The bedbug is the vacation souvenir of the moment

If you have planned a weekend getaway or a trip to the sun: don't skimp on your hotel.

Because with all that cheap Airbnb and lodging these days, one thing has been discovered: bed bugs are on the rise. The bed bug is back. The bed bug is everywhere. It is the ultimate vacation souvenir of the moment. And what exactly are they? Read on and shudder.

Bed bugs are small creatures that can be about half a centimeter big. They get their name from the place where they prefer to live: in a bed. And the bad news is that they have been increasingly common in developed countries since 1995. Especially hotels, hostels, and rented apartments are in trouble.

If you have them, you recognize it by the red bumps on your body. Sometimes you can see them scurrying away and diving under your pillow. And yes, they live off the blood of humans. Yuck... Do you dare to read on? Okay. Brave.

The only advantage is that the bumps you get from the pests will disappear on their own, but yes, getting rid of those miserable bed bugs requires a lot. They can live in anything that is as thick as a credit card. Therefore, it's best to buy a new mattress and new bedding as soon as you see even a half bump. It's almost impossible to get rid of them once they are well established in your home. You have to wash everything at least 60 degrees, you have to put all your clothes in your freezer, and you might as well throw away your suitcases, bags, and backpacks. Goodbye, Vuitton shopper. Everything is contaminated in no time. And call an official pest control service, otherwise, you will always find them again. Everywhere.

If you think: come on, that won't happen to me... In an average city in our country, there are already 15 to 25 pest control treatments per week, and hotels and Airbnbs are not even counted. Five years ago, there were half as many reports. This is because people are traveling more and thus sleeping in more different beds. What can you do to prevent it? Not much. Sorry. Check every hotel bed for small eggs or droppings from the bed bug, which are often dark and small dots. Then you simply do NOT choose that room. And if you want to be sure you don't take them home? Then put your suitcase in the bathroom, often that is a floor where they cannot survive.

Honestly, do you also have creepy-crawlies everywhere? We do. And we are staying home for now.