Can You Get Bed Bugs From Hotels?
If you’ve ever stayed in a hotel and woken up with mysterious bites, you’re not alone — and you’re not crazy. The short answer is yes, you absolutely can get bed bugs from hotels. In fact, hotels are one of the most common places people encounter these persistent pests, regardless of how many stars are on the sign out front.
But before you cancel your next vacation, let’s talk about what you need to know to protect yourself, your belongings, and most importantly, your home.
Why Hotels Are Hotspots for Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are hitchhikers. They don’t care if you’re staying at a budget motel or a luxury resort — they’re equal opportunity pests. Hotels see a constant rotation of guests from all over the world, and each new visitor is a potential carrier. All it takes is one infested suitcase to introduce bed bugs into a room, and once they’re there, they can spread quickly.
These tiny insects hide in mattress seams, box springs, headboards, nightstands, and even behind electrical outlets. They come out at night to feed on sleeping guests, then retreat back into their hiding spots during the day. That’s why you might not even realize you’ve encountered them until you’re back home.
How to Check Your Hotel Room for Bed Bugs
The good news? A little vigilance goes a long way. Before you unpack or settle in, take five minutes to inspect your room. Here’s what to do:
Start with the bed. Pull back the sheets and check the mattress seams, especially near the corners and along the edges. Look for small rust-colored stains (bed bug excrement), tiny white eggs, or the bugs themselves, which are about the size of an apple seed.
Check the headboard. If possible, pull it away from the wall and inspect the back. Bed bugs love dark, undisturbed spaces.
Inspect nearby furniture. Nightstands, upholstered chairs, and couches can all harbor bed bugs. Pay attention to seams, crevices, and joints.
Look for the telltale signs. Even if you don’t see live bugs, you might spot shed skins, black dots (fecal matter), or tiny blood spots on the linens.
If you find anything suspicious, don’t stay in that room. Request a different room in a different part of the hotel — not just next door — or consider switching hotels entirely.
Protecting Your Belongings While Traveling
Even in a clean room, it’s smart to take precautions. Keep your suitcase off the floor and away from the bed. Use a luggage rack if one is provided, or place your bag in the bathroom on a hard surface. Bed bugs don’t typically hang out in bathrooms because there’s nowhere to hide and no sleeping host nearby.
Consider packing your clothes in sealed plastic bags inside your suitcase. This adds an extra layer of protection and makes it harder for bed bugs to hitch a ride home with you.
When you return from your trip, inspect your luggage before bringing it inside. Unpack directly into the washing machine if possible, and wash everything in hot water. Vacuum out your suitcase and store it away from your bedroom.
What to Do If You Bring Bed Bugs Home
Despite your best efforts, sometimes bed bugs still make it past your defenses. If you start noticing bites, spotting bugs, or finding signs of an infestation at home after a trip, don’t panic — but do act quickly.
Bed bugs reproduce fast, and a small problem can become a big one in just a few weeks. While DIY treatments might seem tempting, they’re rarely effective against a full infestation. Bed bugs are experts at hiding, and over-the-counter sprays often just scatter them to new locations in your home.
That’s where professional help makes all the difference. At Specter Pest Control, we use proven, modern treatment methods that target bed bugs at every stage of their life cycle. Our trained technicians know where to look, how to treat, and how to confirm that your home is bed bug-free. We work with homeowners throughout the process to ensure treatments are safe, effective, and minimally disruptive to your daily life.
Prevention Is Your Best Defense
The reality is that bed bugs can happen to anyone. They’re not a sign of poor hygiene or a dirty home — they’re simply a fact of modern travel. But with a little awareness and the right precautions, you can significantly reduce your risk of bringing them home.
Stay alert when you travel. Inspect your accommodations. Protect your belongings. And if you do end up with an unwelcome souvenir, know that it’s a solvable problem.
Get Expert Help When You Need It
Bed bugs are stressful, but you don’t have to deal with them alone. If you suspect you’ve brought bed bugs home from a hotel — or anywhere else — Specter Pest Control is here to help. Our family-owned team treats every home like it’s our own, and we’re committed to giving you back your peace of mind with safe, effective, and reliable pest control solutions.
Don’t wait for the problem to get worse. Schedule your bed bug inspection with Specter Pest Control today and let our trusted local pros take care of the rest.
