When travelling all you can think about is switching off work and enjoying your time by relaxing.
However, holidaymakers have been warned to check for bed bugs as last summer saw a 23 percent increase in pest control callouts for bed bugs in the UK, and this year could be worse.
Thankfully experts have come to the rescue with what you need to know to ensure you don’t bring them home from your stay as well as how to spot them.
Online-Bedrooms.co.uk has encouraged travellers to check their accommodation rooms as soon as they enter.
Identifying the problem early will save holidaymakers the hassle and frustration of bringing bed bugs back home with them.
Those who do spot signs of bed bugs in their hotel room or apartment should immediately contact their host or the front desk, report the problem and request a new room.
Nic Shacklock, an expert at Online-Bedrooms, said: “Nothing ruins a trip like spotting bed bugs halfway through your stay.
“You would have already opened up your suitcase and settled into your trip, meaning the bugs will be more likely to come back home with you.
“Spotting them early will not only save you hassle when you get home but it will also allow you to still have an enjoyable trip. A good host or hotel will immediately move you if bed bugs are present.
“When you enter your hotel room pull back the bedsheets and inspect for tiny specks of blood.
“You’ll also want to check for dark spots on walls and white spots on furniture.”
How to check for bed bugs:
Blood
As soon as you enter your hotel room pull back the bed covers and search for any specks of blood.
Bed bugs tend to hide around the seams of mattresses so be sure to check there too. The blood may be red or it might have turned a rusty colour depending on how long it’s been there for.
Eggs
Bed bug eggs are around 1mm wide, the same size as the head of a pin. Unless you’re an expert you may struggle to see them. Use a flashlight and keep an eye out for anything that is small and has a pearly white colour to it.
Musty odour
If your hotel room has a musty scent to it then do a thorough search for bed bugs. When a musty smell is present it’s usually because there is a large infestation.
Although this is unlikely, it’s important to be aware of this tell-tale sign.
Dark spots on walls
Dark spots can appear on walls, carpets, headboards and other furniture as a result of bed bug droppings.
Shedded skin
Bed bugs shed their skin and it’s usually left near wherever they’re hiding. Molted skin will often look like the bed bug itself but slightly larger.