Essential Information About Bed Bugs—and Tips to Avoid Them When Traveling

Every few months, the most loathed travel companions—bed bugs—seem to surface somewhere in the world.

Recently, Paris became a prominent victim as reports of these bloodsucking pests on public transport triggered global headlines and anxiety just before the 2024 Summer Olympics. Yet, the City of Lights is far from the only place facing this issue: bed bugs can appear almost anywhere globally, and as a recent Reddit discussion revealed, they can even show up at 30,000 feet.

A Reddit user in First Class recently shared a photo of a bed bug on their napkin during an American Airlines flight. This sparked a flurry of conversations on travel forums, including mentions on Johnny Jet and View from the Wing, an aviation site that highlighted the aircraft remained in service. Meanwhile, The Jet Set, an aviation site operated by flight attendants, claims there is a rising trend of bed bug infestations on American's 777 and 787 planes.

Finding statistics on the prevalence of bugs onboard is nearly impossible, as airlines are reluctant to disclose such figures. However, travelers may find reassurance in knowing that most airlines have established cleaning protocols for aircraft seats, blankets, and restrooms. For those curious about which airline excels in cleanliness, check out the annual list of the World’s Cleanest Airlines published by airline industry consultancy Skytrax.

While the chances of encountering bed bugs during a flight are minimal, it's wise to know the steps to take just in case. Additionally, travelers should be informed about preventing bed bugs in hotel rooms or similar accommodations, with the reassuring fact that the preventive measures are largely the same for both scenarios. Here’s more information to help you stay safe and free from these pests.

What exactly are bed bugs?

Bed bugs are small, wingless parasitic insects that can be found in regions across the Americas, Africa, Europe, Asia, and Oceania.

According to the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, bed bugs are described as “blood-feeding parasites of humans, chickens, bats, and sometimes domestic animals,” and they are also known by names like chinches, red coats, or mahogany flats.

“Bed bugs have likely been linked to humans for over 100,000 years,” states Rob Anderson, an associate professor in the biology department at the University of Winnipeg in Manitoba, Canada, who teaches a course on blood-feeding pests, including bed bugs, mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, and other insects. “These pests are obligate blood feeders, meaning they require blood to survive and reproduce.”

Known as nest parasites—organisms that inhabit the areas where their animal hosts (including humans) spend the most time—bed bugs thrive on the blood or skin tissue of their hosts. “The name ‘bed bugs’ is quite fitting, as they prefer to linger in and around bedrooms where their human hosts frequently spend time and return reliably. They only emerge to feed on a host's blood before retreating to a nearby crevice or hiding spot to digest,” explains Anderson.

Adult bed bugs are flat and oval-shaped, measuring around 4 to 5 mm in length, and feature “piercing-sucking mouthparts, allowing them to bite and suck blood much like a mosquito,” according to the University of Florida.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), two bed bug species are “typically involved in human infestations”—Cimex lectularius and C. hemipterus. The former is considered cosmopolitan, meaning they are “found or present all over the world,” as noted by Anderson, while the latter is primarily found in tropical and subtropical regions.

Bed bugs usually feed on humans during the night while they sleep, targeting the exposed areas of the upper body. Although they are certainly a nuisance, bed bugs are not regarded as “effective vectors of disease,” as stated by the CDC, which indicates that the main health risk comes from inflammation caused by their bites.

Where can bed bugs typically be found?

Bed bugs are among the most widespread travelers in the world.

“They can be found in budget hostels, rural huts, and luxury hotels,” notes Anderson. “Many hotel chains routinely address these issues but rarely admit it, as it can be detrimental to their business,” he stated in an email to Dinogo, explaining that the presence of bed bugs in hotels is linked to “the nature of their transient, ever-changing clientele.”

As per the CDC’s website, bed bug infestations commonly occur near sleeping areas, which can include anything from hotels and cruise ships to buses and trains.

These pests typically feed at night and conceal themselves during the day in mattress seams, behind headboards, in room cracks and crevices, as well as in bed frames, furniture, and box springs, according to the CDC.

Once bed bugs infiltrate a home, says Anderson, their population can grow unnoticed for quite some time—especially if pets are present, as they may initially become the primary targets for the first few introduced bed bugs. This happens before enough bugs gather to draw human attention.

He notes, “They travel the globe daily with people, often hitching a ride in luggage, and sometimes find their way into homes where they can settle in.” For those who inadvertently bring bed bugs home after traveling, Anderson cautions that you may not realize you have a hidden guest until some time has passed after your return.

How can you tell if you have bed bugs?

The most prevalent indication of having bed bugs or having been in their presence is the appearance of bite marks on your upper body, particularly on the face, arms, neck, or hands. “Typically, these red spots appear in pairs or triplets because bed bugs tend to pierce the skin multiple times to reach blood vessels that can provide enough blood for feeding,” explains Anderson.

According to the CDC website, most individuals won’t feel the bite of a bed bug at the moment it occurs, as the insects inject an anesthetic and anticoagulant when they bite (how considerate of them).

“They usually feed at night when people are asleep to avoid detection, and they remain on human skin only long enough to consume blood,” states Anderson, adding, “once they finish, they quickly return to their nearest hiding spot, often a crevice.”

You can search for signs of bed bugs—both their physical presence in mattress crevices and sheet folds, as well as rust-colored blood spots on your mattress (which result from being crushed and their fecal matter, filled with blood, according to the CDC). “Adult bed bugs are quite visible,” says Anderson. “In significant infestations, they often leave a trail of blackish, foul-smelling feces wherever they hide when not feeding.” Check for a dark line where the mattress or box spring meets the wall as an indicator of bed bug presence.

What actions should you take if you find bed bugs?

If you experience bed bug bites, try to resist scratching, as doing so could lead to more issues by exposing your skin to secondary infections, warns Anderson.

Fortunately, “they aren’t carriers of concerning pathogens based on a wealth of evidence,” he explains. “However, their bites can be bothersome, particularly for those with allergic reactions to the saliva bed bugs release while feeding (a common trait among all blood-feeding pests).” To ease the itching, he recommends using topical antihistamines like Benadryl spray. (As with any medication, consult a doctor beforehand to ensure you’re not allergic or to discuss any other concerns.)

If you suspect a bed bug problem in your residence, reach out to a reputable pest control company that specializes in bed bug treatments to ask about fumigation options and other effective methods for addressing the issue.

What are the most effective strategies to prevent bed bugs?

You could encounter bed bugs both at home and in nearly any location you visit. The CDC states that “individuals who travel frequently and share sleeping or living spaces with others who have previously stayed there face a greater risk of being bitten or spreading a bed bug infestation.”

Lyndsey Matthews, senior commerce editor at Dinogo and a staunch advocate of never placing your suitcase on the bed (partly to help mitigate the spread of bed bugs), has encountered bed bugs three times and offers some useful tips.

“They’re larger than you might expect—an adult is roughly the size of an apple seed,” she notes, so be sure to check the seams of your headboard and mattress, as well as under your sheets, where you might find their eggs, droppings, or the bugs themselves.

Upon returning home from a trip, she recommends washing and drying all items on high heat. If your suitcase isn't machine washable, she advises steam cleaning it at a high temperature instead.

You can take precautions to avoid bringing bed bugs back with you from the start. Anderson suggests minimizing the chance of bed bugs getting into your luggage by storing bags inside well-sealed large garbage bags while staying in temporary accommodations, like hotels. He also inspects any hotel room or rental apartment for clear signs of bed bugs and examines his belongings before packing up to head home.

After 37 years of global travel and research on bed bugs, Anderson shares that he has encountered them and suffered numerous bites—but has successfully avoided bringing any of these pests home as souvenirs.

“Bed bugs have posed an occupational risk for me due to my travels to tropical regions and my stays in basic, often remote lodgings at field research sites where bed bugs thrive in large numbers,” he explains. “I’m very diligent about checking my luggage, spraying it, or sealing it in containers if I suspect the presence of bed bugs in my current accommodations.”

This article was first published online in 2023 and was most recently updated on October 9, 2024, to incorporate the latest information.