It’s been all over the news lately — there’s a rising number of bedbug cases in the United States. You could say there’s a bedbug epidemic. As frequent travelers, we could be at risk every time we stay at a hotel. And once the bed bugs invade your belongings at a hotel, they can travel home with you. Since 2001, reports of bedbug infestations have risen 71 percent. It’s important to remember, though, bedbugs are brought into hotels by guests, so it’s not necessarily a hotel sanitation problem (even the swankiest 5-star properties can have a problem!). Don’t let the threat prevent you from traveling, but be prepared. Here’s five useful tips I found on ABC News that will help you protect yourself from the pesky little buggers!

• Check out online hotel reviews. Customer-posted reviews will usually help you figure out if the properties have ever had a bedbug problem.
• Consider where you place your luggage. Avoid the floor, bed or chairs.
• Inspect. Pull back the sheets and check mattress seams for little black specks. Check all fabrics.
• Protect your luggage. Spray the bag with insect repellent or wrap it in plastic. Bugs can move from one bag to the next in airplane overhead bins.
• Clean your bag. When you return, vacuum your suitcase. Wash your clothes immediately.

Here are a few other facts and tips from www.badbedbugs.com:

• Bedbugs are flat, brown, wingless and about 1/4 of an inch
• They can be seen with the human eye but are good at hiding
• They are not known to carry disease
• Wash linens and place them in a hot dryer for 20 minutes.
• Use the folding luggage rack provided in hotels

The lesson here: be smart, but don’t let bedbugs deprive you of an amazing travel experience. — Kim Krol, eFlyer editor, circulation and public relations executive