More than 15 million visitors are expected Paris during the 2024 Summer Olympicswhich will take place from July 26 to August 11. But as the world's attention turns to the City of Lights, even non-Olympics-related trips to France We could feel the ripple effects of the games over the coming months.
“Paris is always popular for the summer, but in July it attracts even more interest – and it's not just Paris that sees the effect of the Olympics,” said an Expedia spokesperson, whose data shows a triple-digit increase in searches in surrounding towns like Yvelines, in the west of Île-de-France, whose views increased by 520%.
This year, listing page views on Airbnb were 11 times higher than last year for French cities hosting competitions, such as Goodheadquarters of the Olympic football tournament; Versailles, host of Olympic and Paralympic competitions; Colombes, in the Paris suburbs, where hockey competitions will take place at the Yves-du-Manoir stadium; and the town of Île-Saint-Denis, which will host part of the Olympic and Paralympic village.
That you are plan a trip to the Olympics or try to avoid the crowds, here's everything you need to know about traveling to France this summer with expert advice and opinions on how and when to travel to Paris before, during and after the 2024 Olympic Games.
When is the best time to book flights to France this summer?
This summer, fares to Europe are 10-12% lower than last year, and major airlines like Air France, JetBlueAnd Delta have increased the number of non-stop flights to cities like Paris. “This could make Europe a more accessible option in 2024, but Paris could be the exception, as airfares typically increase when there is a major event,” says Sean Cudahy, aviation reporter for The Points Guy. “The rise in airfares likely won't be as dramatic as what we saw in Las Vegas during the Super Bowl last winter – which increased several hundred percentage points above normal levels – since the Games Olympics are a longer event, but don't expect a bargain either.
Round-trip airfares from many U.S. cities in the run-up to the Olympics are currently between $700 and $900, but an Expedia spokesperson says booking for 30 to 60 days is “the sweet spot for international flights”, with savings of around 15%.
Affordable long-haul airline based in Paris French bee– the only non-stop carrier serving Orly from the United States – recently increased its flights from Newark to Paris to once a day (from mid-May to mid-September this number will increase to 10 times a week) and the number of flights flights on routes of Los Angeles And San Francisco will be increased to six times per week during peak summer travel periods.
If you're planning to travel to a few Olympic Games host destinations throughout France, such as Marseille or Lyon, French Bee's Train + Plane the partnership with SNCF brings together the routes and guarantees a place on the next available flight or train at no extra cost in the event of a delay.
Where to stay in Paris?
“Even though we are now just under 100 days away from the opening ceremony, the timing can actually work in our favor,” says Nick Cunningham, France and Scott Dunn's destination manager for Europe. “When tickets and hotel accommodation first went on sale, prices were exorbitant and many major hotels had a significant minimum stay – some requiring 14 to 18 nights – but now many of our partners and other leading properties have reduced those minimum stays to five to seven nights.
