The first thing you should do in a new room: peel back the bedding and check the seams of the mattress for traces of bedbugs — bloodstains or actual bugs. And in any case, never, ever, ever put your bag on the bed. The main way travelers bring bedbugs home is when their bags get infested after touching bedspreads or mattresses. When packing or unpacking your bag, put it on an unupholstered piece of furniture — a dresser or one of those folding luggage stands. Also, avoid putting your clothes into dresser drawers, if possible. Keep your possessions in your luggage or hang things up in the closet instead. For the truly fearful, check the Bed Bug Registry, where travelers report bedbug sightings in North American hotels.