Here’s how to dodge the little biters
They’re as big as an apple seed, venture out at night and drink your blood. Found in hotel rooms and holiday apartments, some travellers have been bitten on cruise ships and on long-haul flights too. Why are they back after decades of retreat? Some experts think it’s due to the fact that we’re travelling more, temperatures, in general, are warmer and the chemicals that kept them at bay have now been banned. Follow Cheapflights’ advice to avoiding the bed bug.
Before you travel, read about your accommodation on hotel ratings websites. It’s undeniable that budget hotels are more likely to harbour bedbugs, but guests at four and five-star establishments have woken up with itchy, red bumps too.
Get the right type of luggage. Bed bugs love creases and crevices. They nestle in and wait for nightfall. Purchase a hard-sided suitcase. The smooth surfaces will mean fewer opportunities for bed bugs to settle down.
When you arrive at your accommodation, leave your luggage in the bath or on the baggage cart, and have a good look around your room. Pay closest attention to the bed’s mattress and headboard. If there’s a sofa in your room, check that too. You’re looking for small black dots (bed bug faeces) and tiny cast-off skins. You might also catch a whiff of a hard-to-define smell, some describe it as sickly-sweet. If you find evidence of bed bugs, tell the concierge immediately, find an alternative hotel and ensure you get all the details (including pictures if possible) so you can get a refund on your room.
For your flight, you could buy your own seat covers – or use a travel sheet – and have your luggage wrapped in plastic (lots of airports provide this service). You could also travel with your own pillow and blanket. Lay them out on the seat and make sure you have a sealable bag to put them in when you touch down. They’re just a couple of the items you will be loading straight into your washing machine when you return home. Try not to put your clothes in the overhead bin as they will be close to fellow passengers’ coats and jackets. Instead, stuff them into your hard-sided piece of carry-on luggage.
If you have come into contact with bedbugs on your stay, or think you have, don’t bring your suitcase into your house. Store it in a large bin liner until you can get it – and its contents – washed and dried in very hot water or dry cleaned.
If you haven’t – or think you haven’t – unpack straight into a washing machine. And run a very hot wash. It’s always a good idea to place your dirty laundry in a sealed plastic bag so that anything that may be on the clothes, stays on the clothes.
Featured image by Jason Eppink
