Inspecting for unwelcome visitors shouldn’t be something that you need to fret about whilst on holiday, but one hotel employee has cautioned that people must remain alert during their travels. The specialist advises that examining your hotel room for bed bugs ought to be a top priority upon first reaching your accommodation and that it’s simpler to accomplish this when the lights are switched off.
Whilst it’s not particularly pleasant to contemplate crawling insects in your hotel room, the truth is that they can emerge anywhere. Bed bug infestations saw a dramatic 35% jump between 2022 and 2024 following an increase in international travel. Effortlessly transported via luggage, bags, garments and even hotel housekeeping trolleys, nobody wishes to share quarters with these minuscule menaces. Halee, who operates under the TikTok username @haleewithaflair, revealed that there exists a straightforward method to detect them before settling into your room.
The hotel employee states that you must switch off the lights upon entering your accommodation. Although this might seem illogical, it’s actually simpler to identify bedbugs in a dimmer setting.
She explained, “This is how I check my room before I unpack and get settled into it. The first thing you’ll want to do is make sure your room is dark. Turn off the lights, close any shades, and use the flashlight on your phone.
She explains how holidaymakers should inspect the corners and creases of their hotel bed: “They usually like to hang out in the corners and the creases,” adding, “Even if you don’t see bugs, make sure you check for spots, like blood spots, because that’s not a good sign either.”
Halee advised tourists to look for bed bugs before unpacking, as these pests can sneak into luggage, and also to inspect curtains and upholstery.
For those unfortunate enough to discover signs of bed bugs in their hotel room, Haylee has a follow-up video offering advice on what steps to take next.
She instructs her followers to “take pictures and document everything. This includes making a note of the time that you checked in, room number everything”.
Halee then proposes two options for disgruntled hotel guests. She said: “If you first check in and check your room and you find a bedbug infestation, take pictures, make a note, and take it back down to the front desk.”
She adds that most hotels will be able to relocate guests to a new room and “will give you your money back, more than likely”.
Anyone unfortunate enough to experience bug bites should immediately gather all their belongings and seal them in plastic bags before returning to the front desk to request a room change.
She advises requesting a refund if it’s not promptly offered. If you decide to stay, request the hotel to launder your clothes in hot water for at least half an hour before they are returned to you.
Even the most spotless hotel room can harbour unseen germs. You can help curb their spread by keeping your luggage and bags off beds, sofas and chairs while unpacking.