Paris hotels you can still book with points for the Olympics
Did you just remember you need to book a hotel for the Paris Olympics? If so, now might be a good time to settle your lodging.
Most of the places you can book now with points or cash require you to make a nonrefundable reservation. But the good news is there's still some award availability for stays in the critical July 26 to Aug. 11 Olympics window. Here's a look at the hotel award availability I found.
Related: Paris Pocket Guide: What to see, do and eat in the City of Light
Can I book a hotel for the Paris Olympics?
You can still book a hotel for the Paris Olympics, although award availability in some programs is limited or nonexistent. A press release from STR relayed that Paris hotel bookings for the 2024 Paris Olympics are above 60%, which is likely why award availability is scarce.
For context, the numbers from the STR press release show this booking level is about three times what you'd normally see at this time of year for hotels in Paris. So, you may want to book soon if you plan to stay in Paris during the Olympics.
Related: The best hotels in Paris
Paris Olympics hotels with award availability
Admittedly, award availability for Paris Olympics hotels is worse than I expected when I agreed to write this story. But, using the Awayz hotel award availability tool, I found some hotels I could book with points for at least a four-night stay during the Paris Olympics.
Hyatt fans, I have bad news for you: I didn't find any availability for redeeming Hyatt points for a stay in Paris of at least four nights during the Olympics. But here's a look at some hotels with the best availability during the Paris Olympics when I wrote this story.
Choice Privileges hotels
Choice Privileges offers the most economical award rates you can still book for the Paris Olympics. You'll find multiple hotels you can book with Choice points throughout the Olympics.
I'd likely opt for the Comfort Hotel Paris Porte D'Ivry, which is within walking distance of a metro station and costs just 12,000 points per night on weeknights and 16,000 points per night on weekends. Paid rates are also reasonable at this hotel during the Olympics, starting around $75 per night.
Related: 14 ways to earn Choice Privileges points
IHG One Rewards hotels
If you have IHG points and access to the fourth-night reward offered by several IHG credit cards, IHG One Rewards might be the best option for booking a centrally-located Paris Olympics hotel. Look at the following nightly award rates for a four-night stay in Paris during the Olympics.
Availability and pricing vary depending on your dates, but I'd likely book at the Holiday Inn Paris-Montmartre since it offers reasonable award rates during much of the Paris Olympics.
Related: How to earn IHG points via stays, credit cards and more
Hilton Honors hotels
I looked at Hilton Honors hotels I could book for at least a five-night stay during the Paris Olympics. After all, members with Hilton elite status get a fifth night free when redeeming points.
Availability varies based on the dates of your stay, and many hotels only have more-expensive premium room rewards available. But, you'll find some standard room rewards bookable for five nights or more at some Hilton Honors hotels during the Paris Olympics.
I'd likely choose the Hampton by Hilton Paris Clichy, starting at 50,000 points per night and just a 10-minute walk from a metro station. If you want to be closer to the city center, the Hotel Camille Paris Gare de Lyon, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, starts at 65,000 points per night and is just a five-minute walk from the Gare de Lyon.
Related: 12 ways you can earn more Hilton Honors points
Marriott Bonvoy hotels
As with Hilton Honors, I also checked for five-night Marriott Bonvoy stays in Paris during the Olympics since Marriott offers its members a "Stay for 5, Pay for 4" perk when redeeming points.
Award availability is limited if you want to redeem Marriott points for a stay during the Paris Olympics. Also, award rates are high, especially if you want to stay close to the center of Paris.
The Le Meridien Etoile is bookable for 216,000 points for the sample five-night stay in the Marriott search results above. However, the Marriott website claimed no award was available each time I clicked through to book. So, double-check that the award prices you see in the results are bookable.
If you're looking to redeem fewer Marriott points, you may want to consider the Courtyard Paris Creteil. It's well outside Paris but is a short walk from a metro station.
Related: Best ways to earn Marriott Bonvoy points
Accor Live Limitless hotels
Finally, Accor Live Limitless uses fully dynamic award pricing tied directly to paid rates. Specifically, every 1,000 Reward points are worth 20 euros (about $21) toward your stay. So, as long as you can book a paid rate at an Accor Live Limitless property, you can also redeem Accor points. Many Accor hotels are still bookable in Paris during the Olympics.
If you already have Accor points, you might find it useful to redeem them for a stay during the Paris Olympics. However, we don't typically recommend transferring credit card rewards to Accor to book an award stay since the value is relatively low. You're usually better off booking a paid rate through an online travel agency or credit card travel portal.
Related: Best hotel credit cards
Bottom line
I highly recommend using Awayz or a similar hotel availability tool to find stays within a hotel loyalty program that you have points for or can transfer points to. However, note that many hotels in Paris do not offer free cancellation rates for stays during the Olympics, so you'll want to be 100% sure you'll use your hotel reservation before you book.
If you don't think the best hotel option you can find now is ideal, you may want to wait to book. Availability may open up as the Paris Olympics approach. Although, of course, it's also possible that you'll have to stay at an even less ideal property if you wait to book.
You can periodically check award availability or set up a hotel award availability alert through a service like Awayz. If you set up an alert, you can usually request to get an email or text message if the service finds availability at your desired hotel on your specific dates.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.