Despite concerns about high prices and crowds ahead of the Olympics, Paris might be an unexpectedly good destination for a holiday right now. Hotels and restaurants have lowered their prices to attract customers after what some describe as a “catastrophic” downturn during the Games.
While the French capital may seem bustling on TV, its quiet streets and empty dining tables tell a different story. Local media reported a “deserted” Disneyland and Parisians easily finding seats on metro trains at rush hour earlier this week. So, what’s happening?
Analysts suggest that many Parisians have left the city for the summer, as is their tradition. Overseas visitors have also been deterred by fears of price-gouging and Olympic-scale overcrowding.
One local restaurateur, Lies, in the usually busy Latin Quarter, described July as his worst month in 25 years. He mentioned that during the height of Covid, at least people ordered meal deliveries. Security blockades for the previous week’s opening ceremony had put tourists off from coming to the area, Lies suggested.
Another nearby restaurateur, Yarva, said visitors were unwilling to pay hotel prices that had increased several times ahead of the Games.
The event was “only for the rich,” he remarked, using a hand gesture to indicate the extreme price inflation.
Airlines had warned of low interest in trips to Paris before the Games. Delta’s CEO told CNBC, “Unless you’re going to the Olympics, people aren’t going to Paris.”
Flight prices reflected this sentiment, with one-way tickets from UK cities as low as £31 (€36; $39) per adult. However, Eurostar train tickets, affected by a sabotage attack on the French railway network, were considerably higher.
Raphael Batko from hotel marketing firm Doyield described an “avoidance effect” in June and July, noting that visitor numbers had only recently picked up to satisfactory levels. He echoed the term “catastrophic” to describe the phenomenon, similar to past Olympics like London 2012, where the Games deterred visitors and reduced profits.
With restaurants lowering their prices, it’s now possible to get a meal for as little as €8 (£6.80, $8.70) in the Latin Quarter, according to Riad, the proprietor of the Olympie diner. Hotels have also largely reversed earlier price hikes. Tourism authorities confirmed that average prices had returned to €258 (£219; $279) per night during the Games, down from a peak of €342 last month.
We observed several Airbnb listings advertising price reductions, although the company claimed prices had remained stable since the start of the year, with more locals opening their homes in host cities making it the best time for Holiday in Paris
Individual hoteliers in Paris reported mixed success.
Dino, a reception manager, noted that bookings reached normal levels only after slashing rates by half when things “looked bleak.” Another hotelier, Isabelle, said her price drop had been ineffective and lamented, “We didn’t gain anything from the Olympics.”
Christophe Decloux, head of the Choose Paris regional tourist board, emphasized the city’s rich cultural offerings, smooth transportation, and a “very joyful” atmosphere during the Games. “Paris is usually very calm in late July and August because people leave for the holidays,” he said, “and right now it is just as calm as usual in August except in some areas around the venues where people are bonding over the sport.”
Organizers of Paris 2024 have highlighted the positive effects of the Games on Paris following record ticket sales. About 800,000 tickets are still available, and last-minute bookers might find themselves scoring a bargain.
The sporting spectacle has proven memorable, and with businesses eager to attract visitors, now might be a surprisingly good time to Holiday in Paris.
