I’M A PARISIAN, GET ME OUT OF HERE!
Almost half of Parisians reveal they’re leaving home because of the Olympics, as Brits complain inflated accommodation prices prevent them from attending
- As excitement for the games sweeps the globe, research by leading home-swapping platform, HomeExchange, reveals an exodus of Parisians from the host city
- Almost half (43%) of Parisians plan to leave the city for the two weeks of the games and 18% claiming they’ll be staying put but wishing they were elsewhere
- The European cities Parisians would most like to be during this time are Rome, Barcelona and London
- With temporary accommodation costs skyrocketing by as much as 300%[1], a quarter of Brits (24%) and a third (32%) of London residents say they’d consider trading homes with someone in Paris to experience the excitement of the games
- To help those looking to swap their city this summer, HomeExchange is calling upon Brits and Parisians alike to trade homes
It’s the world’s most prestigious and anticipated sporting event, promising crowds, entertainment, and athletic excellence. Yet, new research from leading home swapping platform HomeExchange reveals almost half (43%) of Parisians plan to leave the host city for the two weeks the Olympics is taking place, with many more (18%) staying, but wishing they could be somewhere else.
In the new study, 500 Parisians responded to the event taking place in their home city, they cited crowded transport (69%), too many tourists (68%) and overcrowded favourite bars and restaurants (41%) as key factors for the exodus. The research also revealed the ten cities they’d most like to swap with, with Barcelona (18%), Rome (17%) and London (14%) leading the way.
Meanwhile, with temporary accommodation prices skyrocketing up to 300% during the fortnight, 67% of Brits believe that inflated hotel and rental prices is the biggest disincentive from attending the event, just a short journey from our shores.
Yet, one in four Brits (24%) and a third (32%) of Londoners said they would definitely consider swapping homes with a Parisian for the fortnight to soak up the crowds and sporting spectacle if it meant they could avoid the eye-watering costs of hotels and rentals.
Emmanuel Arnaud, CEO of HomeExchange says: “It’s an event that comes round only every four years, a celebration of sport, culture, and international togetherness. Yet, it’s also a time when hotels and owners of rental accommodation are exploiting the demand. So many potential visitors from the U.K. could miss out, or pay way more than they bargained for, due to the overinflated price of accommodation.
At the same time, almost half the residential properties in Paris could be empty due to locals who want a bit of peace and quiet away from the crowds. Swapping is the ideal solution to keep everyone happy without breaking the bank.”
As many prepare their Olympic plans, HomeExchange continues to invite residents of Paris and London to explore the possibility of home swapping and embrace the spirit of cultural exchange. For more information on home swapping, visit www.homeexchange.com.
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