It's travel season in Texas, and the goal of vacation is to have fun and relax. The one thing you don't want is stress and an outrageous bill when you get home, because something hitched a ride home with you.

Bed Bugs: The Pest That Follows You Home

These evil little creatures can wreak havoc on your life and your body, and unfortunately, even the nicest of hotels can send you home with the gift that keeps on giving, bed bugs.

Bed bugs are small, reddish-brown insects about the size of an apple seed. They like to live on furniture, especially mattresses, and attach themselves to suitcases and clothing.

How to Check for Bed Bugs in a Hotel

Avoiding infestation is the key. When you get to your hotel room, do a thorough inspection before you settle in. Do not set your luggage on the floor. Use the luggage rack or a solid surface.

Where Bed Bugs Hide in Hotel Rooms

According to the EPA, bed bugs like dark and tight spaces.  They like to hide in mattress seams, box springs, bed frames, headboards, and furniture.

Read More: Termites Are One Of The Worst Insects In Texas

Inspect Your Hotel Room for Bedbugs Before Unpacking

  • Before unpacking, inspect mattress seams, box springs, headboards, and furniture.
  • Use a flashlight or phone light for better visibility.
  • Look for reddish stains on the sheets, dark spots, and exoskeleton.
  • A musty odor is usually around in the presence of bed bugs, but this isn't a dead giveaway since older hotels tend to smell musty.

Read More: These Two Texas Cities Are Crawling With Bed Bugs

How to Pack to Avoid Bedbugs

  • Use hard-sided luggage
  • Pack your clothes in sealable plastic bags
  • If there is nothing to grab onto, the bedbugs can't travel back with you
  • Seal your dirty clothes in a sealable plastic bag. Bedbugs love dirty clothes.

What Are Signs You've Been Bitten by Bed Bugs?

A clear sign that your room has bed bugs is that you'll see clusters of small bites on your skin. Most of the time, they are in a zigzag or line pattern. This is the proof that these nasty creatures have been feasting on you.

According to the CDC, bed bugs are not known to spread diseases to people, but they can make you miserable.  Their bites cause itching, loss of sleep, and if you have a rare allergy to bed bugs, you could have an adverse reaction.

How Much Does Bed Bug Removal Cost in Texas?

According to Homeguide, it can cost up to $5000 to get rid of a bed bug infestation in a home in Texas. The cost to treat each room is about $300-$400.

It only takes a few minutes to check your hotel room or rental for bed bugs, and those few minutes could save your sanity and money.  If you happen to find bed bugs, request a refund and move to new accommodations immediately.

Texas is Crawling with Bed Bugs, One City Among The Most Infected in the U.S. in '23

Each year Orkin puts together their list of the Top 50 Bed Bug Destinations in the United States. Let's take a look and see which cities top the list.

LOOK: Stunning, historic hotels from every state and the stories behind them

Stacker curated this list of stunning, historic hotels from every state. To be considered for inclusion, the structure must be more than 50 years old. Many of the selected hotels are listed on the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and several are purported to be haunted.

Gallery Credit: Erin Joslyn

Summer Vacation in the '70s and '80s: These Nostalgic Photos Say It All

Take a trip back to summer in the ’70s and ’80s — when Ring Pops ruled, bikes meant freedom, and Press Your Luck kicked off the day. These photos hit all the nostalgic notes.

Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz