Worst Travel Destinations for Bed Bugs, According to Experts

If you’ve ever had the misfortune of sleeping with bed bugs, you know it’s an experience you don’t want to have again. Unfortunately, bug experts at Orkin say there are some destinations where you’re more likely to encounter bed bugs than others — and, unfortunately, these destinations are some of the most popular.

Each year, Orkin produces a list of the top 50 bed bug cities in the United States. The list is compiled based on Orkin treatment data and how often Orkin services were used in and around the included cities.

For the third year in a row, Orkin named Chicago the worst city in the United States for bed bugs. Other cities in the top five include New York City, Philadelphia, Cleveland and Los Angeles. While a lot of destinations remained more or less the same in their rankings compared to previous years, Los Angeles saw a huge spike in bed bug reports, making its way from the 12^th spot all the way to fifth. Other destinations with spikes in 2022 included Cleveland and Raleigh.

And it’s not just hotels in these destinations you have to worry about.

“While it’s important to be aware of bed bug infestations within hotels, practicing precautions in other aspects of travel are also important. Taxis, buses and airplanes are also common bed bug hiding places, allowing these pests an opportunity to hitch a ride with unsuspecting travelers. Examining clothing and luggage regularly while traveling can help to catch a bed bug infestation in the early stages,” said Ben Hotter, entomologist, Orkin.