It’s been a long time since the summer Olympics have been held as close to Luxembourg as the Paris games which kick off on 26 July and end on 11 August.
Many Luxembourgers will be tempted to drive down the motorway, hop on a TGV or even fly to the French capital to experience the games live. But from tickets and hotel beds to traffic and the risk of terrorism, there is a lot to think about when it comes to pursuing that dream.
Here’s a guide to what everyone who is considering travelling to the Olympics in Paris needs to know.
Are tickets still available? When and how can they be purchased?
There are still tickets available for the competitions, but the remaining tickets will be put online on the Olympic Games official ticket page, with only a few days’ notice. If you want to get hold of a ticket, you have to be quick as they are being sold on a first come, first served basis.
An exchange for the resale of tickets will be launched in mid-May. Sports fans will then be able to buy tickets for events that are already sold out or get rid of a ticket for a particular competition.
Is there still accommodation available and at what price?
There is still accommodation available in Paris and the surrounding area for the duration of the Olympic Games. However, don’t expect to find any bargains. A number of hotels have raised their prices considerably for the duration of the event.
If a bed in a dormitory is enough, you can still find a place in a hostel for just under €70 a night. A twin room or a flat for two people in Paris is available from €130 upwards per night.
In the suburb of Saint-Denis, home to the Stade de France where some competitions are being held, accommodation is hardly cheaper. There is no upper price limit. During the Olympics in and around Paris, two people can spend a good €1,000 a night - or even as much as €5,000.
Is there any chance of a cheap last-minute trip to the Games?
It is advisable to book seats on trains, buses or planes early, as travelling later will be more expensive and there is a risk of fully booked connections.
A few days ago, the national railway SNCF started taking bookings for the summer period. Additional trains and capacity for the Olympic Games have not yet been announced. In addition, many Parisians will also travelling in the middle of the summer holidays.
Will Paris and the Metro be completely overcrowded during the Olympics?
That is the big question. Pessimists already see the city descending into chaos. The games will take place in the middle of the French summer holidays, when many of the capital’s residents traditionally head off on holiday. And this summer there could be many more.
In a survey conducted a few days ago, 47% of residents in the capital region said they wanted to travel during the games to escape the crowds and inflated prices.
The Metro also often has more space than usual in the summer, except for some tourist routes. During the games, extra capacity is being laid on and many Parisian workers will be encouraged to work remotely.
Will everything actually be ready in time?
Construction workers are still hard at work in a number of places. However, the Olympic Village has already been inaugurated and most of the infrastructure is ready. The organisers are optimistic and believe they are well on schedule.
The only remaining concerns are whether the opening ceremony of the Games can take place as planned in the middle of the Seine for safety reasons, and whether the water quality of the river will ultimately be sufficient to hold swimming competitions there as planned.
And then there is another typically French question: could strikes cause chaos in the middle of the Games? This cannot be ruled out completely, but the expectation is that in the event of disputes over pay rises for Metro drivers, for example, every effort will be made to calm the waters in good time.
Do I need to organise tickets for Parisian sights in advance?
If you want to visit the Palace of Versailles, climb the Eiffel Tower or marvel at art in the Louvre, you should organise a ticket before your visit to Paris.
Tickets for the sights and numerous other major Parisian museums are usually available several months in advance via their respective websites. Visitors can select a specific day and time slot.
Tickets are available already for Versailles, four months in advance for the Musée d'Orsay, two and a half months in advance for the Louvre and two months in advance for the Eiffel Tower.
If you have a little more time, you can also try to get admission to the garden of impressionist painter Claude Monet or to one of the Loire castles to the south-west of Paris.
What is the cheapest way to take part in the games in Paris?
Shortly after the Olympic Games, the Paralympic Games will also take place in Paris from 28 August to 8 September, for which there are still plenty of tickets available online. Hotel prices are lower for the period and slightly fewer guests are expected in the city.
So, if you want to avoid high prices and a crowded city centre, cheer on some of the more than 4,000 athletes in 23 sports during the Paralympics.
How great is the terror threat?
The recent attack in Moscow that left 137 dead has once again put the jihadist threat at the centre of security priorities - including at the Olympics. Hundreds of thousands of visitors of all nationalities are expected at dozens of venues in Paris.
“An attack on the Olympic Games would undoubtedly be a dream come true for the Islamic State, and I’m sure there are already plans in place,” said Tore Hamming from the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation.
“Of course we are on the spectrum of targets,” said Hans-Jakob Schindler, senior director of the Counter Extremism Project. “But there is an international cooperation mechanism for these mass events, and it works well.”