Inspect the bedding. Pull the blankets and sheets back one at a time, and look for visible signs of infestation. In the absence of the bugs themselves, you may still see spots of dried blood, bug feces or semitransparent bug skins that have been recently shed. Be sure to check along the seams of the mattress and box spring. If you find any evidence of bed bugs, notify the front desk, and ask to be moved into another room.
Replace your soft luggage. Bed bugs are partial to fabric. And they are small enough to slide right through the teeth of a standard zipper. A hard suitcase that snaps shut forms an impenetrable barrier against the little bugs. Also, all clothing should be stored inside plastic zipper bags.
Set your suitcase on the luggage rack, not the bed. An open bag full of clothing is nothing more than one big, cushy invitation home to a bed bug.
Leave your clothing in your suitcase, and leave your suitcase closed, or hang your clothes up. Do not put clothing in the hotel dresser. If you choose to hang your garments, try to keep them in a garment bag, and be sure to visually inspect everything before packing it away again.
Get up early. Bed bugs seem to enjoy an early-morning snack and are most active approximately 1 hour before sunrise. Early risers tend to be bitten a lot less than their later-sleeping travel companions.
