Bed bugs a huge problem in Paris?

Not any worse than anywhere else. The problem may be over discussed.

Bedbugs travel with travellers,, travellers go everywhere. They are no more a problem in Paris then they are in any town, in Europe or the States,, where every tourists go , bugs go. I have never encountered them in Paris, but I always check out my bed before i settle into my room. I heard a report that a restaurant in Hawaii had them in the upolstered booths,, creepy,, but what can one do,, just check your room out.

The Denver public library had them in the overstuff chairs in the reading room.

Check your hotel on tripadvisor before booking. If there is a problem, it'll show up there in the comments. But I'm not aware of any serious bedbug problem in Paris. Though the pharmacies did have lots of display ads for lice treatments...

We've never experienced bed bugs in Paris, and we go twice a year. I wouldn't worry about the lice meds in pharmacies - lice and bed bugs are different pests, with different life cycles. The lice thing is likely related to school kids, with their nearly yearly lice scares - just like here at home. Bed bugs feed on our blood. Their droppings are teensy, and dark brown to black. A simple spot check for bed bugs is to check crevices in the mattress, headboard, seat cushions on chairs, etc., for the telltale droppings. A bad infestation may also be accompanied by a fairly pungent odor. Here's a really comprehensive checklist for checking: http://www.badbedbugs.com/bedbug-checklist/

Lice aren't a problem for travelers. Head lice are the most common. They need to go from head to head by touching and they like young heads best, so they are a problem where groups of children congregate - not the usual tourist destinations. This is probably what you saw the ads for. Body lice thrive only in unsanitary conditions. Eggs in clothing and bed linen can transfer to another host, but laundry destroys them. The third kind - well, they also need somewhat prolonged physical contact . . . of a most intimate nature. A traveler who gets infected probably undoubtedly could have avoided them with a bit more discretion.

Sorry - I didn't mean to equate lice with bedbugs or suggest tourists be concerned. Just an observation that my wife and I found odd...

Geez Chani, thanks for the details. I don't know how I managed but I got a little bugger in my hair in the metro way back in the 70s. Used to lean my head back on the seat, exhausted after work. Picked that little thing out at the dinner table. Learned my lesson. Assumed it was a louse, maybe it was a bedbug.

Sorry, Douglas, I was just imparting some useless information. I didn't think anyone was really suggesting that lice would be an issue. I love useless information.

@Douglas: It was an interesting observation. @Chani: Ditto! :D