How To Avoid Bed Bugs This Summer Vacation

If you’re worried about picking up bed bugs on your summer travels, you’re not alone.  Nearly 80 percent of Americans are more concerned about encountering bed bugs at hotels than anywhere else, according to a survey by the National Pest Management Association.

And there is good reason for the fear. Getting rid of bed bugs is expensive, time-consuming and extraordinarily difficult. And there is no question there is a bed bug epidemic. Pest management businesses have seen a 71 percent increase in bed bug infestations in the U.S. since 2001.

A couple safety precautions, however, can help:

1. Think rural.

It doesn’t matter whether you say in an upscale resort or a hostel–you’re at equal risk. But bed bugs are more prevalent in urban and suburban areas. Your risk is far less in less populated areas.

2. Pack carefully. Consider Frommer’s packing advice: