How to check for bedbugs in your hotel room – and what to do if you spot one

As the threat of a serious bedbug invasion takes hold of Paris, footage of the infested Parisian metro and infested Airbnb properties is more than enough to make skin crawl.

For those fleeing fashion week, there’s a chance hitchhiking bedbugs may have already made themselves at home on clothing and luggage ready for a rent-free life in mattresses and skirting boards.

Here’s how to check if you’re rooming with an uninvited plus one to avoid unpleasant bites and costly treatments and what to do if you spot the bloodsucking bugs in your hotel room.

What are bedbugs and what do they look like?

Bedbugs are wingless small dark yellow, red or brown insects with oval flat bodies that feed on animal and human blood. The y typically bite the head, arms and legs – areas on show while you are sleeping – in a zig-zag pattern of raised red bites that are known to be itchy but are unlikely to cause other health problems.

Are bedbugs common?

Yes. In August this year, it was reported that a bedbug epidemic was “sweeping the UK” after pest control company Rentokil highlighted a 65 per cent increase year-on-year in infestations across the country. While there has been a huge rise in global bedbug numbers in the last decade, frequent travel increasing to pre-pandemic levels is predicted to be escalating the problem now.

The head of science and innovation for North America at Rentokil pest control, Cassie Krejci, said: “Bedbugs are a problem for all travellers, regardless of destination. They are not a symptom of uncleanliness or bad habits otherwise, but rather the consequence of an insect’s success.”

“Visitors should worry about bringing bed bugs home from any trip, particularly those in cities where we are seeing a notable increase in the number of infestations reported.”

How can I check for bedbugs in my hotel room?

As the presence of bedbugs isn’t determined by cleanliness, even five-star suites put you at risk of taking home the unwelcome house guests.

“My biggest tip is to always roll your suitcase into the bathroom or another tiled area prior to starting an inspection of your hotel room”, Krejci recommends.

“Placing your suitcase on the bed or luggage rack can make your belongings vulnerable to bedbugs before you discover them.”