Over the Next Few Weeks
Bed bug bites typically appear in clusters or lines on exposed skin. You might also notice small blood stains on your sheets, dark spots on your mattress, or a faint musty odor in the bedroom. These signs can take a week or two to show up after an infestation begins.
If anything looks suspicious, act quickly. Bed bugs reproduce fast, and a small problem caught early is far easier — and less expensive — to deal with than one that's had time to spread.
What to Do If You Think You Brought Them Home
If you're seeing signs of bed bugs after a hotel stay, don't wait it out. Hardware store sprays rarely reach all life stages, especially eggs, and bed bugs have developed resistance to many common pesticides. DIY treatments tend to scatter the problem rather than solve it.
Professional treatment is the most reliable path to full elimination. A trained specialist can assess the extent of the infestation, apply targeted treatments that address the full lifecycle from eggs to adults, and walk you through steps to prevent reinfestation.
If you're in New York City, Ace Bed Bug Exterminating NYC provides inspections and biopesticide treatments across all five boroughs. Getting a professional assessment early gives you a clear picture of what you're dealing with — and the fastest route to resolving it.
FAQs
Can you get bed bugs from a hotel even if the room looks clean?
Yes. Bed bugs have nothing to do with housekeeping standards. They hitchhike between guests and hide in cracks, furniture, and behind headboards that look perfectly fine. A visually tidy room can still have an active infestation.
How soon after a hotel stay would I notice bed bug bites?
It varies. Some people see bites within a day or two; others don't react at all or take up to two weeks to develop visible marks. No bites doesn't mean you weren't exposed.
What does a bed bug look like?
Adults are roughly the size of an apple seed — flat, oval-shaped, and reddish-brown. After feeding, they swell and darken. Eggs are tiny, white, and about 1mm long. You may spot shed skins or dark fecal stains before you ever see an actual insect.
Is it safe to stay in a hotel room after bed bugs are reported?
It depends on how the hotel responded. A room properly treated by a licensed pest control company should be safe. If the hotel simply moved you to another room without treating the affected one, that's a red flag. When in doubt, request a different floor or cancel the reservation.
Can bed bugs travel in my luggage?
Yes — this is the most common way they move from hotels into homes. They hide in the seams, pockets, and lining of suitcases. Inspecting and vacuuming your luggage after every trip is one of the most effective things you can do.
Do I need a professional if I only see one or two bed bugs?
It's worth getting an inspection. Seeing one or two usually means there are more you haven't found yet. Bed bugs are nocturnal and very good at hiding. A professional can confirm whether you have an active infestation and determine how far it's spread.
How do I report a bed bug problem at a hotel?
Notify hotel management in writing and document everything with photos. You can also file a complaint with your local health department or consumer protection agency. In New York City, complaints can be submitted directly to the NYC Department of Health.
A five-minute inspection when you arrive and a straightforward laundry routine when you get home can dramatically reduce your risk of bringing bed bugs back with you. If something does go wrong after a trip, don't sit on it — the earlier you get a professional involved, the simpler the fix.