Free Traveler Bed Bug Pocket Checklist (Printable PDF)
This free, one-page bed bug checklist for travelers fits in a pocket, a phone, or a suitcase. The Traveler Bed Bug Pocket Checklist walks you through a five-minute hotel room check before you unpack, simple luggage habits during your stay, and an unpacking routine for when you get home. Print it, save it to your phone, or share it with someone who travels.
It is made for holiday travelers, business travelers, families in hotels and vacation rentals, and train or bus commuters who want a quick routine they will actually use. Greg Baumann, founder of Pest Sherpa, wrote it from more than 40 years of professional pest management experience, and the photos on the checklist are his own shots of real bed bug evidence.
Download the free checklist
One page, Letter size PDF (about 117 KB). Free to print, save, and share.
Open the PDF in a new tab. On a phone, open it and use Share to save it to Files or print it.
What’s Inside the Checklist
- 1. Before you unpack (about 5 minutes): where to park your luggage first, then the order to check the mattress, headboard, bed frame, luggage rack, nightstand, and upholstered furniture.
- 2. Luggage and bags during your stay: skip the luggage rack when you can, keep suitcases closed when not in use, and keep bags and clothes off beds and soft furniture.
- 3. After you get home (or after the commute): where to open your bags, what to check, and how to wash, dry, and vacuum.
- What you are looking for: live bugs, black fecal spots, shed skins, tiny eggs, and rust-colored spots, shown in three of Greg’s own photos.
- If you find evidence: what to do first, what to tell the front desk, and which room to ask for next.
Want every step explained with photos? Read the full 5-minute hotel room inspection guide. For identification, prevention, and what to do at home, see the Bed Bug Guide. Related Q&A: Can you get bed bugs from trains?; How do I prevent bringing bed bugs home after travel?; Are bed bugs really on the rise, and why do they spread during travel?.
Greg Baumann says: “Most travelers spend too much time looking across the mattress and not enough time inspecting seams, folds, and cracks. That’s where bed bugs actually hide.”
Share or Link to This Checklist
Editors, librarians, teachers, bloggers, and travel writers are welcome to share this checklist. Please link to this page, not straight to the PDF file, so your readers always get the current version.
Free to Share and Print
- Free for personal, classroom, and library use.
- Print as many copies as you need, or add the page link to a newsletter, article, or resource list.
- Please keep the checklist unaltered and credit Greg Baumann, Pest Sherpa.
- Please link to this page instead of hotlinking or re-uploading the PDF.
Education only. This checklist is general educational information from Pest Sherpa, written by Greg Baumann. No inspection can guarantee a room is free of bed bugs. Travel guidance builds on EPA Tips for Travel.
This article was written by Greg Baumann, founder of Pest Sherpa, and reflects more than 40 years of professional pest management experience.
About the Author
Greg Baumann | Pest Control Expert
Greg Baumann is the founder of Pest Sherpa and a Pest Control Expert with more than 40 years of professional pest management experience. His articles combine decades of field experience, technical expertise, and science-based guidance to help homeowners identify pests correctly, understand real-world risks, and make informed pest management decisions.
Mission: Identify the pest. Understand the risk. Stop the problem. Prevent the comeback. Know when it’s time to call a professional.