Whole neighborhoods have changed in Paris (and other large cities where vacation rentals proliferate).

The tailor had to move out, because how many tourists need a zipper repaired or a hem put in their pants?

Idem the cordonnier, because tourists usually wear sneakers.

The fancy butcher finally moved out, because tourists refuse to pay the high prices for his quality merchandise, and only want to buy inexpensive rotisserie chickens, frozen potatoes and maybe a slice of pate.

Idem the fromagerie, whose staff now spends time cutting up cheese for people who only want a little taste, and don't want to buy half a Coulommier, but just a tiny piece of it - which is not possible. Selections of cheeses have diminished dramatically, especially in touristy neighborhoods.

Smaller versions of supermarkets are popping up like mushrooms, which was not the case even 5 years ago. The merchandise has changed drastically to reflect the way tourists eat - even their hours have changed, to reflect tourist activity in certain zones.

Now there are very few "epiceries du coin", and they mostly sell junk food, cold sodas and beer, cheap wine and toilet tissue.

Tiny take-away Asian, Greek, Italian shops are where tourists pick up dinner, because it's cheaper than eating in a restaurant, they are too tired to cook, or they just want something "familiar".

Librairies/papeteries are on the endangered list. The ones who manage to survive sell English-language books and magazines, and the same scrapbook stuff that is found everywhere.

What takes over these empty shops is a proliferation of cheap, imported clothing and jewelry stores that can be found in almost every shopping mall in the world.

Coffee shops catering to Anglophones are also mushrooming. Everything is in English, and "familiar food" is on the menu.

Cafes and restaurants often change hands, due to the increasing cost of trying to provide a meal "fait maison". The menu boards outside reflect the fact that almost all restaurants buy what is on special this week at Metro, the giant wholesale market open to professionals - always "typical French food", which can be sold very cheaply and which tourists want to try. Cafes don't purchase croissants from the nearest boulangerie anymore, but buy frozen products and heat them behind the bar.

Idem for the wine which is served in cafes and restaurants. It's rare to find a neighborhood restaurant or cafe whose owner actually deals with negociants, instead of buying cheaper products at Metro.

Perfume and luxury brands are invading certain neighborhoods which formerly were filled with the sights, sounds and smells of people shopping for "real food" on an everyday basis. Now cosmetics salespeople stand on the sidewalk, "enticing" customers to come in for samples.

Make no mistake about it - locals may visit these places from time-to-time, but most of the businesses exist due to the tourist dollar.

"Whole neighborhoods have changed in Paris (and other large cities where vacation rentals proliferate)."

East Paris, which has shown the same percentage population growth that the Marais and other areas of central Paris have lost, is getting two new bus routes. The number #20 bus will parallel the #11 metro route which is fully saturated and the new #71 from La Villette will traverse the 19th and 20th to the Mitterrand library. The sight seeing #69 will no longer start at the Champ de Mars but at Chatelet and go all the way to the Porte de Pantin.

Even in English, the expression "ignorance is no excuse" exists.>

You are serious about this about naive tourists? Incroyable if so.

How much would you fine them? 100 euros - 200 euros - a jail sentence - got to have some punishment or else everyone would wantonly violate the law.

No fine. Guillottine !

What should the fine be for women wearing pants sans on a velo?

Ignorance is no defense - burn em at the stake or draw and quarter?

All of those people paying cash for their rentals... do you really think that people don't know they are doing something fishy when vast loads of cash are required rather than payments that leave a trace?

In France it is now illegal to pay anything over 1000 euros in cash.

Ok -now I'm getting some answers about why tourists should also be responsible - yes having to pay cash- a laborious process - would be a red flag to me and I guess should be to anyone.

Good point!

All illegal flats demand cash?
Most do?
some do?

No, some agencies do process payments by card or bank transfer, protecting themselves by getting the owner to sign a sworn statement that the apartment is a legal rental. But most places still demand cash. On the Trip Advisor site, one of the most common questions by people is 'what is the limit on a French ATM?' because they need to withdraw big bundles of money on arrival to pay for their accommodations.

Many agencies protect themselves by accepting credit card payments in other countries, most notably in the US, where taxes are probably paid on the rental revenue.
This avoids the problem of having to pay higher taxes on the revenue in France.

It is also illegal to deposit more than 1,000 EU cash in a French bank account.
Banks must monitor and question all accounts which approach 10,000 EU deposits in cash within a 30 day period.
Depending upon the price and the arrangement - some paid in cash, the rest on credit card - this could concern anywhere between 5 to 10 apartments.

"It is also illegal to deposit more than 1,000 EU cash in a French bank account."
Are you sure?
You can deposit as much as you wxnt. The bank is entitled to ask you where the money comes from.

BNP Paribas won't take more than E 1000 cash from me. . . "it's the law" I was told.

I'll take it if it pleases you

For your mattress, or do I get a receipt?

I neeed black money to run my apartments ;-)

I'm going to tell. Aren't rewards for info. being offered now?

How about illegal camping?

"BNP Paribas won't take more than E 1000 cash from me." .
Change bank !
http://www.leparticulier.fr/jcms/p1_...ur-les-comptes
Can you imagine a sypermarket not being able to deposit more than €1,000

Thank you for the link. I didn't see any reference to single deposits, just the E 10,000 total per month maximum. Could the E 1000 as a single deposit maximum amount be the rule? I don't know.

Illegal campers at Juares and Stalingrad are regularly re-located.

It's the rule at my bank, but I never have that much money...

I have often deposited more than 1000 € into my account at the Banque Postale. If I make a wire transfer from my US bank to the Banque Postale, I have to pay fees on both ends. If I withdraw euros from my US bank and deposit the cash into the Banque Postale, I pay nothing. So I often make multiple withdrawals from my US bank, then take the cash to the Banque Postale. No one has ever questioned me.