Inspect your hotel room when you first enter for signs of bed bugs. Check the folds of drapes and the mattress and look for cracks in the headboard and walls. If you find blood spots or other evidence of live insects such as shells, ask to change to a different room or switch hotels.
Store your suitcase off the floor. Many hotels offer a folding shelf for your luggage to keep it off the floor. Do not unpack any of your clothes or put them in drawers in the hotel room.
Zip up your suitcase whenever you are not using it. Wrap your suitcase in a large garbage bag to prevent bugs from entering your suitcase. You can also put your clothing in plastic bags inside your suitcase as an extra precaution.
Store your suitcase in your garage when you get home from traveling if you suspect bed bugs may have been in your suitcase. Even if you do not actually see them, they still may have laid eggs, which could hatch within ten days. Wash your clothes in hot water and dry them in a hot dryer to clean your clothing of any possible bugs and eggs.
