How to survive in Paris during the 2024 Olympics

Besides the beautiful streets, fragrant cafes, and stray cyclists, the French capital will also be full of spectators—more than 15 million have recently entered the Paris Games.

That is in addition to locals and other French citizens traveling to the capital from various parts of the country.

For the uneducated, Paris can be a lot. Recently, the city has faced outbreaks of bed bugs, dengue threats, petty crime, strikes by public transport workers, and more.

Given the twin popularity of the Olympics and Paris, surviving (and thriving) in the city can feel like a daunting task. While Paris got a feel for handling the huge crowds that flocked to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour concerts earlier this year, the Olympics and Paralympics will keep the city busy for a long time.

But don’t worry-Good luck spoke to travel, insurance, banking, and culture experts about their tips for navigating the city and having a great experience.

Walking around

Like some of its big city peers, Paris has a notorious traffic problem. Before the Olympics, many of the most popular places in the city will be closed, which will prevent the entry of taxis.

“The biggest culprit will be traffic. It will be very difficult to find your way around it, which is why staying in a central location in a perfect hotel is key,” says Jonathan Alder, founder of travel management company, Jonathan’s Travels.

“This level of crowds will be a challenge in Paris, especially when it comes to traffic and congestion. For visitors who are willing to pay for higher hospitality packages, they have created a workaround with a special traffic lane that will only be available to certain vehicles,” said Alder. Good luck.

If you plan to visit other parts of France before arriving in Paris, we recommend connecting through Paris’ main airport—either Charles de Gaulle Airport or Paris-Orly.

Although elevators (identified by the “taxi” symbol on their headsets) are a great option, public transport is still the best way to get around the city. Road and station closures may disrupt other routes, so the RATP and Public Transport Paris 2024 apps will be your friends for real-time updates on what’s working and what’s not. Also, keep your eyes and ears open in case of protests in your destinations. Don’t forget to leave enough buffer time for the delay.

Other safe options include carpooling, rental cycles (a Vélib pass can be useful), and exploring on foot.

Uber is offering free ferries across the Seine River from July 12 to August 3 in addition to taxis.

Be careful with your Euros

Andrzej Rostek—Getty Images

If you are in Paris, be careful how and where you get your money. Tourists often convert local currencies into their home currency to get the best deals on shopping and dining. What is being said? Exchange rates change daily, even if only by small percentages, and it’s expensive to use your home currency if you’re not careful.

Always have euros (but not too many) and make sure you only trade in euros even if the credit card machines tell you otherwise, London fintech company Wise said in a report on preparations for the Paris Olympics. It also warns against resorting to airport or hotel exchanges, which deliberately overcharge you.

“Airports and hotels are hosting captive audiences. Their exchange services will show this in

their prices are high and standards are low,” the report said.

Some suggested tips include having backup payment options in case your main card fails and checking if your home bank has subsidiaries in France to cover some of the transaction costs.

There’s one thing people need to be aware of when exploring the streets of Paris—pickers.

“With more tourists in town, there may be an increase in petty crime and scams targeting tourists,” said Johannes Thomas, CEO of Germany-based travel platform Trivago, citing the example of the “friendship ring scam” at attractions such as the Sacre. – Good.

Avoid flashing any valuables or cash that might attract the attention of the bad guys. Additionally, avoid street performers or street games, in particular [ones] involving money, as this can often be a planned distraction to set up a wallet.”

Better to be safe than sorry

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There is no easy way to stay out of the crowds, no matter where you go in Paris. So, maybe it’s best to accept it, says Thomas.

“Expect congestion, long lines and full facilities at popular tourist attractions such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and other major sites. Expect prices to increase. Accommodation, food and transportation costs tend to increase during major events. Tourists can face very high prices, especially for hotels and short-term rentals in the center of Paris,” he added.

Planning a trip during peak travel season often brings uncertainty—delays, last-minute cancellations, lost bags, and more. It’s tricky to prepare for each of these situations, but travel insurance can be the key to feeling in control of your trip.

People can face three types of risk when they travel: financial, medical and travel, Rajeev Shrivastava, founder and CEO of VisitorsCoverage, a travel and health insurance marketplace, said. Good luck.

“People [who] Those who make this trip have invested a lot of money, including their tickets and accommodation,” said Shrivastava.

The risk of unexpected cancellations, high summer heat, and rampant petty crime can be unnecessary stressors on long-awaited trips. This is where travel insurance can help—it relieves tourists of the burden, protecting them in case of unexpected losses.

“Many insurance policies are applicable to some of these events,” said Shrivastava, adding that insurance is a tool that people look at with different levels of seriousness, depending on how far they have traveled.

Shrivastava says another way to ensure safety is to have emergency contacts that travelers can contact.

“Your family doesn’t always know [or] whoever you believe and trust in terms of where you are, where you are going, and what means of transportation you are using,” he said.

If you are in France… try to be French?

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Cruising in Paris isn’t just about getting on the right bus or staying in the right place. It’s about taking a certain culture and mixing it with the city where you can. Noel Wolf, a language teacher and cultural expert at language learning site Babbel, thinks learning some basic phrases can be a game changer.

“Not only does being able to communicate in the local language facilitate cross-cultural communication, but it’s important to keep travelers safe at high-pressure, large-scale events like the Olympics,” Wolf said.

Brushing up on your French will also come in handy when asking for directions or asking for help, making you feel more confident. People often regret not knowing the local language, which adds to the stress of travel, Babbel found in the study.

“Travellers will also need to familiarize themselves with the landscape and public transportation in Paris, so in the event of an emergency or becoming separated from their travel companions, attendees can have a general idea of ​​where they are within the city and navigate their way back. at home,” said Wolf.

Other etiquette tips, such as “Bonjour” and keeping your voice low in restaurants, are also helpful to remember.

And with that, you should be ready for the summer of Paris. Safe travels, or as the French would say, you went well!