Bedbug Pandemic in Paris! Help?

Unfortunately, bed bugs are everywhere.

We had them in a hotel in New Mexico. All you can do is when you first get to your room, keep the lights off and check your bed with your phone flashlight. Definitely, tell the staff if you see them, most will move you to another room.

Don't put any clothes or shoes in drawers or on the floor or bed. Keep your suitcase closed.

Interested in this as well - how far outside the city should we book?

Yes, there have been a number of news articles and videos, general reports, video from the Metro, reports of bugs at CDG. You could certainly go elsewhere, but honestly, you probably would not decrease your chances much. Bedbugs can pop up anywhere, finding them in a hotel is a bit of a crap shoot.

The best advice is to be vigilant, know what you are looking for, inspect your room first thing, understand measures to take to keep them out of your luggage, know signs of exposure.

It has been in the news a lot recently, so look up one of those articles.

Right. I don't think getting accommodations outside of the city is the answer. The critters can be found in any city, in even the most posh hotels.

Best thing to do is to read up on how to look for them when checking into your room, and how to keep them out of your clothes and luggage if they're there but you didn't see them. Here are just a couple of many articles out there that might be useful:

https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/keep_bed_bugs_from_moving_in_after_travel

https://www.fantasticpestcontrol.co.uk/blog/how-to-get-rid-of-bed-bugs-while-travelling/

Unfortunately, those horrific critters are everywhere. No matter where you travel to, it’s always good to be prepared in case you discover evidence of them. Alas, it has happened to me, and it’s the worst. Like most maladies, early action is key:

• First, know what the bites/bite patterns look like, as they are distinctive. There are plenty of photos on Google images.
• Keep your luggage in the bathroom. Bedbugs can’t climb wells on very smooth surfaces, like tile and porcelain, and thus prefer wood and textiles.
• Keep a couple of large trash bags in your luggage to quarantine your stuff, if necessary. I always keep some tucked in my suitcase so I don’t forget to bring the,.
• Dryers on high heat will kill bedbugs and their eggs. The garbage bags come in handy for bringing items to a laundromat, too.
  
• Definitely let hotel management know. A good hotel will have someone from their maintenance/engineering staff do a thorough inspection of your room.
• If you have any concerns that you might bring any home from your trip, seal up your luggage and travel clothes in plastic when you get home until you can heat-treat them. (You can buy heat chambers on Amazon for anything that can’t go in the dryer or for your luggage.).
  

Being aware and prepared can make a big difference. If you decide to go, I hope you enjoy your trip.

There is definitely a bedbug problem in Paris, like in many US cities such as New York, but this is basically one of the risks of traveling nowadays. Also, some of the latest Paris reports have been disputed, there are a lot of rumors going around.

If the problem is really that bad, they (that is, more) will be brought home to the US soon enough. Tourism is a major vector.

I understand your worry. I just have a day trip planned, but I made the mistake of watching a video of them climbing on seats in the metro and on a train. I don’t plan to take the metro since I like walking, but I’ll be on a train going and coming. I’m not planning to do any tours, so I won’t be up close and personal with people other than on the train.

My plan is to wear a snug tshirt and a tight pair of leggings. I know they’re not fashionable, but I figure there are less crevices for them to hide in if they get on me. I’m taking a sealable bag to leave by the door in my room, and when I get back at the end of the day, I’ll strip down in the doorway and put my clothes in that bag. I haven’t figured out what to do about shoes and a purse yet, but that’s how I’ll mitigate risk. Maybe once you’ve determined that your room is bug free, something like this could help you as well so you don’t risk bringing anything into your room? I’d also considered wearing something I was going to get rid of soon anyway, then just throwing away the sealed bag of clothes.

I agree that they’re in most, if not all, cities, but knowing that Paris in particular is being singled out as especially bad is making the issue seem more pronounced. To be honest, since it is only a day trip for me, I might decide at the last minute to cancel since it’s not one of my “must see” places and hopefully not the last chance I’ll get to visit the city.

I'm going to Paris in two weeks and am not doing anything that I wasn't already doing in any hotel or apartment anywhere: inspect my hotel room and pack my clothing in 2.5 gallon Ziploc bags. This is nothing new.

I'm in an Ibis, a no-frills chain that switched to vinyl floors, plastic chairs years ago. I wonder 🤔 why.

The government publicized the problem to get control before the Olympic Games. You are seeing articles because all the news organizations copy each other. Expect fake and exaggeration. People make a living via our clicks. This topic leaves me feeling itchy.

this story reeks of 'fake' -- There have not been tons of bedbugs discovered in the metro. Tourists won't be 'taking them to the US' -- because they are already the scourge of US hotels. Competent hotels are on constant alert to deal with outbreaks before they spread.

Someone is pushing this to create panic and damage Paris. Bedbugs are endemic in hotels all over the world. Why this story now?

Interested in this as well - how far outside the city should we book?

the problem is really that bad, they (that is, more) will be brought home to the US soon enough. Tourism is a major vector.

You basically don’t leave home. And they don’t have to be brought home to the US. They have been here for decades.

As for the rest of this. Just click bait drama imho

Both Berlin’s DW News & France 24 did a story on bedbugs in Paris and the surrounding area just yesterday. Bedbugs do not discriminate whether we’re talking about five star hotels, B&Bs, or seats on a train or at a movie theater. Check everything and use your cell phone light if the area is dark.

I found the link for France 24.

https://youtu.be/B4GNCb4O7GY?feature=shared

I spent 3 nights in a Paris hotel the week before last and didn’t get a single bedbug bite. I also rode the metro and trains. I’m sure there are thousands more people who have stayed in Paris recently who are also bite-free.

However, I have seen the bedbug news story repeatedly on virtually every English language news station for the past week.

So this is a first time poster. If you are worried about insects, I'd worry about mosquitoes. Mosquitoes carry more disease, as I understand it, than any other insects. I don't hear about people not traveling because of mosquitoes. Bedbugs do not actually carry any diseases. Yes, none of us want to stumble across them as some people react to their bite...others not. And you don't want to bring them home. If traveling and you find BB in your room and you stayed there, get out of the room and put everything you can in a hot dryer. Do the best you can with your cases by using the hairdryer. But if you check and put your suitcase in the bathroom while checking before you settle in your room, just get out. You can find them anywhere. They were suppose to be on the Camino Frances. I heard of not one person seeing them while I was walking, so IMO it can just get wound up. If you get them, deal with them. Just don't bring them into your home by following easy protocols no matter where you travel.

After EVERY trip you should isolate your luggage, get heat on it while in a plastic bag; ie, sun or hot car...while isolated in the plastic bag, and put contents thru the dryer. This has nothing to do with Paris as they can be anywhere, on the plane, in a train, in a room, jumping from someone else's luggage, etc.

Oh, and there is a researcher at Rutgers University who studies bedbugs. It is quite interesting. Look at his video.

Addendum: Maria is very clear and informative for anyone who never thought about bedbugs before.
.

I know that this is a problem in every major city including my home NYC. I hope that this “massive” infestation is just an exaggeration for news clicks and the rate of bed bugs is no different than it was before. I’m going in late November and I don’t really feel like changing my flight tickets (got with Air France miles) to somewhere else at the same rate like Milan/Venice or Prague.

It's been mentioned in a couple of newspapers.

As usual, if you stay away from international class hotels you'll probably be ok.

Last couple of times there were "infestations" they came in on suitcases from NYC, this time I assume is no different.

This is all great information. I am planning a trip to Paris with my family of 5 in late November and my daughters are already freaking out about the bed bugs. Any suggestions on how to assure them all is well without having to cancel due to what "might" happen?

@misbitts, if you cancel a trip for fear of bedbugs, you'll never be able to go anywhere. Bedbugs have been around for ages. They're just getting a lot of press now b/c of Paris.

There are many, many articles out there explaining how to lessen your risk of bringing bedbugs home. The Points Guy did one last week; one of their travel writers brought home bedbugs from a very fancy Las Vegas hotel in 2014 and she wrote a detailed article about how they got rid of them. The woman who writes the 'Secrets of Paris' newsletter also wrote about her bedbug experience,I think also in 2014. A simple Google search will give you plenty of information, but avoid the click baity, repetitive, recent articles.

We just returned from 3 weeks in France, ending with a stay in Paris. Did not encounter any bedbugs along the way.

Well, more proof, influencers are clueless. There was just as big a risk they took the bedbugs with them to Paris. .

Maybe the influencers will be scared and stay home from everywhere now. After all, what a shame, it would be to be able to go to Paris, without having people who think that the only reason anyone comes to Paris is to see them standing and posing in front of something.😀

@Carol. Touché.

TMZ stirred the hysteria today.

"Can anyone confirm, expand, deny or make suggestions please." - Ha, yes. Stop it.

The hysteria has spread to Phoenix. Article is about two cases 35 to 40 miles apart. https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/arizona/thousands-of-bed-bugs-found-in-arizona-infestation/75-f4c10f96-61f4-4b43-ab1f-b4910cd9c53b

for the hysterical. It is prudent to keep any mattress in a 'bed bug 'cover (and many hotels do this now). It largely prevents dust mites (which are everywhere) from colonizing the mattress itself and is pretty good at keeping bedbugs out -- so even if you bring a few home they will be easier to get rid of.

Diatomaceous earth is very effective at preventing bedbug spread. I have it on the edges and corners of storage lockers -- either in storage facilities or in our home. Any larvae developing from the suitcase stored or in a public unit, from people's stuff in the next unit, will be killed by it. It is non-toxic; you can literally eat it.

If you worry so much, then it's best to change your destination. If you can't relax while staying in Paris, it's not a real vacation.

So where do you recommend the poster go where they are guaranteed not to have bedbugs?

If you don’t have them in your house, you could probably stay there

I know somebody who found them up at a five star hotel in New York City. Now the hotel was incredibly apologetic when they found them and immediately did everything right and took all his luggage and everything for sanitization, but they were there.

Hello! I'm going to France in December. I'll only be in Paris for two nights on the last leg of my trip. Traveling to a few other cities first in the country. I'm wondering if it would be poor form to contact my AirBnB and VRBO hosts to ask them about bedbugs? What are your thoughts? Thanks in advance.

if you ask now, in October, what will happen in the intervening months?

It is like asking if it is raining. Information now would be useless then.

(and yes, it it probably is bad form)

@kerry e curtis....if you are just going to be there 2 nights you might consider a hotel that may have pest control policies in place. I can't imagine that if a host does have bedbugs that they will admit it, especially since you are not traveling until December.

hey hey@kerry
I agree with Pam. with your stay of 2 days, I’d look for a hotel.
remember check is 2-4pm (hotel usually has luggage storage/airbnb & vrbo does not if place occupied and time for cleaning) and check out is usually 10-11am.
your first day is like a wash, just evening/night to enjoy, next is full day, check out morning last day.
where will keep your bags if staying in paris?
aloha

Hey Kerry (-:
I'm the one who started this question. I did contact my Airbnb host, who of course, said he's never had a problem to date.
The person who suggested a hotel vs. a BnB has a good idea that you may want to consider; too bad I can't get a refund at this point to do the same. Best wishes on your trip (-:
The good news is that all the publicity this topic is receiving, and the Olympics on the horizon, may be moving the government to take action.
I'd like to thank everyone who responded to my request. I've had some great responses with helpful info and links!

I stayed in a reputable hotel with good ratings (Montparnasse Alesia- Accor group hotel )the last few days of October this year. I found 2 bedbugs my second night and the manager immediately moved me to another room. The hotel now denies it ever happened (I booked with airline miles and asked for a mileage refund).

Point is that no one wants to admit there’s a bug infestation in their hotel. Been in Southern France for several weeks now and have had zero bug issues, but I’m staying vigilant. It’s a risk that’s pretty tough to plan around in advance.

Wait... the hotel moved you to another room. You don't say you brought bedbugs home, but you are due a refund? I can see why the hotel said no. You appear to have stayed there, this was not a "let's get a free stay" excuse if you stayed. Maybe if you had moved but...

As for no one wants to admit it's a problem. That's true in Atlanta, NY, London, Paris, Jacksonville FL, Cancun Mexico... basically anyplace with a hotel :)

And various sources say "one bedbug" does not mean you have an infestation.

and from the hotel's perspective, you might have brought them with you. That's the trouble with bedbugs - they travel too.

What about bed bugs in French airplane seats?

Stan -- the hotel would just be hying then because you don't have a noticeable problem till they have been there awhile. You might bring one or two with you but those would be unnoticeable for many days until they had bred and expanded in the room.

And re a comped room-- yeah when you wake up on blood stained sheets, even if they move you to another room, that first night should be comped. But this is not a custom in Europe; any American hotel would do this in a heartbeat.

Mister É : aircraft from other countries fly to Paris. What's your logic behind thinking that if this mythical plague was real the bedbugs would only fly on French aircraft?

Mr. E is just trying to create drama.

Because they are only in French hotels so logically.....

One person's drama is another person's humor. You really git to laugh at life's little inconveniences and not let it wreck your mood.