How do I check a cabin rental, hotel or Airbnb for bed bugs?
Written by the Hydra Pest Control team, Arizona-licensed (license #9790)
Last reviewed:
Short answer
Check the bed before you unpack. University of California IPM says 85% of bed bugs are found in or near the bed, so pull back the sheets and check the mattress seams and tags, box spring, bed frame and headboard. Look for live bugs, rusty or reddish stains, dark spots and pale shed skins. The CDC says that if you see bed bugs or signs of them, such as blood spots on the linens, you should find other lodging.
Arizona context
The check is the same whether you're renting a cabin in the White Mountains, booking a hotel in Sierra Vista or staying in a vacation rental near Safford. The CDC says bed bugs are found even in five-star hotels and resorts, and that how clean a place is does not determine whether bed bugs are present. It also says you are at higher risk if you travel often and share sleeping spaces where other people have slept.
Your bed bug check when you arrive
- Keep your suitcase closed and off the floor and the bed until you've checked the room, and inspect the luggage rack first
- Pull back the sheets and use a flashlight on the mattress seams, tags and corners and on the box spring
- Look behind the headboard and along the cracks of the bed frame
- Check nightstands, chair and couch seams, cushions and curtain folds near the bed
- If you see bugs, rusty stains, dark spots or shed skins, ask for another room or find other lodging
Where to look, step by step
Start with the bed. University of California IPM says inspections should focus first on the mattress, box spring, bed frame and headboard, and suggests checking behind headboards and under sheets and inspecting mattress seams and tufts. The EPA says bed bugs hide near the piping, seams and tags of the mattress and box spring and in cracks in the bed frame and headboard.
Then check what's near the bed. The CDC says bed bugs tend to live within 8 feet of where people sleep and can hide in dressers, cracks and crevices and behind wallpaper. In a more heavily infested room, the EPA says they can also be in the seams of chairs and couches, between cushions, in curtain folds and in drawer joints. The EPA also suggests inspecting the luggage rack.
Bring a flashlight. University of California IPM suggests a flashlight and a magnifying glass for spotting bed bugs, their dark fecal spots and light brown shed skins. The EPA says that if a crack will hold a credit card, it could hide a bed bug.
What the signs look like
The EPA lists rusty or reddish stains on sheets or mattresses from crushed bed bugs, dark spots of bed bug droppings that can bleed into fabric like a marker, tiny eggs and eggshells, pale yellow skins that young bed bugs shed and live bugs. The CDC adds a sweet, musty odor. It describes adults as reddish brown and wingless, 1 to 7 millimeters long, roughly the size of Lincoln's head on a penny.
Bites aren't a reliable sign. The EPA says bed bug bites can look like other insect bites, rashes or even hives, and some people don't react at all. The CDC says bite marks can take as long as 14 days to show up in some people.
If you find signs
Don't settle in. The CDC says travelers who see bed bugs or signs of them should seek other lodging, and University of California IPM says to change rooms or hotels if you suspect bed bugs. Tell the front desk, host or owner what you found.
Protect your luggage. The CDC recommends keeping suitcases closed and off the floor, taking items out only as needed and inspecting clothing and other items before you put them back. When you get home, University of California IPM says to inspect your luggage and wash and dry all your clothes at the hottest settings the fabric allows.
A note on Arizona law: the state's bed bug rule for rentals, A.R.S. 33-1319, is part of the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, and A.R.S. 33-1308 says that Act does not cover transient occupancy in a hotel, motel or recreational lodging. For a short stay, report what you found to the hotel, host or booking company. This is general information, not legal advice.
When professional service is warranted
If you think you brought bed bugs home, act early. The EPA says treating a minor infestation is far less costly and easier than treating one that has spread, and University of California IPM says confirmed infestations should be managed by trained professionals. If you rent out a cabin or run a lodging business, UC IPM says managers of hotels, furnished apartments and other places that house travelers need to train staff to recognize signs of bed bugs and act as soon as they find an infestation. If bites itch badly or you think you're having an allergic reaction, the CDC says to speak with your healthcare provider. You can also call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 with questions. This is general information, not medical advice.
How Hydra handles it
Our Service Pros treat bed bugs in homes, cabins, vacation rentals and hotels in the Gila Valley, Sierra Vista and the White Mountains. Our bed bug service is a non-invasive residual treatment, usually two visits about 30 days apart, and it's warranted, with re-services and follow-ups included. Call or text your local office to reach an Office Pro, or ask for a free custom quote.
Frequently asked
Can a clean hotel or cabin still have bed bugs?
Yes. The CDC says bed bugs are found in five-star hotels and resorts and that how clean a place is does not determine whether bed bugs are present. University of California IPM says hotels, furnished apartments and dormitories are among the places most at risk of becoming infested, and that people can carry bed bugs on luggage, clothes, bedding and furniture. So check every room, even a nice one.
Should I put my suitcase on the bed or the floor?
Keep it off both until you've checked the room. University of California IPM says 85% of bed bugs are found in or near the bed, and the CDC recommends keeping suitcases off the floor and closed when you aren't using them, and taking out clothes and other items only as needed. The EPA suggests inspecting the luggage rack for bed bugs before you use it. Inspect your clothes before you repack them.
What should I do if I find bed bugs after I check in?
Keep your luggage closed and away from the bed, tell the front desk, host or owner, and move. The CDC says travelers who see bed bugs or signs such as blood spots on the linens should seek other lodging, and University of California IPM says to change rooms or hotels. Inspect clothing and other items before you repack. At home, UC IPM says to inspect your luggage, wash and dry your clothes at the hottest settings the fabric allows, and consider storing luggage away from the bedroom, such as in the garage. Then watch for signs, since the CDC says bite marks can take up to 14 days to appear.
Does Arizona's rental bed bug law cover a hotel or vacation rental stay?
Generally not for a hotel or motel. A.R.S. 33-1319, Arizona's bed bug rule for rentals, is part of the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, and A.R.S. 33-1308 says the Act does not cover transient occupancy in a hotel, motel or recreational lodging. Whether it applies to a particular vacation rental depends on the arrangement, so ask an Arizona attorney about your situation. For a short stay, report what you found to the hotel, host or booking company right away. This is general information, not legal advice.
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Related questions
References
- CDC: About Bed Bugs
- CDC Yellow Book: Mosquitoes, Ticks and Other Arthropods (bed bugs and travelers)
- U.S. EPA: How to Find Bed Bugs
- U.S. EPA: Protecting Your Home from Bed Bugs
- University of California IPM: Bed Bugs Pest Note
- A.R.S. 33-1308: Exclusions from application of chapter
- A.R.S. 33-1319: Bedbug control; landlord and tenant obligations
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