English holidaymakers are pouring into Paris this Easter, with 20,000 crossing the Channel yesterday alone. The city, basking in ideal spring weather, is attracting visitors from across Europe, including a strong contingent from Germany. Cafes have removed their windows, chestnuts are budding, and the Tuileries are bright with tulips, signalling the arrival of spring.
Those who arrive without pre-booked rooms face a challenge, as hotels are overwhelmed. One small hotel proprietor in a less touristy quarter reported receiving enough applications in recent days to fill his establishment for two months. Every Easter sees a record influx of visitors, but this year appears to be exceptional.
Paris is currently the cheapest capital in Europe for tourists, with restaurants, theatres, music halls and other amusements priced at about half London rates. While hotel prices are raised for the occasion, visitors find compensation in the low cost of entertainment. Taxi fares, at threepence a mile, are doubled at night, but this does not deter holidaymakers.
Foreign playgoers in Paris fall into four categories. Some head straight for the Folies-Bergère, followed by the Moulin Rouge or Casino de Paris, attracted by the dances and scantily clad performers. Others prefer the horror of the Grand Guignol. A more serious group frequents the Comédie Française, with occasional visits to the Odeon, where translations of English plays such as The Devil’s Disciple or Saint Joan can be seen.
With Easter crowds swelling the city, Paris is once again proving itself a magnet for tourists seeking both culture and value. The sun continues to shine, and the weather is expected to hold.
