The World’s Best Hitchhikers: Bed Bugs

It happened. The very reason I check everywhere we stay. If anyone would understand, it’s the owner of a pest control company.

My family and I decided to go out of town for a week, as most families do once in a while. I’m not too fond of traveling, which has made me into a pretty picky traveler, and we had a large group coming with us, so we ended up booking a 5 bedroom condo in a gated community. The amenities and the property even made me excited. My wife, my son, and I decided we wanted to go down a day early to get everything set up and relax. So we arrive that evening to our rental after a day of activities, grocery shopping for the week, getting dinner, and now we are ready to put our heads down, however one thing comes first. Me being in the pest control industry means that I want to check the place out for bugs, specifically, bed bugs. I saw a couple issues during my inspection, but nothing I couldn’t look past, until I got to the last bedroom. Most of the rooms had mattress encasements, which-hey I get it-better to be proactive. However, the fifth bedroom’s bed did not… that was a little weird. I check out the mattress, all looks fine, no issues. Getting ready to call it a day I decided to check out the cloth headboard. I pull back one of the creases and sure enough, bedbugs.

I took photos of the exuviae, the shed skins left behind from molting, and we left the property to figure out our next steps. This was around 8:30 p.m., not exactly how you want to start a vacation. After a to of messages and calls, the property management company asked us to go back and take more pictures. That wasn’t happening. Then the rental platform requested proof of bites or a doctor’s note—essentially asking us to stay, get bitten, and risk bringing bed bugs with us just to meet their requirements. Absolutely not.

The World’s Best Hitchhikers

Years ago, pesticides like DDT were widely sprayed to control insects. While effective, we eventually learned these chemicals had serious negative effects on human health and the environment. Once those practices stopped, many pests made a comeback—including bed bugs.

Bed bugs have been documented throughout history, even referenced in old literature. In the late 1990s, they surged globally. At the time, there were no EPA-registered products for controlling them because they were thought to be nearly nonexistent. Increased travel and the exchange of secondhand furniture helped them spread rapidly.

By the time effective treatments became available, bed bugs were already widespread. Even as recently as 2023, Paris experienced a major outbreak ahead of the Olympics. These infestations don’t discriminate by location or income.

You can pick up bed bugs anywhere someone else has been: movie theaters, public transit, hotels, vacation rentals, restaurants, even a bench at a museum. If you encounter them, acting quickly is critical.

A single mature female can lay 3–5 eggs per day. Those eggs hatch within 6–10 days, and under the right conditions, bed bugs can reach adulthood in as little as 21 days. Over a lifetime, one female can lay 200–500 eggs.

Misconceptions

The reaction to the bites we often see on people are allergic reactions: swelling, and intense itching. In severe cases, reactions can include anaphylaxis. Scratching can also lead to skin infections. Mental health impacts are just as significant. Anxiety, insomnia, and stress are extremely common with bed bug infestations.

Many people feel embarrassed and try to hide the problem, which only allows it to spread further. If anyone understands that bed bugs can happen to anyone, it’s a pest control professional. They aren’t just in dirty places or with low income houses, they can get in to anywhere and come from so many places.

A common misconception is that bed bugs aren’t visible– Bed bug nymphs are small, about 1.5mm or the size of a poppy seed, but adults can be as large as a quarter inch, about the size of an apple seed, and I saw a big one on our vacation. A lot of people believe they are more likely to be around people who aren’t well off, I would argue that the opposite is more likely. The people who travel often or spend their time out and about have much higher odds of running into bed bugs. As I said earlier, you pick them up from somewhere.

What to Do If You Find Bed Bugs in Your Rented Vacation Home

If you find bed bugs in a vacation rental, act immediately, but carefully. Don’t panic. Your first instinct may be to leave right away, and while that’s often the right choice, documentation is ESSENTIAL if you want the rental platform to take action. Our few photos and statements from a licensed, professional pest control company was not enough.

Our rental platform (the one with a nice red logo) messaged that they require at least two forms of documentation before they will take action against a host or listing. Acceptable documentation may include:

• Photos or videos of bugs or bug casings

• Photos or videos of blood stains on sheets or mattresses

• Photos or videos of bites

• Medical documentation confirming bites

This puts guests in a difficult position. In many cases, platforms will request proof of bites in addition to physical evidence of the bugs themselves. This can pressure guests to remain in the property long enough to be bitten, increasing the risk of spreading bed bugs to luggage, vehicles, or even back to their own homes. We felt the pressure.

If you do find bed bugs:

1. Document everything immediately. Take clear photos and videos of bugs, shed skins (exuviae), mattress seams, headboards, and bedding. Videos are good too, honestly, take a minimum of 10-15.

2. Limit exposure. Avoid sitting or placing belongings on beds or upholstered furniture.

3. Notify the host and platform right away through the app or booking system so there is a written record. Get everything in writing, ask for transcripts of phone calls to be sent to you if possible.

4. Protect your belongings. Keep luggage sealed, and once home, wash and dry all clothing.

5. Do not ignore the issue. Even a small number of bed bugs can turn into a full infestation quickly.

While platforms may state that documentation is “under investigation” to ensure a fair resolution for all parties involved, guests should always prioritize their health and the prevention of spread over meeting documentation requirements. From a pest control professional’s perspective, no vacation is worth the risk of bringing bed bugs home.

Fortunately, there are effective, professional-grade treatments available today. Whether an infestation is just beginning or well established, help is available. Don’t be embarrassed. Don’t try to handle it with over-the-counter products–misused pesticides can be harmful to your health. For your safety and peace of mind, trust professionals to handle bed bugs properly.