Bedbug Infestations Surge Across Southern States Ahead of Spring Break

Experts warn travelers, especially students, to be extra vigilant about bedbugs when booking budget-friendly accommodations

Mar. 16, 2026 at 3:38am

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Pest control reports indicate that bedbug infestations linked to travel appear to be increasing in several Southern states, including Georgia, Florida, Texas, and Tennessee. Travel experts warn that budget-friendly accommodations popular with spring break travelers, such as youth hostels, are particularly prone to bedbug issues due to high guest turnover and difficulty maintaining thorough cleaning. Travelers are advised to inspect luggage and clothing after trips and use high heat to eliminate any potential bedbugs before bringing them home.

Why it matters

Bedbugs can be a major nuisance for travelers, causing itchy bites and potentially spreading to homes and other locations. As spring break approaches, the surge in bedbug infestations across the South raises concerns about the risks facing students and other budget-conscious tourists heading to popular destinations in the region.

The details

According to a recent report from Terminix, Georgia ranks 6th nationwide for bedbug service requests among the 50 most affected U.S. cities. Other Southern states like Florida, Texas, and Tennessee have also reported growing concerns tied to travel-related bedbug infestations. Travel expert Lee Abbamonte notes that 'bedbugs often arise in places frequented by younger, more budget-friendly tourists,' including 'popular spring destinations for students or youth hostels' that experience frequent guest turnover and crowded rooms, making thorough cleaning more difficult. Bedbugs are small, flat insects that typically hide in dark cracks and crevices near where people sleep, such as along mattress seams, behind headboards, inside furniture joints, and near baseboards in hotel rooms and short-term rentals.

  • Pest control reports indicate that bedbug infestations linked to travel are increasing in several Southern states.
  • Spring break is approaching, when many students and budget-conscious tourists will be traveling to popular destinations in the South.

The players

Terminix

A pest control company that ranked Georgia 6th nationwide for bedbug service requests among the 50 most affected U.S. cities.

Lee Abbamonte

A travel expert who warns that 'bedbugs often arise in places frequented by younger, more budget-friendly tourists,' including 'popular spring destinations for students or youth hostels.'

Benjamin Hottel

A Georgia-based entomologist with Orkin who notes that bedbugs are skilled at 'hitchhiking' on personal belongings, allowing travelers to unknowingly carry them onto planes, into hotels, and eventually back home.

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What they’re saying

“'Bedbugs often arise in places frequented by younger, more budget-friendly tourists,'”

— Lee Abbamonte, Travel expert (Fox News Digital)

“'Young people and students generally don't care about the state of the room. They just want to be in the destination as [cheaply] as possible.'”

— Lee Abbamonte, Travel expert (Fox News Digital)

“Bedbugs are skilled at 'hitchhiking' on personal belongings.”

— Benjamin Hottel, Georgia-based entomologist with Orkin (Fox News Digital)

What’s next

Travelers are advised to inspect luggage and clothing after trips and place travel clothes in a dryer on high heat for about 30 to 45 minutes if exposure is suspected, which can help eliminate any bedbugs before they spread inside the home.

The takeaway

As spring break approaches, the surge in bedbug infestations across the South raises concerns about the risks facing students and other budget-conscious tourists heading to popular destinations in the region. Travelers, especially those booking budget-friendly accommodations, need to be extra vigilant about bedbugs to avoid bringing them home and spreading the problem further.