- Case in the bathroom first, then on the luggage rack, zipped.
- Torch the mattress seams and headboard at the pillow end.
- At home: hot wash or hot tumble dry everything, vacuum the case, store it away from the bedroom.
Bed bugs have nothing to do with how clean a hotel is. They hitchhike in luggage between guests, so a five star hotel can have them as easily as a hostel. The good news is that five minutes on arrival and a sensible unpacking routine at home stop almost every travel infestation before it starts.
The 5 minute hotel check
- Bathroom first. Put your case in the bath or on a hard floor away from the bed while you check.
- Pillow end of the bed. Pull back the sheets and torch the mattress seams, piping and corners, where bugs gather nearest to sleepers.
- Headboard and bedside table. Look for dark dots, shed skins and live bugs in joints and drawers.
- Luggage rack. Check it, then keep your case on it, zipped, for the whole stay. Never on the bed or the carpet beside it.
- Found signs? Photograph them, tell reception and ask for a room that is not next to, above or below it.
Interactive travel checklist
Tick as you go. It is saved on this device only.
Before you go
When you arrive
When you get home
When you get home
This is where most people slip up: the case goes straight onto the bed to unpack. Instead:
- Unpack in the kitchen, bathroom or hallway on a hard floor.
- Everything washable goes straight in at 60°C, or into a hot tumble dryer for 30 minutes, even clean clothes.
- Dry-clean-only items: hot tumble dry on low for 30 minutes if the label allows, or seal in a bag.
- Vacuum the case inside and out, paying attention to seams and pockets, and empty the vacuum outside.
- Store the case in a garage, loft or cupboard away from bedrooms.
Frequent travellers: protect your own bed
If you travel a lot for work, or have students coming home from halls, a full-zip mattress encasement is cheap insurance. If a bug does make it home, it cannot settle into the mattress seams, and it is easy to spot on the smooth surface before it becomes an infestation. See our guide to bed bug encasements.
Frequently asked questions
Can bed bugs travel on clothes you are wearing?
It is possible but uncommon. They prefer to hide in luggage, bags and folded clothes rather than on a moving person.
Should I leave a hotel with bed bugs?
Ask to move to a room well away from the affected one. Keep your luggage zipped, and treat everything as possibly exposed when you get home.
I got bitten on holiday. Will I bring them home?
Not necessarily, but follow the home unpacking steps above, check your mattress seams weekly for 8 weeks, and consider an encasement. Our signs of bed bugs guide shows what to look for.
Back with bites? Seal the mattress tonight
So any hitchhikers cannot set up home in your bed. Free next-day UK delivery on orders over £149.
Shop the bed bug encasement See the full planWritten by Richard Williams, founder of iDustMite, former NHS worker, guest speaker at the Allergy UK Show in 2025 and 2026, and adviser on over 1,000 one-to-one bedroom consultations. Reviewed October 2026.
