Airbnb and its holiday break hosts are set to strike gold in the Paris Olympics with places to stay – including a shed – rocketing in price.
The holiday firm, which sponsors the Games, is expecting more than half a million people in to its rental rooms during the 16-day event, making it about £850million.
And big demand from fans has seen hosts ramping up prices to astonishing amounts. We found a renovated shed in a garden with one double bed and a single mattress just outside the French capital going for £9,016 for the whole Games at £507 a night excluding taxes and fees– up from its normal £275 summer rate, an increase of 83%.
There’s no shower, just a sink. The blurb says: “Recharge your batteries in this unspoiled nature on a secret island 20 minutes from the Stade de France.”
Another Airbnb host is advertising a one-bed spruced up tin-roof outhouse with toilet and shower for £15,849 for the whole Games, again excluding taxes and fees. One review says: “Mould in the fridge, tomato sauce in the microwave.”
London, New York and Europe welcome New Year; plus pics from around the worldHotel fans may be better off. A stay at the four-star Trianon Rive Gauche – with a bar and wifi – costs £7,000 for the same number of nights. Many UK fans will be camping as they cheer on heroes including runner Keely Hodgkinson.
Airbnb said: “The average price of booked stays has remained stable since the start of this year as more Parisians have opened their homes. Consumer organisations says hotel prices have tripled to more than €1,000 on average.”