Bed bugs and honeymoons dont' mix

It seems that the outbreak of bedbugs is so intense that you can’t even go to the movie theater without the possibility of being attached by them.

When you’re traveling there are a few things you can do to try to protect yourself.

• Call your intended hotel and ask if they use bed bug proof bedding encasements. (Preferably made of comfortable 100% micro-polyether and not noisy vinyl material!). They may or may not tell you the truth, but I think that more and more are investing in preventative measures. Spending a few pennies now vs. paying with consumer complaints later.
• Just because it’s a 5-star hotel, don’t think it couldn’t happen there. It has. Look up your hotel’s history of reported bed bug cases. This can be found online at sites such as bedbugregistry.com
• It seems that bedbugs thrive in tropical, humid climates. That could be why NYC has seen the rise in them this summer. Take special care if you are traveling to a tropic island.
• Pack your cloths in giant Ziploc bags. At the very least, invest in luggage liners. They act as insulation protection and pay prevent them from coming into your luggage.
• Bring along a small flashlight. Why, this way you can inspect the bed board, mattress edges, chairs, drawers…just give the entire room a once-over. Better you spot them early, change rooms than wake up with bites all over your body. While bedbugs don’t carry disease, they are pretty uncomfortable. Indications of bed bug infestations include dark fecal spots, dried blood spots, eggs, and of course bed bugs – dead or alive.
• Don’t put your luggage on the bed, chair or any furniture made of cloth. Instead, use the luggage rack that should be provided in your hotel room. Ask for two if you have to.
• When you are packing to come home, put all your dirty clothes in a laundry bag (see that giant zip lock will come in handy), especially your intimates. Shake out your clothes and shoes before you pack them.
• While this is an uncomfortable subject, better a little discomfort now and a happy honeymoon than bed-bug-blotched pictures.

For more information check out bedbugregistry.com for domestic hotel reports and trip advisor for both domestic and international reports.