Is now a good time to vacation in the French capital?

Despite concerns about high prices and crowds ahead of the Olympics, now might be an unexpectedly good time to take a vacation to Paris.

Hotels and restaurants have told the BBC they have lowered prices to attract customers after a “catastrophic” drop in revenue during the Olympics, leaving them asking what the Olympics have done for them.

For those who watch the sport on television, the French capital may seem like the center of the world, but the city’s relatively quiet streets and empty dining tables tell a different story.

Earlier this week, local media reported on the “deserted” conditions at Disneyland and the bewilderment of Parisians as they tried to grab seats on the metro during rush hour.

So, what happened?

Analysts say many Parisians are leaving the city in droves for the summer, as is their tradition. But at the same time, some overseas visitors are also deterred by concerns about Olympic-scale price gouging and overcrowding.

One of the locals who used the word “catastrophic” was Lies, a restaurateur in the usually bustling Latin Quarter who said July was his worst month in 25 years. He told the BBC that at least people continued to order delivery during the worst days of the coronavirus pandemic.

Rice said visitors were delayed because of a security lockdown in place in the area during last week’s opening ceremony.

Yarva, another nearby restaurateur who lingered outside his door, said potential tourists were choosing not to pay hotel prices that had multiplied many times before the Olympics.

He said the event was “only for rich people” and gestured to express his belief that price inflation has gone crazy.

Ahead of the Olympics, airlines warned of low interest in travel to Paris, with both Delta Air Lines and the Air France-owned company predicting an impact on their business.

“Unless you’re going to the Olympics, people aren’t going to Paris,” the Delta boss told CNBC.

Writing in The Independent this week, travel expert Simon Calder said this was reflected in flight prices being well below what would normally be charged at this time of year.

At the time of writing, next-day one-way flights from UK cities cost as little as £31 ($39) per adult (from Edinburgh). However, fares on Eurostar trains affected by a sabotage attack on France’s rail network last week have risen sharply.

Raphael Batko of hotel marketing company Doyield said there was an “avoidance effect” in June and July. He also used the word “catastrophic” to describe the phenomenon, but said the number of tourists had increased and was now satisfactory.

Similar avoidance has occurred at previous Olympics, including London 2012. Businesses say Olympics scare away tourists and cut into their profits.

What remains to be seen is whether emergency action by the hotel industry will be enough to save Olympic trade for many Paris businesses.

Riad, the owner of Olympie restaurant, is trying to attract diners by claiming that a meal in the Latin Quarter can now be had for just €8 (£6.80, $8.70) as the restaurant cuts prices.

Restaurants have tried a similar trick — largely reversing an earlier offensive trend of price hikes. Tourism authorities confirmed average prices during the Olympics had returned to €258 (£219; $279) per night, after peaking at €342 last month.

The BBC has seen that many Airbnb offers are advertising reduced prices, although the company says prices have remained stable since the start of the year and more locals are opening their own homes in host cities.

Individual hoteliers in Paris spoke of successes and failures.

Dino, a hospitality manager, said bookings had reached normal levels but only after cutting prices in half when the situation “looked bleak”.

Another, Isabelle, said her own price cuts had not been effective, lamenting that “we have gained nothing from the Olympics”.

Christophe Decroux, head of the Choose Paris regional tourism board, said that apart from the sport, there are many reasons to come to the French capital to escape the summer heat.

He cited the city’s rich culture, smooth transportation and “very joyful” atmosphere during the Olympics.

“Paris is usually very quiet in late July and August because people go on vacation,” he said. “Now, except for some areas around the venues where people connect through the sport, it’s business as usual in August. calm.

Organizers of the 2024 Paris Olympics are touting the Games’ positive impact on Paris following record ticket sales.

You can still sign up to watch the event as tickets will be released daily. Organizers told the BBC on Friday that around 800,000 of those were still up for grabs.

With the sporting event proving to be unforgettable in its own right, and with some disgruntled businesses going to great lengths to lure visitors, tourists booking last-minute trips to Paris may find themselves getting a bargain.