Yahoo Finance Huge reason for Aussies to stay away from Paris: 'Insane'
Prices of Airbnbs, metro tickets and tourist attractions are now eye-watering ahead of the Olympics.
Australian travellers planning on heading to the City of Love for the Paris Olympics later this year are being warned to prepare for some vicious price shock.
More than 600,000 spectators are expected to travel to the European capital in July for the sporting event on the Seine and local travel blogger Ophelie Schaffar issued a warning about "insane" skyrocketing costs.
She said accommodation has been the hardest hit, with hotel prices going up by 314 per cent, while Le Monde said Olympic sponsor Airbnb saw increases of up to 300 per cent on their rentals.
But, you will also have to fork out more for iconic tourist hotspots - like the Eiffel Tower and The Louvre.
Yahoo Finance has crunched some numbers, and converted them to the Aussie dollar (see here which destinations it goes further), so you can work out if your budget can cope with wild prices.
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How much is a trip to Paris?
Schaffar pointed to quite a few price rises, but here's an easy to digest breakdown.
Transport: Metro ticket prices have risen 86 per cent from $3.55 to $6.60 per ticket, and $28.64 for 10 tickets between July 20 to September 10, towards the end of the Paralympic Games.
Attractions: Tourists who want to go sightseeing must also prepare as The Louvre increased their prices in January by 29 per cent from $28.06 to $36.32. For those who want to experience The Eiffel Tower, Schaffar said there will be a 20 per cent increase for the summer.
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Flights: Aussie travellers who plan to travel to the City of Love will not be too enamoured with logistical costs, with the cheapest round-trip air tickets costing more than $2,000 for a 20 to 21-hour Perth to Paris flight via Dubai.
Qantas announced in October last year that it was introducing non-stop Perth to Paris flights from July and that journey would set you back $2,538 for a shorter 17-hour trip.
Accommodation: As hotels have been booked out a year – and even years – before the Summer Olympics, it will be slim pickings for affordable accommodation. A place to stay for the duration through Airbnb can cost anything between $200 per night to more than $560 per night. And that's without service fees and taxes for a two-person apartment.
Over the Olympics, accommodation alone could cost anything between $5,400 to over $12,000.
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Food: One of the French capital's huge draw cards remains its dining scene. The costs would range dramatically depending on whether you're more a fine diner, looking to immerse yourself in the cafe culture, or happy to grab a baguette and some cheese to pull up in a park. With the Olympics coming, meals are estimated to be between $41.34 - $66.14 a day.
Olympics events: Tickets have been on sale since last year. Prices can vary depending on the event you're hoping to see, or if you're going to be buying resale to something that's already sold out. Costs can vary between $40 up to a whopping $4,464.50.
Travellers and locals outraged by high costs in Paris
Schaffar sparked debate about the cost of travelling during the Olympics from tourists and already-overwhelmed locals.
“I live in France and they raised prices starting in January. When my dad came to visit and we went to the Louvre I was shocked at the increase. And for the metro! How is this okay?!” one person said.
Another admitted: “We Parisians all want to escape this craziness to be fair.”
“I’m going to 5 events in August. Will be staying at (an) Airbnb in Vincennes. Flight prices are ridiculous also. Planning on being broke when I return home,” moaned a third.
