Are bed bugs rare in hotels?

“It may surprise you that bed bugs are a common problem in hotels,” says Jordan Foster, Pest Management Expert at Fantastic Pest Control. “Infestations of bed bugs have nothing to do with sanitation or cleanliness. Bed bugs are not uncommon in hotels or motels of any star rating, from one-star to five-star.”



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Before you book your hotel, head to the Bed Bug Registry, a site that collects reports of bed bugs from hotel guests. The Registry allows you to look up a particular hotel—or all hotels in a given city—and see where guests have reported encounters with bed bugs in a hotel or apartment building nearby.

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Alert hotel staff to any issues: If you do find any evidence of bed bugs in your hotel room, report the issue immediately to a hotel staff member so they can investigate the room, as well as the surrounding rooms and common areas.

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Victims of bed bug bites can sue the hotel for ample compensation for their damages. You may be able to receive coverage for the following: Medical expenses from the past and future. Property damage for anything that was lost or needed to be repaired if the infestation spread to your home.

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Request a new room far away from the first, and ask for a refund or other form of compensation. If you're unsatisfied with their response, check out and look for a new hotel. Contact the local housing or health department, and report the hotel to online bed bug registries.

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They are everywhere, they've been found in retail stores, movie theaters, ambulances, office buildings, homes and of course, hotel rooms. They don't discriminate, bed bugs like the beds in a 5 star hotel just as much as beds in a 2 star hotel.

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Just as they work their way into bed crannies and nooks, these pests can easily crawl into pockets, zippers, and hidden sections in the bag. Having light-colored luggage makes your work relatively easier.

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Any luggage items such as toiletries, shoes, or jewelry that cannot be washed, should stay isolated outdoors until they can be carefully inspected and treated. To kill bed bugs with heat, place items in a plastic bag in a hot, sunny location and raise temps to 120 degrees for an hour or more.

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Bed bugs can move as fast as 5 feet per minute but can move from room to room within an hour or two. Within an hour bed bugs can move as much as 100 feet! Bed bugs can spread even quicker if they hitch a ride onto clothes or luggage.

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Remember, the bugs don't just hide in beds, but could be in just about any soft surface, as well as in cracks in wooden furniture. Check under the sheets, under and around mattresses, as well as couches, chairs, headboards, artwork and carpet/flooring seams. Use a flashlight to help you see, if you have one.

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