The next time that you travel, you might want to follow these tips:
Use a flashlight or UV light to inspect your hotel room for live bed bugs or evidence of activity such as fecal material, shed skins or bloodspots. If room is suspect, request a different room.
Using a business card and hand lens to examine the cracks and crevices around the mattress, bed frame, headboard (most will lift off the wall easily), carpet edges, picture frames, closets, nightstands, luggage racks and dressers to inspect for evidence.
Move the bed away from the wall or headboard if possible. The number one trouble spot in hotels is the headboard (if any). Number two are the picture frames directly above/behind the headboard area.
Don’t unpack leave your clothes in a closed suitcase, knapsack or zipped up clothing bag. You might want to tape the zipper or put it in a large clear plastic bag.
Keep your suitcase, etc. away from bed and don’t leave clothes laying about or in dresser drawers.
If traveling light, hang your clothing bag on the shower rod in the bathroom
Bag and Seal pajamas in a clear plastic bag and examine later.
Check yourself for bites or itching, although bed bug bites are not always immediately noticeable.
When you get home:
Unpack over a white sheet, directly launder washables in water over 140 degrees and then dry on high heat for an hour minimum. Dry cleaning is NOT as effective as previously thought, so save your money there… Consider a dry-vapor steam machine for yourself or a heating solution, such as a PackTite, Bed Bug Annihilator or BBFS’s Cimex SMART Cube.
Inspect and vacuum suitcases before putting them away. If you think you may have come into contact with pests you might consider having the items treated further off-site prior to unpacking at home.
Still Paranoid?:
Travel with large, clear plastic bags and enclose suitcase, clothing bag and all belongings (including what you are wearing prior to returning home (change in the car, driveway or garage) and seal with tape. Consider having items fumigated using Vikane gas fumigant, subjected to a controlled heat treatment of over 135 degrees for one hour minimum or treated with a topical, aerosol insecticide labeled for use on bed bugs.
Some additional information:
Standard Pest Management‘s – “Don’t Bring THEM Home: Avoid Bed Bugs While Traveling” Guide
NYC.gov “Guide to Stop Bed Bugs in Hotels Safely” (PDF)