You’ve managed to get tickets to attend the Paris 2024 Olympic Games? Congratulations! The hardest part is behind you, but now you need to concentrate on preparing for your trip. It’s no secret that during world sporting events, prices for flights and accommodation soar.
With a few strategies and credit card rewards points, see how you can save on hotel or Airbnb during the 2024 Olympics.
Above all, make sure you book your accommodation as soon as possible. During the Olympic Games, demand is enormous and there is not enough accommodation on offer. If you wait until the last minute, you may find yourself without accommodation or with only a few options at astronomical prices.
The Airbnb platform is an official partner of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Many new homes have appeared on the site in recent months. There’s also something for every type of customer. You can choose between private rooms in a shared apartment, small studios and entire apartments. If you’re traveling with a group or family, it’s worth renting a complete apartment.
Prices are certainly higher than normal, but more reasonable than in a hotel. For example, private rooms in central Paris can be found for between CAD$200 and CAD$300 a night.
For whole apartments, prices start at around C$300 a night and rise to over C$1,000.
Hotel prices in Paris during the Olympic Games skyrocketed. On average, rates are 6 times higher than normal!
Searching Booking.com, I’m having a hard time finding 3-star hotels for under $700 CAD a night. For 4 stars, the average is more like $1,000 CAD!
Faced with these exorbitant rates, travelers who prefer hotels to Airbnb should turn to the Marriott Bonvoy program or other credit card rewards points to reduce their bill.
Ultimately, the choice between hotel and Airbnb depends on your budget and preferences. Airbnb is better suited to families or groups looking to save money, and the hotel offers a better experience for travelers looking for more services.
The Scene+ rewards program is highly flexible, allowing points to be applied directly to a travel expense for statement credit. You can book on your favorite website (e.g. Booking.com or Airbnb) and then use your Scene+ points on that purchase.
This guide takes you step by step through the process:
The Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* Card welcome offer could therefore save you up to $350 on your accommodation for the Paris Olympics.
In addition to waiving the 2.5% foreign currency conversion fee, the Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* Card offers 6 VIP airport lounges worldwide.
Scene+ members also have the option of booking on the Scene+ Travel site powered by Expedia. This site offers the same results and products as Expedia, but program members earn 3 points for every dollar spent on the platform. Scene+ points can also be redeemed directly at the time of booking to get a discount.
10,000 Scene+ points are worth $100 towards travel expenses.
The range of Marriott Bonvoy hotels in Paris is vast, but availability has dried up quickly. Some hotels have also decided to offer only cash-only nights during this busy period. If you plan to use your Marriott Bonvoy points, book as early as possible.
A little on the outskirts of Paris, there are still good options between 40,000 and 50,000 points per night.
If you’re new to this program, read our comprehensive guide full of tips:
And check out our Paris hotel reviews:
It’s no secret that the closer you are to the action, the more expensive your accommodation will be. Lodging on the outskirts or completely outside Paris will save you a lot of money.
Paris and its suburbs are very well served by public transport. A network of metro and suburban trains (RER and Transilien) links many communes in the Île-de-France region to the center of Paris. Click here for our complete guide to getting around France during the Olympic Games:
For accommodation on the outskirts of Paris, I recommend the following suburbs for their safety and ease of access by public transport:
France’s regional train and high-speed train (TGV) networks are very well developed. A city that looks far away on a map may only be an hour away by TGV. Widen your search radius and consider homes in Normandy, Hauts-de-France or Centre-Val de Loire, for example.
Amiens, Rouen, Reims and Orléans are good examples of cities less than an hour and a half by train from Paris.
What’s more, some competitions are held elsewhere in France. In particular, Lille, Lyon, Saint-Étienne, Nice, Marseille and Bordeaux will be hosting sporting events. Accommodation in these cities will certainly be more affordable than in the Paris region.
In conclusion, to save on accommodation during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, it’s essential to plan ahead and remain flexible in your choice of venues. Choosing an Airbnb on the outskirts of Paris or in a nearby region is the best strategy to avoid spending a fortune.
What’s more, points from rewards programs like Scene+ and Marriott Bonvoy can save you hundreds of dollars on your travel expenses. We wish you some memorable Olympic Games!
Do you also need to find yourself flights to attend the Paris 2024 Olympics? Read our guide to save with points.
Find all our guides to prepare your trip to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games :
Savings are here:
