Paris is unexpectedly affordable as Olympic tourists stay away

According to the BBC, despite concerns about high prices and crowds before the Olympic Games, now might be an unexpectedly good time for a vacation in Paris. The Olympics have scared away many tourists, forcing restaurant owners and hoteliers to lower prices in an effort to attract customers.

Sports fans might think the capital of France has recently become the "center of the world," but - as the BBC notes - relatively quiet city streets and empty tables in restaurants "tell a different story." Many Paris residents have left the city for the summer, and contrary to appearances, foreign tourists did not show up due to fears of high prices and crowds.

Recently, French media have mentioned, among other things, the surprise of Parisians who managed to get a seat on the metro during rush hour. There was also a sensation about the "abandoned Disneyland."

Local media noted that those who dreamed of having the famous amusement park "all to themselves" could achieve this dream during the Olympic Games. The waiting time for major attractions has been reduced from 30-45 minutes to 10-15 minutes.

Initially, it was emphasized that staying in Paris during the Olympic Games was "only for the wealthy." Hoteliers and restaurateurs told the BBC they were forced to lower prices to attract customers. One Parisian restaurateur said July was his worst month in 25 years because, as he explained, people still ordered food deliveries even during the pandemic.

Raphael Batko, a representative of DoYield, a hotel marketing company, said that in June and July there was an "avoidance effect," although he added that the number of visitors has recently increased and is now satisfactory.

A restaurateur from the Latin Quarter (the university district of Paris) mentioned that you can now have a meal for $9. The average hotel price has returned to $272 per night (last month, it was $360). The BBC also noted that lower rates apply to Airbnb as well.

The receptionist at one of the hotels admitted that bookings only reached a normal level after rates were halved. Another BBC interviewee said that even lowering prices was not enough to attract customers. We gained nothing from the Olympics, she concluded.