How to Report Bed Bugs to Hotel Management & Other Authorities

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Plus, protect yourself and your luggage from bed bugs while traveling
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Finding bed bugs in a hotel room is unsettling, but it’s important to stay calm. Reporting a bed bug infestation can be as simple as notifying the front desk and hotel manager, though you may need to escalate the situation if you’re unsatisfied with their response. In this article, we’ll teach you everything you need to know about how to report a hotel with bed bugs, including notifying hotel management as well as outside authorities. Plus, learn what to do if you need to switch hotel rooms due to an infestation, how to prevent bed bug infestations, and answers to other common questions.

How do you report bed bugs in a hotel?

Immediately go to the front desk and notify the hotel manager. Explain why you suspect your room has a bed bug infestation and request a refund or other compensation. If you’re not satisfied with your care, file a complaint with corporate. Post a review on hotel registries so others hear about your experience.

Section 1 of 5:

Reporting Bed Bugs to Hotel Management

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  1. As soon as you spot a bed bug or notice you’ve been bitten, call or go to the front desk. Ask to speak to the manager and tell them you suspect your room has bed bugs. Explain what signs you saw and present photo or video evidence if you have it. [1]
    • Aside from seeing small red or brown bugs, you might wake up to find itchy red bumps or welts. Other signs of bed bugs include tiny red or brown stains on the sheets and shed exoskeletons, which look like translucent bug-shaped flakes.
  2. Even if you decide not to check out, the hotel will have you switch rooms. [2] Ask the manager to compensate you for the inconvenience. If they don’t offer a full refund, ask for a discount, a meal or room service on the house, or another perk.
    • If you decide to switch hotels, demand a full refund.
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  3. Once you’ve informed the hotel of the possible infestation, they should have the room professionally inspected by pest management. The manager should offer to share the results with you, but if they don’t, tell them you want a copy of the report. You’re entitled to know whether or not the pest professional found an infestation. [3]
    • If the hotel does not call a pest control professional or they don’t appear prepared to handle the situation, request a full refund and look for another hotel.
    • In many locations, hotels are legally required to have a pest professional inspect the room as soon as possible.
  4. Demand that someone from the hotel drafts an incident report or another official document on their letterhead. The report should include the date, time, and room number, as well as the names, addresses, and phone numbers of all witnesses who observed the infestation and the bites. It should also include a narrative of what happened, where and how many bugs were found in the official inspection, and a list of all injuries and property damage of the individuals involved. [4]
  5. If you stayed at a chain hotel, you might have better luck dealing with their corporate office. Look online to find their corporate customer service number. Tell them that you found bed bugs in your room and describe any issues you had with the staff’s response. [5]
    • Ask the corporate office for a refund if the manager didn’t give you one or if you’re not satisfied with the compensation they offered.
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Section 2 of 5:

Reporting Bed Bugs to Other Authorities

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  1. The right agency to call depends on your location. For instance, in New York City, contact the Department of Housing Preservation. In many states, call the local health department. In many locations in the United States, dialing 311 allows you to report bed bugs. [6]
  2. Give them the hotel’s name and location, your room number, and the date that you stayed. You’re not legally required to notify any agencies, but doing so is a good idea if you don’t think the hotel is taking the situation seriously. [7]
    • After reporting the hotel, an official will inspect the premises. If they find an infestation, the agency will make sure the hotel deals with it properly.
  3. It’s a good idea to let others know about your experience, especially if you’re unsatisfied with the hotel’s response. Post a review on Google, Facebook, or Yelp, or report the hotel to bed bug-related registries. [8]
  4. Consult an attorney if you don’t think the hotel took the proper steps to deal with the infestation. You might be able to file a lawsuit to seek compensation for any expenses you incurred. [9]
    • Expenses could include booking a room at a new hotel, medical bills if you had an adverse reaction to bites, property that was damaged or destroyed, or pest control costs if you had to treat an infestation at your home.
    • You’d need evidence of negligence, such as failure to have the room professionally inspected or treated. Laws vary by location but, as of 2018, 21 states impose regulations on hotels and landlords regarding bed bug infestations.
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Section 3 of 5:

Moving to a New Hotel Room

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  1. Use your cell phone’s flashlight feature or ask the hotel for a flashlight to check your luggage, shoes, purse, and other belongings. Look for bugs on your suitcase’s exterior and inspect the inside if you’ve opened it. If you’ve already unpacked, ask the hotel staff for plastic bags to store your clothing. [10]
    • If you’re comfortable, ask the hotel staff to vacuum your luggage and launder your clothes in hot water. You might not want them to touch your stuff if they act nonchalant about your complaint or don’t seem to have an action plan to deal with bed bugs. [11]
  2. After you inspect your belongings, gather them and prepare to change rooms. Ask the manager for a room on the other side of the hotel. Don’t accept a new room that’s next door, across the hall, above, or below the room you where spotted bed bugs. [12]
    • If the hotel is sold out and no other options are available, look for openings at another hotel. If there's one available, check out, ask for a refund, and switch hotels.
  3. When you get to the new room, check the luggage rack for bugs, place it in the bathroom, and set your suitcase on it. Look for evidence of bed bugs under the mattress, in the sheets, around the headboard, and under the bed. Check upholstered furniture, in and around the nightstand, and behind wall art. [13]
    • The bathroom is the least hospitable environment for bed bugs, so it’s a good place to set your stuff while you inspect the room.
    • If you do find bugs in the second room, get a refund and book a room at another hotel.
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Section 4 of 5:

Avoiding and Preventing Bed Bugs at Hotels

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  1. While all hotels have dealt with bed bugs at one point or another, it’s a good idea to check which hotels have had recent bed bug reports before booking your stay. Check reviews on travel sites as well as reports on bed bug registry sites, like BedbugReports . If the hotel has a lot of reports, it may be a good idea to consider staying somewhere else. [14]
  2. When preparing for your trip, pack your clothes and other belongings in plastic ziplock bags or bedbug-proof luggage liners. This way, if you do encounter bed bugs, it will be more difficult for them to hitchhike back to your house. [15]
    • If possible, travel with a hard-case suitcase, as it’s harder for bed bugs to attach themselves to hard or rigid materials.
  3. Before settling into your hotel room, look for any signs of bed bugs . This includes the bugs themselves, droppings, and bloodstains. Check your mattress, box spring, headboard, and any other furniture, and use a flashlight to examine any cracks and crevices in the room. [16]
  4. In addition to beds, bed bugs may be hiding in carpet or on couches or other furniture. [17] To protect your luggage, store it on a luggage rack or in the bathroom, away from walls and furniture. Bathtubs are a great place to store luggage, as bed bugs have difficulty climbing on the slippery surface.
  5. Check your belongings for bed bugs at the end of your stay so you don’t accidentally carry them home. Carefully examine your luggage, paying special attention to seams, crevices, pockets, and compartments, as it’s easy for bed bugs to hide in these areas. If you notice anything, report it to hotel management and ask to have your luggage cleaned before you leave. [18]
  6. Even if you didn’t see any signs of a bed bug infestation during your hotel stay, it’s a good idea to double-check when you get home. Reinspect your luggage and clothes for signs of bed bugs, then wash your clothes in hot water and dry them on high heat. Use a vacuum cleaner with a crevice tool to clean your luggage, paying special attention to seams, crevices, corners, and edges. [19]
    • If you suspect your luggage may have bed bugs, quarantine it in a garage or storage area until you can inspect and treat it.
    • Suitcases can also be hand-washed with hot, soapy water.
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Section 5 of 5:

Hotel Bed Bug FAQs

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  1. Unfortunately, nearly all hotels and motels have probably dealt with bed bugs at one point or another. This even includes 5-star luxury hotels. Bed bug infestations don’t mean the hotel is dirty; they occur because of high occupancy turnover, as guests often carry the bugs in unknowingly. Most hotels treat infested rooms as soon as possible to prevent the infestation from spreading. [20]
    • Unlike many other bugs, bed bugs are not attracted to dirt or decomposing materials. Instead, they’re attracted to warmth, blood, and carbon dioxide, which is why they often infest areas with high occupancy. [21]
  2. No, according to the Center for Disease Control, bed bugs are not known to spread disease. However, they can cause negative health effects such as allergic reactions and skin infections. If you’ve been in contact with or been bitten by bed bugs, see a medical professional for treatment . [22]
  3. Adult bed bugs are brown with a flattened, oval body. They’re approximately 1/4 to 3/8 in (5-9 mm) long and have a similar appearance to wood ticks. Bed bugs’ color can change to a purplish-red color after they’ve consumed blood, and they may become larger and more cigar-shaped. Young bed bugs look similar to adults, though they’re much smaller at 1/16 in (1.6 mm) long. [23]
  4. Yes, it is possible for a hotel to refuse to give you a refund. This may happen if management suggests moving you to another room or if they believe you brought the bed bugs in yourself. If you strongly feel you deserve a refund, escalate the issue to someone higher up at the hotel or within the hotel chain. [24]
  5. Settlement amounts vary greatly, but generally, insurance companies try to settle bed bug claims for “nuisance value” by offering anywhere between $200 and $800. However, some bed bug claims can be worth up to $15,000 depending on a number of factors, like medical bills from the incident, lost wages, and if the hotel has a history of bed bugs. If you want to pursue a bed bug claim, hire a personal injury lawyer with experience handling bed bug claims to get the most money possible. [25]
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      Tips

      • To prevent bringing bed bugs home with you, place your clothes in a sealed garbage bag and head straight to the washing machine. Wash and dry your clothes on the hottest settings, then toss the garbage bag into an outside trash bin. [26]
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      • Keep luggage, shoes, and other belongings outdoors until you can treat them. If it’s very hot or cold outside, place them in sealed plastic bags and leave them outside until their temperature reaches either above 120 °F (49 °C) or below freezing. [27]
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      • If temperatures are mild, bag your belongings and keep them in a chest freezer for 1 to 2 days. Be sure to remove food or other items from the freezer first. If these options aren’t available, consider having your belongings professionally fumigated. [28]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.bedbugs.org/how-to-get-rid-of-bed-bugs/
      2. ↑ https://www.nyc.gov/assets/doh/downloads/pdf/vector/bed-bug-hotel-eng.pdf
      3. ↑ https://www.michigan.gov/-/media/Project/Websites/emergingdiseases/Folder2/Bed_Bug_Manual_v1_full_reduce.pdf?rev=ed3b8436e8474e69a8815f2512b44d9b
      4. ↑ https://safetyculture.com/topics/incident-report/
      5. ↑ https://www.c-uphd.org/entomology-pest-management.html
      6. ↑ https://www.epa.gov/bedbugs/local-resources-bed-bug-assistance
      7. ↑ https://www.epa.gov/bedbugs/local-resources-bed-bug-assistance
      8. ↑ https://citybugs.tamu.edu/2011/04/12/bed-bugs-in-your-hotel/
      9. ↑ https://www.findlaw.com/legalblogs/personal-injury/how-to-sue-a-hotel-for-bed-bugs/
      1. ↑ https://citybugs.tamu.edu/2011/04/12/bed-bugs-in-your-hotel/
      2. ↑ https://www.bedbugs.org/how-to-get-rid-of-bed-bugs/
      3. ↑ https://www.bedbugs.org/how-to-get-rid-of-bed-bugs/
      4. ↑ https://www.bedbugs.umn.edu/travelers/inspecting-your-hotel-room-for-bed-bugs
      5. ↑ https://www.bedbugs.org/how-to-get-rid-of-bed-bugs/
      6. ↑ https://extension.umn.edu/biting-insects/bed-bugs#traveling-and-bed-bugs-48760
      7. ↑ https://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/pdf/bb-identify1.pdf
      8. ↑ https://www.nyc.gov/assets/doh/downloads/pdf/vector/bed-bug-hotel-eng.pdf
      9. ↑ https://extension.umn.edu/biting-insects/bed-bugs#traveling-and-bed-bugs-48760
      10. ↑ https://extension.umn.edu/biting-insects/bed-bugs#traveling-and-bed-bugs-48760
      11. ↑ https://www.nyc.gov/assets/doh/downloads/pdf/vector/bed-bug-hotel-eng.pdf
      12. ↑ https://www.epa.gov/bedbugs/bed-bug-myths
      13. ↑ https://www.epa.gov/bedbugs/bed-bugs-public-health-issue
      14. ↑ https://extension.umn.edu/biting-insects/bed-bugs
      15. ↑ https://www.usa.gov/travel-complaints#:~:text=Begin%20by%20sharing%20your%20complaint,is%20part%20of%20a%20chain .
      16. ↑ https://hammacklawfirm.com/blog/typical-hotel-bed-bug-settlement/
      17. ↑ https://www.bedbugs.umn.edu/travelers/inspecting-your-hotel-room-for-bed-bugs
      18. ↑ https://citybugs.tamu.edu/2011/04/12/bed-bugs-in-your-hotel/
      19. ↑ https://citybugs.tamu.edu/2011/04/12/bed-bugs-in-your-hotel/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      If you find bed bugs in your hotel room, contact the front desk and report the issue to a manager. Then, request a professional pest inspection and ask for the results once it's complete. To make up for the inconvenience, the manager should compensate you with a discount or free meal, if not a full refund. However, if you are staying at a chain hotel, consider filing a complaint with the hotel's corporate headquarters by calling the corporate customer service number listed on their website. Additionally, consider sharing your experience on review websites like Google, Facebook, or Yelp. You could also report the hotel to the local housing or health department if they have jurisdiction. To find the right agency to contact, look up state bed bug-related laws online. For more advice, including how to choose a new hotel room after finding bed bugs, keep reading.

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