Paris is the land of multiple World Heritage Sites, such as the Eiffel Tower and Château de Versailles and many other structures showing the excellence of French architecture. So, there is no wonder that Paris is transforming historical sites into Olympic venues.
However, there are multidimensional aspects behind choosing these important sites or places of tourist attractions as Olympic venues. Of course, it’s a brilliant move to boost tourism in the “World’s Most Powerful City Destination.” The Travel and Tourism Sector of Paris was worth a whopping $36BN USD in 2022.
Further, choosing these sites as Olympic venues has a sustainability aspect. It’s an endeavor to reduce the carbon footprint drastically and make the Paris Olympics the “Greenest Olympics” ever.
Are you traveling to Paris and have plans to catch up on the Olympic events? Get your travel plan right by knowing the historical places to visit, why they are significant travel destinations, and how choosing them as Olympic venues is a sustainable move.
Paris Transforming Historical Sites Into Olympic Venues (Make Changes In Your Travel Plans)
Various historical sites in Paris have become the stage for gala Olympic events. So, know the historical places to visit if you are traveling to Paris now and want to enjoy the games and the history of the iconic city altogether.
Here, you will first see a table mentioning the historical venues and the Olympic events that will take place there. Later, you will find brief descriptions of the historical importance of these places. 1
Historical Site
Olympic 2024 Event
The Seine River
The Olympics Opening Ceremony Men’s Marathon Swimming Competition (Tentatively on 8th and 9th August 2024 After Postponement)
Eiffel Tower Stadium
Beach Volleyball and Blind Football
Pont Alexandre III
Triathlon, Para triathlon, Swimming Marathon, and Individual Cycling Time Trials
The Grand Palais
Taekwondo and Fencing
Château de Versailles
Equestrian events from July 27th to August 11th and from September 3rd to 7th, 2024
The Stade Yves-du-Manoir in Colombes (92)
Field Hockey Games
It All Begins On The Seine River With The Opening Ceremony
Best Time To Visit The Seine River: June-August
The 2024 Olympics has seen the most unusual opening ceremony held on the Seine River. The river is named after Sequana, a Celtic Goddess.
Further, this river has been an important bearer of French culture, identity, and life. l’école de Honfleur, one of the most prominent impressionist movements in France, was inspired by this river.
Also, as you take a boat ride in this river, you can see the most iconic monuments in the city. Looking at the Eiffel Tower or the Louvre Museum is surely going to be a lifetime experience for you. The Sainte Chapelle and Cathedral of Notre Dame are other significant pieces of architecture that can be seen from the river.
Best Season To Visit The Eiffel Tower Stadium: June to September
Are you looking for “Paris tourist sites Olympics 2024?” Visit the Eiffel Tower Stadium on the Champ-de-Mars. Beach volleyball games at this venue are already gathering a lot of attention, with tourists finding the place “Instagrammable.”
The Eiffel Tower is the stadium and is often interpreted as the tangible form of the human desire to reach the sky. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991, and today it is the most visited “paid monument” in the world.
Pont Alexandre III
Best Season to Visit: September to April
Pont Alexandre III is a bridge named after Russian Tsar Alexandre III, and it celebrates the historic alliance between Russia and France. This year, the bridge will be entering its 125th year as it was built between 1896 and 1900 for the “1900 World Fair.”
With a steel base, the bridge stands out for its gold-plated statues of bronze, cast-iron lamps, and stone pillars.
The Grand Palais
Best Season to Visit: September to June
The Grand Palais is dedicated to the “glory of French Art.” It was built in 1900 for the Universal Exhibition. Exactly 100 years after its foundation, the Grand Palais got its designation as a historic monument in 2000.
This architectural excellence was made with glass, stone, and steel. It portrays an excellent fusion of the Baroque style and classicism.
Further, the polychrome friezes in the ceramics and mosaics, iconic statutes, and embellishments tell fascinating stories about the excellence of French architecture and art.
Château de Versailles
Best Season to Visit: April to October
The Château de Versailles is a World Heritage Site (designated in 1979) with its grounds and gardens. It is the official residence of the French King and also the largest Château in the world. Further, it is the greatest outcome of the 17th century French Art.
Built by King Louis XIV, the palace today has a magnificent presence covering 63,154 m2 area. However, the Château de Versailles is not just a remarkable site for its magnanimousity. It also stands tall for its creative excellence and originality.
Moreover, the Château de Versailles was
“The absolute seat of power of the monarch, Versailles was the best formulated and best adapted crucible for French court life for a century and a half (Louis XIV perfectioned “etiquette”) and artistic creation in the domain of music, theatre and the decorative arts. Numerous scientific discoveries were presented there, encouraged by the kings, founders of royal academies.”
The Stade Yves-du-Manoir in Colombes (92)
Best Season to Visit: Any Season
The Stade Yves-du-Manoir in Colombes (92) makes history as one of the rarest venues to host two Olympic games. It was the main venue for the 1924 Summer Olympics, and this year, it will host the field hockey games.
The stadium gets its name from Yves du Manoir, a noted French rugby player.
Transforming Historical Sites Into Olympic Venues: An Important Aspect Of Sustainable Promises
Paris Olympics 2024 promotes and practices the complete use of renewable energy. The locally sourced renewable energy is a fruit of the Olympics’ goal of maintaining sustainability. If you are traveling to different Olympic venues in Paris, you will notice the following sustainable practices.
No use of diesel generators
Connection to the grid, enabling the use of sustainable energy
Solar panels in the Aquatics Centre and Olympic Village
Geothermal cooling systems in the Olympic Village (No use of traditional airconditioning system)
Use of recyclable material in building the Aquatics Centre, the only new permanent venue
More Insight Into Sustainable Transformation Of The World’s Most Iconic Tourist Sites Into Olympic Venues In 2024
Further, the International Olympic Committee and Paris are abiding by the promise of sustainability by transforming historical sites into Olympic venues. In the Paris Olympics 2024, 95% of the events will take place at existing historical sites or buildings. This is a conscious decision to practice economic and environmental sustainability. 2, 3
Overall, the Paris Olympics 2024, by transforming historical sites into Olympic venues and using renewable energy, is trying to be the “greenest Olympics ever.” The plan is to reduce the carbon emissions to half in comparison to the previous chapters in London, Rio, and Tokyo (2012, 2016, 2020).
The Committee is particular about its commitment to legacy planning. Further, the reuse of infrastructures is going to be a crucial factor in making the events carbon neutral.
In addition, by choosing the historical sites in Paris as Olympic venues, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) takes one step forward in its effort to minimize the environmental impact of the game. This IOC initiative has been going on since 2017.
Paris organizers, however, made their stance clear on converting historical sites into temporary Olympic venues in 2016. In a report to the International Olympic Committee, they wrote,
“Temporary venues in iconic locations, which will see the city’s greatest sites transformed into stunning stages for sport and embedding the Games in the public domain.”
Along with practicing sustainability, this move has been a wonderful way to impress spectators and get more advertisers and sponsors on board.
Olympics On Mind: Space Travel And The Greatest Sports Event
The frenzy for the Summer Olympics 2024 in Paris reaches the sky. The six living astronauts in the International Space Station showed that they had the Olympics on their minds.
Jeanette Epps, Mike Barratt, Sunita Williams, Tracy Caldwell Dyson, and Butch Wilmore kickstarted their mini Olympics in space by passing the Olympic torch.
In the July 26th video published by NASA, we get to see how the astronauts playfully gear up for their events. Jeanette Epps and Sunita Williams shook up their arms, and Butch Wilmore gulped a water globule roaming around his head. Then, he stretched his upper body.
Sunita Williams further showed some gymnastics moves to up the Olympic spirit in space. However, Butch Wilmore shot-putting a duct tape ball and Mike Barratt launching a discus were the highlights of the fun activities in space.
Matthew Dominick, the NASA scientist currently living off Earth, has said, “Over the past few days on the International Space Station, we’ve had an absolute blast pretending to be Olympic athletes.” The activities were more fun because of the weightlessness in the space. 4
Who knew that there would be a marriage of space travel and the Olympics like this?
Final Words
With Paris transforming historical sites into Olympic venues, it’s time to plan a trip to the French capital from 26th July to 11th August.
It’s time you enjoy the greatest sports events and encounter the best chapters of French history at once. These picturesque locations are also great for clicking photographs for posterity and garnering attention on your socials.
Also, visiting these places this season can be a small contribution on your behalf to acknowledging the importance of sustainability in travel, tourism, and gala events.
So, are you planning to visit Paris during the Olympics? Bon voyage!
World Travel & Tourism Council (WITC) – World Travel & Tourism Council is the “forum for the travel and tourism industry.” With members from the global business community, it works to build awareness about travel and tourism. ↩︎
UNESCO World Heritage Convention – The World Heritage Convention was adopted by UNESCO on 16th November 1972. This convention is about protecting the natural and cultural heritage of the world. ↩︎
Sustainability Magazine – Sustainability Magazine works as a digital hub for all sustainability news. It also connects the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) executives and sustainability experts of leading brands. ↩︎
Olympic World Library – Olympic World Library is an online catalogue. Here, you can find a collection of more than 30000 publications by the Olympic Studies Centre. ↩︎
Meet Sibashree Bhattacharya, a travel enthusiast who has a decade-long experience in transcending virtual barriers with her words! Her deep love for travel is apparent from her travel escapades to the mountain, often taking her readers on a journey, her words acting as Portkey! Fun fact: Sibashree loves to dive deep into the history of the places she is about to visit, making her travels even more wholesome. If you were wondering how her articles are not short of time travel, this answers it!
Spain, with its vibrant culture, historical landmarks, tantalizing food, and picturesque landscapes, is a country that captures the heart of every traveler. If it's your first time visiting, the prospect can be both exciting and a little daunting. How do you navigate this unfamiliar yet enchanting territory?
Don't worry. These five insider tips are just what you need to make the most of your trip and create unforgettable memories. Here's what you should keep in mind.
1 - Understand Spanish Culture
Familiarize yourself with Spanish customs and norms before your trip. Spanish people are known for their laid-back lifestyle and love for socializing. In Spain, meal times are later than what you might be used to; lunch typically starts at 2 p.m., and dinner at 9 p.m. or later.
Siestas are a real thing, with many shops closing in the afternoon for a few hours. The nightlife is vibrant and starts late. And one more thing: remember the Spanish love for celebrations and festivals — you might just find one happening during your visit!
2 - Explore Iconic Landmarks
Spain is rich in history and boasts of numerous World Heritage sites. From the royal palaces in Madrid, the iconic Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, the Alhambra in Granada, to the historic old town of Toledo, there's a lot to see.
You should — of course — prioritize your itinerary according to your interests and time constraints, but don't miss out on these marvels.
3 - Discover Hidden Gems
While tourist hotspots are great, the real charm of Spain lies in its hidden corners. Venture off the beaten path and explore local markets, try a cooking class, take a flamenco lesson, or visit a local vineyard. These unique experiences will give you a taste of authentic Spanish life.
If you're documenting the trip, going off the beaten path also gives you a chance to capture moments and sights that most travelers never get to experience. There's plenty of good public transportation in Spain, but if you'd like to explore, it can be smart to rent a car or charter a Yacht. The latter is easier than you might think, as the SeekSail website shows.
4 - Optimize Your Itinerary
Don't make the mistake of cramming too much into your itinerary. Spain is a country to be savored. Traveling between cities can be time-consuming, so it's better to explore a few places thoroughly rather than trying to see them all.
Remember to plan your day around the Spanish rhythm. You should take advantage of the late morning to explore, relax during the siesta hours, and soak in the nightlife.
5 - Pack Appropriately
Spanish weather can be quite variable. Summers can be scorching hot, while winters are cold, especially in the north. Pack light, breathable clothing for summer and layers for winter. Don't forget comfortable shoes for all the walking you'll be doing!
Remember, traveling is all about immersing yourself in the local culture and stepping out of your comfort zone. Use these tips to truly engage with Spain's captivating charm. And who knows, you might even come back home with a touch of the Spanish zest for life!
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A great city to visit, New Orleans is vibrant, sweeping you off your feet with its diverse beauty! The Mardi Gras events, colorful jewelry, delicious cuisine, world-class musicians, amazing architecture, and rich history of the place bring together an amazing experience.
But with that beautiful culture, there is also a hint of fear, especially with the crimes and history of violence the place carries. You need to pay attention to the people around you, and the surroundings, manage your expenses, check your alcohol consumption, and walk across high-trafficked areas.
Additionally, you will be charmed by the place but do not forget to be aware of your environment. You can also book accommodation at New Orleans family hotels! Additionally, you can also go on free walking tours, and food tours, and adhere to the safety tips shared with you.
Is New Orleans Safe as a Solo Traveller: Shared Experience!
The city is a mix of art, tradition, culture, and a lot of Gangsta! Yes, New Orleans experiences a lot of negative press especially when violence in the city is over-advertised. While the strong sense of community is not highlighted as much.
People look after each other in New Orleans, especially with the cultural exchange and festivities. If you live in the city, of course, you will love it, after all, it is your place. However, if you are a tourist, you will fall in love. One of the best exotic places to travel, you must visit New Orleans once in your lifetime!
Yes, the place has its issues, every place in the world does. There might be a little concern when it comes to violence along with the drug crisis. It is, therefore, important to understand why you need to be cautious when roaming alone in the city.
Let's explore the places you must visit, eat food at, or stay at which are safe for a solo traveler. Additionally, I will also offer you tips on how you can stay safe in New Orleans. Even though most of the areas where tourists stay, or visit is quite safe.
Tips to Stay Safe in New Orleans
The areas such as the Garden District, the French Quarter, the Warehouse District, and the Central Business District where the tourists frequent a lot are quite safe. Yet, it is important to have basic common-sense practices that you must engage in to be safe.
If you see any family in New Orleans with kids, know that there are enough fun things to do with them too. It is not just perfect for young or solo travelers. Furthermore, there are several family activities in New Orleans such as visiting the museums, national parks, and others.
Book Accommodations at a Busy Place
Try to book your well-lit accommodation, especially if you like wandering around at night. If you are someone who likes to experience the nightlife of a place, it is better if you book your rooms in an area with heavy traffic.
Try to book rideshare with Lyft or Uber when you are returning late at night. An extra layer of security is when you have the option to request a female, or a male driver based on your preference. It is not always safe to get on public transport, especially late at night when you might not get any help if a crisis arose.
Be Careful of What You Drink and Where
New Orleans is a party, creating a vibrant and fun vacation for you. Alcohol is an important part of this vacation and of course, you can drink when you are out enjoying yourself. Yes, you can visit the closest beach to New Orleans to experience the relaxed but vibrant vibe of the place.
However, I would suggest trying to control the amount. Please do not leave your drink unattended so, even when going to the bathroom, take it with you. Cover your drink when you are in a crowded bar, and this advice is for both men and women.
Petty Crime
When you go out in New Orleans, try to keep your expensive watches, jewelry bags, or cameras in the safety of your hotel room. This way, you will not attract any unwanted attention from people by ill means.
In a crowded street, you need to keep your wallet, money, and other essentials in your front pockets. Be aware and careful of your surroundings, also try to wear your bags across your shoulder so it is not that easy to snatch them while passing.
Beware of the Scammers
If you look like a tourist, you are done! There are scammers everywhere and if you look like a tourist, you are an easy target. If you are visiting the city during carnival time or festivities, a lot of scammers can try to sell things as souvenirs at a high price.
Additionally, try not to be too polite because scammers take advantage of your nature. They identify you based on your behavior and stalk you to learn your ways so that they can take advantage of your weaknesses.
Try not to engage with anyone, whether it is about money, time, conversation, or smile especially if they are strangers. Keep walking if anyone is repeatedly trying to engage you and also say no to drinks or food coming from strangers.
Things You Can Do in New Orleans Alone
I travel alone frequently, and if you are planning to travel to New Orleans alone, let me share with you some of the top places to visit. A colorful city, New Orleans has a rich history where you can view beautiful architecture along with delicious cuisine.
How can you forget the lively music scene that is available on most streets of New Orleans? Try to follow the common practices when out in the street so that you don’t seem out of place for fraudsters. Let's explore the top things you have to do to be safe and still enjoy your vacation alone!
Top Places to Visit
These are some of the places you must visit if you are traveling to New Orleans. Especially as a solo traveler, if you are wondering if is New Orleans safe, you should visit these places to experience the beauty of it all.
Take a walk across the French Quarter: One of the most popular places in New Orleans, the vibrant history of the place along with the buildings and their architecture will take your breath away. If you are traveling alone, it is better if you take a guided walking tour or else you might miss things!
Visit the Whitney Plantation Tour: If you want to learn more about the history of Louisiana’s slavery, you should visit the Whitney Plantation. You will gain a profound understanding when you see all the preserved buildings along with powerful exhibits. These exhibits tell the stories of enslaved people who used to live there.
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Go to a Jazz National Historical Park: If you are a music lover, you will fall in love with this park because it offers you live music. Additionally, some exhibitions and performances will educate you about the rich jazz heritage of New Orleans.
Book a Swamp Tour: Are you a wildlife enthusiast? If so, you gotta go experience the swamp tour where you can sport wild boars and alligators in their natural habitat. Furthermore, you also get to learn more about how these places are maintained.
Top Restaurants and Bars
Several restaurants, pubs, and bars offer you delicious southern cuisine along with trademark drinks. One of the coolest places you can visit if you are traveling solo, Cochon is your go-to. Offering comfortable Southern food, you can enjoy diverse flavors.
Sazerac Bar is another place that you cannot miss, especially when it is known for its historical watering hole. It is known for its chilled atmosphere along with art deco interiors.
Travel Insurance
It is quite important to keep in mind that travel insurance is an important part of staying safe and secure, whether you are traveling solo or with family. The destination does not matter as long as travel insurance is a non-negotiable aspect when you are traveling.
If you face any unforeseen incidents, it is the travel insurance that helps you in weird situations. In the US, healthcare is expensive, so if you have travel insurance, you can manage any Healthcare insurance thus, footing the bill easily.
Yes, initially, Healthcare might be expensive but once you get it, your medical emergencies, lost baggage, and travel delays can be easily dealt with.
Places to Avoid in New Orleans
If you are traveling to New Orleans alone and wondering is New Orleans safe, I have the perfect answer for you. The place is perfect for solo travelers as long as you are a little aware and careful of your surroundings.
Additionally, there is also a possibility that you might be in a crisis, so for that, we have shared tips that will ensure that you enjoy yourself to the fullest. Read the blog and let us know how these tips have helped you.
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Traveling is like a continuous learning session. It does not matter whether you are traveling for the first time or a seasoned voyager.
Every destination awaits a new surprise where you need to use your judgment and experience to deal with adversities. However, following the basic tips to travel always gives you an edge.
Further, when you plan a trip to a dream place and follow the tips right, your travel becomes more economical, safe, and convenient.
Best Tips to Travel Around the World:
From the moment you plan to travel around the world, there are a lot of tasks upon you. Once you have made up your mind regarding the place, you check on the available transformation, expenses, weather, safety, and amenities.
Another crucial aspect of traveling right is traveling light. You must be on-point and minimalistic about what you carry. We always tend to overpack, resulting in additional baggage charges and inconvenience.
Here, I have curated the things you need to keep in mind if you love to travel.
1. Credit cards:
These are known as handy tools for travelers and are used for various purposes. Some of the cards work out to cut airline miles to lessen the cost of air travel. And many cards include no transaction fees. This allows savings of up to a 3% fee on any purchases.
It is essential to inform the bank when any international tour is planned and when a credit card needs to be used. If there is a sudden purchase from the international market and the bank is unaware of the owner’s location, then the account may freeze, suspecting something fishy.
2. A single big plane ticket:
It costs more when it comes to buying a ticket in pieces for different places. But, if a single ticket is bought for places all around, the cost is much less.
One needs to arrange travel in one direction only. They have a time limit to complete their traveling. But, still, it is a great idea to move around the world. Try to plan to move around to places cheaper to stay in. This is one of the smartest tips to travel around the world, enabling one to visit many destinations.
3. Light luggage:
The luggage should carry only the most essential stuff required during the travel. Look for the travel backpack. It is designed especially to work as an airline carry-on bag and secure one from the possibility of missing the luggage in between the flights. It also saves us from paying for checking the bags and overweight items.
The cost of an overweight checked item is at least $100. So, limiting the weight of your luggage is one of the basic tips to travel around the world.
4. Clothes:
It is advisable to pack a few clothes that can be washed and dried easily. Also, keep clothes for different seasons. The weather changes from place to place. Buying clothes from the international market will cost a lot.
In addition, keep some layering options handy with jackets and shrugs. Accessories like scarves and bandanas also help to sport a stylish look without much effort.
5. Look for a room or hostel:
Every traveler would like to stretch it in an air-conditioned room on the soft beds. However, the cost will be high. To limit the expenses, it is preferable to look for a room or a hostel which can be enough to rest, and the washroom facilities are good.
It is assumed that hostels are usually for students. But there are international organizations that serve the purpose of hosteling for travelers.
There are many amenities that hotels offer free of cost. But it covers the cost of it in other charges. Here, one can have “its” and limited use of such amenities to save the cost.
The best option is to look for a room that can provide privacy and a cooking facility. Make me feel at home.
The best travel agencies with years of experience in arranging international trip packages keep fair ideas for such accommodation for their clients.
6. Eat locally:
Dining in the hotels and restaurants will cost too much. In such places, they charge for food plus the ambiance and added tax.
Eating street foods is affordable. However, it requires checking the surroundings and maintaining a good hygiene level. Many times, this locally served food is equal to or much better in taste compared to big hotels and restaurants.
If the accommodation place has a kitchen, then it can be used to self-serve by cooking food.
7. Travellers insurance:
This is a must. One does not need to save money over here. Many travelers find it less important. It is helpful in times when any of the expensive things get stolen and turn out to be most useful in case any medication is required.
Struggling is for every traveler to adapt to the different water easily and get comfortable with the weather easily.
8. Enjoy exploring the place on your own:
This sounds great when a group of people is traveling together. It exhilarates the group to be together and share every tune of the time together. But it sounds a little different for a solo traveler.
They solo traveler can buy the local map to help him/her. He/she can skip the transport or ask the tour guide to pay a large amount. He/she can rent the transport for short distances, and the rest can walk around to see the surroundings.
9. Work part-time:
Even after following all the above points. If a traveler runs out or feels like getting short on a few bucks, he/ she can look for part-time work in place.
There are many opportunities for such work. This can be a helping hand and even a good time pass plus he/she gets to know people from different places.
Final Words: Take Care of Yourself
As we travel around the world, we often forget to take care of ourselves. Sometimes, our travel itinerary becomes very exhaustive in the pursuit of covering everything we need to see and do.
Along with the tips to travel around the world discussed here, you must ensure you are taking care of yourself.
You must get enough sleep, eat healthy food, and remain hydrated to keep going. Also, you must take care of your personal hygiene. So, have a happy journey, and be safe!
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