Question:
I’m planning to be away from home the entire time during Pesach beginning a couple days prior. When do I do bedika?
The night before I leave in my home? Do I also do a bedika in my hotel room on the night of erev Pesach?
Answer:
Yes, you have to do bedikah the night you leave home.
There is a dispute concerning the berachah, and it is best to say the berachah without shem and malchus.
You do have to do bedikah in the hotel room on the night of erev Pesach (with a berachah).
I have seen some poskim write that in a “high quality hotel” which is always kept exceedlingly clean, there would not be an obligation. However, it appears that even in such hotels there remains an obligation to search for chametz, because there are often alcoholic beverages left in the room that are chametz, or crackers and the like that must be cleared out.
Sources:
See Kovetz Darchei Hora’ah Vol. 4.
