Paris is one of the most expensive destinations in the world for tourist accommodation. Prices for an apartment in the city centre can exceed €150-200 per night, and much more for large or top-of-the-range apartments. To find accommodation, tourists have to juggle the various options available, from the cheapest to the most expensive.
It’s no secret that as the festive season approaches, tourists are back in Paris! As is often the case, this raises the question of accommodation in one of the world’s most expensive capitals. Abdel Rahman, an Egyptian tourist who is staying in Paris for two months, had no problem finding somewhere to stay. “My accommodation here is very comfortable and it’s not expensive at all,” he says. His girlfriend, a brunette with a broad smile, looks at him out of the corner of her eye before choking back a laugh. “You’re paying nothing because you’re staying with me. Without this alternative, you would never have been able to find an apartment in the 15th arrondissement at the height of the season. It’s simply unaffordable,” she replies in amusement to her boyfriend. But he quickly recovers: « With a budget of 800 euros for two months, if my girlfriend hadn’t put me up, I would have taken an Airbnb because it’s cheaper, » says the software developer.
Like Abdel Rahman, around 16-20 per cent of tourists visiting Paris choose to stay with family or friends during their stay. This percentage varies according to the year and tourist trends, but the practice remains fairly common, especially among European visitors or those from neighbouring countries.
As well as saving on costs, some tourists choose to stay with Parisian family or friends to enjoy a more intimate and authentic experience of the city. This is the case of Élise, a dentist who lives in Brittany and has come to Paris to spend the weekend with her grandmother. “I love my grandmother’s Haussmann-style apartment. I also like the fact that there are so many restaurants in Paris and that you can go shopping without having to limit yourself.”
Hotels, a very popular option for tourists
However, many tourists still prefer to opt for accommodation solutions such as hotels, rented apartments or youth hostels, especially if they come from more distant countries and don’t have family in Paris. According to statistics from the Paris Tourist Office, between 40% and 45% of tourists choose this option. This includes budget, mid-range and luxury hotels. Best friends, Line and Sophie are Belgian. They have chosen this type of accommodation for the weekend. “The price per night per person in this hotel is 200 euros. Paris is an expensive city!” says 24-year-old Line. Despite the price, these two friends have no regrets: “We stay in spite of everything, because life here is great. The shops are very good and tomorrow we plan to visit places like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and other museums.”
For hotels, the influx of tourists represents a real opportunity. Located in the centre of Paris, close to the Luxembourg Gardens and Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Hôtel Pilgrim has an 80% tourist clientele. “They are invaluable to our hotel’s business,” says Daniel Robert, general manager. Tourists come from all over the world, including the US, Germany and Britain. “Tourists are a very important clientele for us. We have to pamper them so that they come back to Paris on a regular basis.”
Kanfitine Douti