Few things ruin a family trip faster than waking up to find something crawling in the bed. For one mom traveling with four kids, that is exactly how her morning at a Michigan Holiday Inn Express began, and she has a blunt message for anyone thinking of staying there.
@_itsjustmariah says the family had just gotten out of bed when she found a bed bug in the covers. Then, she says, they spotted another one crawling across the floor. Her advice, delivered from the room itself: do not book this hotel.
She says the staff did not take it well when she brought it up.
@_itsjustmariah
Denial at the Front Desk
According to @_itsjustmariah, the hotel will not admit there is a problem. She says staff swear up and down that they have never even had a complaint, and that they went so far as to suggest the family brought the bugs in with them.
That accusation clearly stung. She says she can promise that she has never seen a bed bug in her own household, ever. In her words, her home does not have bugs.
The family packed up and left, and she says she had to wake her kids to get them out of the room. They had nowhere else lined up to go. And, she says, the hotel does not give refunds for problems like this.
It is important to note that this is one traveler’s account, and the hotel has, by her telling, denied it. But her story captures a situation that many families dread, and it raises a good question: what do you do if you find bed bugs in a hotel room?
Signs of Bed Bugs to Look For
Bed bugs are small, reddish-brown insects, about the size of an apple seed, and they are known for hiding in the seams of mattresses, behind headboards, and in cracks near the bed. They are not a sign of a dirty room, and even the finest hotels can have them, because the bugs hitchhike on luggage and clothing. Still, there are some warning signs worth knowing.
- Tiny dark spots on sheets or mattress seams. These can be droppings.
- Small rusty or reddish stains on bedding. These can come from crushed bugs.
- Live bugs or shed skins near the mattress piping, headboard, or baseboards.
- A musty odor in a heavily infested room.
- Itchy welts in a line or cluster after a night’s sleep. These are not proof, since bites can look like many things, but they are worth noting.
Check Before You Unpack
A two-minute inspection when you arrive can save you a lot of trouble.
- Keep your bags on the luggage rack or in the bathroom, away from the bed and upholstered furniture, until you have looked around.
- Pull back the sheets at the corners of the mattress and check the seams with a flashlight, such as the one on your phone.
- Look behind the headboard and along the baseboards near the bed.
- If you find anything suspicious, do not unpack. Ask for a different room, preferably not one right next to or directly above or below the first.
What to Do If You Find Bugs
If you see evidence in the middle of your stay, or like this mom, the next morning, here is a calm plan.
- Take clear photos and short video right away. Capture the bug, the bedding, and the room number. Save everything with a date and time.
- Report it to the front desk and ask for a manager. Be polite and specific. Ask what the hotel will do, and whether they will move you or refund the stay.
- Do not bring luggage near your bed or home. If you must leave, pack carefully and keep bags sealed in plastic if you can.
- Contact the hotel brand’s customer service. Large chains usually have a guest relations line or form, and independent owners often answer to a corporate office. Put your complaint in writing.
- Dispute the charge if needed. If the hotel refuses to help, you can ask your credit card company about disputing the charge. Your photos and records will matter.
- Leave an honest review. Stick to the facts you saw so other travelers know what to expect.
Protect Your Home When You Get Back
If you think you were exposed, the biggest worry is bringing the bugs home. Take these steps before you carry anything inside.
- Wash and dry your clothes on the highest heat setting the fabric can handle. Running clothes in a hot dryer for about 30 minutes is widely recommended to kill bed bugs and eggs.
- Vacuum your suitcase thoroughly, especially along seams and pockets, and empty the vacuum outside.
- Leave suitcases in a garage or a hard-floored area for a few days, rather than a bedroom, and check them before bringing them in.
If you do see signs of bed bugs at home, call a licensed pest control professional. Bed bugs are notoriously hard to get rid of with do-it-yourself fixes.
For @_itsjustmariah, the trip is over, and she wants others to know what happened to her. Whether you are traveling with four kids or on your own, the best defense is a quick inspection, good photos, and a calm, firm voice at the front desk.
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