Some interesting tips from the folks at Catseye (leave your luggage in the tub, eh?), but.....they are the experts:

 

According to Luis Pabon at Catseye Pest Control, the number of bed bug cases are on the rise as a result of travel and staying in hotels. Unbeknownst to most travelers, bed bugs like to lurk in cracks and crevices where guests spend the most time. In a hotel room, this will be on and around the bed, like the headboard, the bed itself and night stands. If not treated properly and professionally, 2 bed bugs can multiply to 2000 in just 45 days if given the right temperature and regular feedings.

 

Luis is an expert on bed bugs and has seen his fair share of cases. He offers some expert advice on what to look for and provides some helpful tips to travelers.

1. Check the hotel before deciding to stay - Bed bugs might be small, but they are visible to the human eye. Be sure to inspect around the bed (behind the headboard, sheets, nightstands) for bugs and the little black markings they leave behind, which look like specks of pepper or spots of blood.
2. Leave luggage in the tub - Bed bugs are crawlers and unable to climb into the tub. This will protect your luggage and prevent you from taking home any unwanted critters.
3. When you get home from your trip - Be careful not to bring the bed bugs into your house. Take clothes out of your suitcase immediately and put them in the dryer - a temperature of 140 degrees will kill them. If you have garments that can't be dried, put them in the washing machine and run a cycle. If you arrive home too late to follow these steps, leave your suitcase and its contents outside or wrap tight in a garbage bag until the next morning.
4. Take a hair dryer to your suitcase - If you are unable to put your luggage in the dryer, take a hair dryer at its highest temperature setting and run it over the entire suitcase. The heat will get rid of any bed bugs that are lurking.
5. Call in the experts - If you have bed bugs in your home or business, call in the experts to take care of the issue. Otherwise, it will only get worse. Catseye uses a variety of safe techniques, like cryonite, to help get rid of any infestation.