Don't Let the Bedbugs Bite! Top Tips for Travelers

bed bugs

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Photo by: contemporarynomad.com

You’ve likely heard by now about the worldwide epidemic of these parasites in hotels, shops, theaters and other public spaces, and if you plan to travel any further than your front door you really should be thinking about ways to protect your home and your family. And while we haven’t yet heard of any Caribbean outbreaks (knock on wood), it’s only smart to be prepared, so here are our top three prevention tips:

1. Whether you’re staying at a humble b-and-b or a five-star resort, before you even unpack check your hotel bed and sofa for bugs or their excrement. Remove the sofa cushions and pull back the sheets and examine the edges of the mattress; bedbugs are large enough to see with the naked eye (as is their poo and the trails of human blood they leave behind – yuck!). And if you see something suspicious, request another room immediately.

2. Never put your suitcase on the bed or on the floor. Bedbugs can quickly migrate from those soft surfaces into your bags and home with you, so use always use a luggage rack.

3. When packing, store dirty clothes separately in sealed plastic bags. Then when you get home, avoid taking your suitcase inside the house. If possible, unpack in the garage and put your dirty clothes straight into the washing machine set to the hottest cycle. As an added precaution experts also recommend drying your travel clothing at the highest temperature possible. Your togs may emerge a little worse for wear, but at least they’ll be bedbug-free.

Are you taking any anti-bedbug precautions when you travel? Any more prevention tips? Share them with us in the comments.