Paris - beg bugs?!

Drivingmenutsman · 2023-10-04T12:19:45+00:00

My Mum turns 60 in May and I am planning to take her for a trip somewhere with my 5 year old. I was all set to book Paris but of course the news is full of reports on the awful bed bug situation. AIBU to consider somewhere else? It seems like the govt will be forced to take this very seriously given that they’re hosting the Olympics a few weeks later but I don’t want to bring those back! Appreciate that May is a little way off yet but I need to book fairly soon hence the question.

Original poster

Drivingmenutsman · 04/10/2023 18:30

Bump

OP posts:

sandalsinthebin · 04/10/2023 18:59

I would go elsewhere, just in case

excited18 · 04/10/2023 19:00

Are you planning to go in May? I would hope it would be under control in 7 months time

Mercurial123 · 04/10/2023 19:16

I was in Paris last month there was no issue at my hotel. If you are so concerned, email the hotel to see what their pest control plan is. May is a long time away. It will be forgotten by then.

gerteddy · 04/10/2023 20:32

I just got back last week was there for 5 nights in 2 different hotels. I had no issues with bed bugs.

Original poster

Drivingmenutsman · 04/10/2023 21:34

Thanks everyone. Probably over reacting. It seems like a huge problem to fix though, I didn’t realise how hard they were to get rid of

OP posts:

LookingForPurpose · 04/10/2023 21:36

I've got a trip to Disney in early March and I'm dreading the possibly bed bug situation. I've got a compromised immune system . Been raging up and I might take a hand held steamer with me for the mattress and bed base just to put my mind at rest. Any evidence of any bites at all and all my washing and luggage will be going into the chest freezer for a week when I get home.

junbean · 04/10/2023 21:49

Bed bugs are prevalent in any city with an international airport. You can get them anywhere. However, I heard they have been seen in Paris outside hotels, crawling around on bus seats and the like. I would personally avoid. They are really good at hiding in the tiniest cracks of furniture so it's almost impossible to check for them. They will even crawl into the indention between the top and sole of shoes and be carried to your home that way. I once lived in a city that had them badly and my neighbors gave me a nice piece of furniture, knowing full well they had an infestation, but I did not. It was months of hell trying to get rid. In the end my entire home was soaked in chemicals several times. It was truly a nightmare. I won't even go into how bad the bites are. Just avoid!!

Vinvertebrate · 04/10/2023 21:53

I got bitten to hell at a conference in Birmingham. They are everywhere - I wouldn’t avoid an entire city, especially as the current outbreak in Paris will likely be under control by then.

Luckydip1 · 04/10/2023 21:55

I wouldn't go, too risky.

Original poster

Drivingmenutsman · 04/10/2023 22:27

Thank you for the responses. Junbean, that made the hairs on my arms stand up, I just can’t imagine. I’m genuinely itching just thinking about it. this is exactly my concern, how on earth can they eradicate it by then when they spread so rapidly and are apparently all over the city?!

looking for purpose - good luck, can’t hurt to go prepared I guess.

OP posts:

baroqueandblue · 04/10/2023 22:38

junbean · 04/10/2023 21:49

Bed bugs are prevalent in any city with an international airport. You can get them anywhere. However, I heard they have been seen in Paris outside hotels, crawling around on bus seats and the like. I would personally avoid. They are really good at hiding in the tiniest cracks of furniture so it's almost impossible to check for them. They will even crawl into the indention between the top and sole of shoes and be carried to your home that way. I once lived in a city that had them badly and my neighbors gave me a nice piece of furniture, knowing full well they had an infestation, but I did not. It was months of hell trying to get rid. In the end my entire home was soaked in chemicals several times. It was truly a nightmare. I won't even go into how bad the bites are. Just avoid!!

How bad are the bites?! Reason I ask is because I've had bed bug paranoia since staying in a hotel recently (not in Paris!) and still not convinced I didn't bring them back with me. Since getting home I've been bitten on my arm and the spot still looks red 2 weeks later. Then over a week ago something bite-like and pretty sore appeared on my trunk, worse than the arm, and is still going down. Neither of those itched as such, though, which is supposed to be a feature of bed bug bites. Having said that, other parts of my skin have felt itchy, but then I'm just getting over covid and apparently that can make some people itchy. 🤷‍♂️ I've done lots of washing and checked my bedding every day but can't see any definite signs. Nevertheless, I'm still not convinced and would be devastated if I have an infestation. I've got chronic health conditions and going into winter I practically live in my bed! Plus I live alone and couldn't cope with trying to rid the flat of bed bugs 😔

junbean · 04/10/2023 22:48

baroqueandblue · 04/10/2023 22:38

How bad are the bites?! Reason I ask is because I've had bed bug paranoia since staying in a hotel recently (not in Paris!) and still not convinced I didn't bring them back with me. Since getting home I've been bitten on my arm and the spot still looks red 2 weeks later. Then over a week ago something bite-like and pretty sore appeared on my trunk, worse than the arm, and is still going down. Neither of those itched as such, though, which is supposed to be a feature of bed bug bites. Having said that, other parts of my skin have felt itchy, but then I'm just getting over covid and apparently that can make some people itchy. 🤷‍♂️ I've done lots of washing and checked my bedding every day but can't see any definite signs. Nevertheless, I'm still not convinced and would be devastated if I have an infestation. I've got chronic health conditions and going into winter I practically live in my bed! Plus I live alone and couldn't cope with trying to rid the flat of bed bugs 😔

Show quote history

It depends on the person - my young daughter never got a bite but I was covered, mostly where my body laid against the mattress, so mostly my back. For me they were extremely itchy! Very red raised bumps. The itching was just out of this world. I do have sensitive skin. I got a strain of Covid last year that mimicked the exact same thing. I was convinced I got bedbugs again somehow (living rurally now and really no contact with any possible source) so I took apart my bed and set it outside and went crazy washing everything. It was just Covid though. lol.

If you have them you will know, no question. If your itchy spots resolve it was just Covid...hopefully so!

baroqueandblue · 04/10/2023 23:29

@junbean your post has really reassured me, thank you so much for replying 😃 Really glad you didn't get them again, and are living in a location that makes that a much more unlikely nightmare scenario! 😄

Luckydip1 · 05/10/2023 07:59

Just heard that the Eurostar is infested with bed bugs and people are standing to avoid getting bitten, I wish the French would take control of this problem.

Mercurial123 · 05/10/2023 09:11

Luckydip1 · 05/10/2023 07:59

Just heard that the Eurostar is infested with bed bugs and people are standing to avoid getting bitten, I wish the French would take control of this problem.

Where did you read that?

The UK already has bedbugs. From the BBC

*Prof Hentley, an academic with the University of Sheffield's school of biosciences, told BBC London bedbugs are already "fairly prevalent" in the UK and the situation in Paris would be unlikely to have much additional impact.

"There is limited risk in it getting any worse because the bedbugs are already here. They're not going to suddenly come across the channel to the UK," he said*.

margotrose · 05/10/2023 09:12

Luckydip1 · 05/10/2023 07:59

Just heard that the Eurostar is infested with bed bugs and people are standing to avoid getting bitten, I wish the French would take control of this problem.

Why just the French? We have bedbugs in the UK too.

Chestnutz · 05/10/2023 09:43

Damn it. I’m feeling itchy just reading this! No evidence of bed bugs to report, on the other hand the infestation of little mosquitoes in Paris was hideous, AC broken in hotel so window was open over night. Evil little blighters.