Bed bugs have made a strong comeback in Australia alongside rising domestic and international travel, and Newcastle is no exception. They don't discriminate between clean and dirty homes — they hitchhike in luggage, clothing and second-hand furniture, and a single female can start an infestation in your bedroom within weeks.
The best prevention happens at the hotel. Before unpacking, check the mattress seams, headboard and bed frame for live insects, dark spotting (excrement) and cast skins. Keep luggage on a luggage rack away from the bed and walls, never on the floor or bed. If you spot signs, ask to move rooms — and choose one that isn't directly adjacent.
When you get home, don't bring the suitcase into the bedroom. Unpack directly into the laundry, wash everything on the hottest cycle, and hot-dry for at least 30 minutes — heat kills all bed bug life stages. Vacuum the suitcase inside and out and empty the vacuum outside into a sealed bag. For extra caution, leave the suitcase in a sealed plastic bag in a hot car for a few days.
Signs of bed bugs at home include itchy bites in a line or cluster on waking, small blood spots on sheets, dark specks on mattress seams, and a sweet musty odour in heavier infestations. If you suspect bed bugs, don't reach for fly spray — it scatters them and makes professional treatment harder. Call a licensed pest controller. Bed bug treatment is intensive, almost always requires a follow-up 2–4 weeks later, and proper preparation is the difference between one treatment and three.