Holidays: the French organize themselves in advance to spare their wallets

Nina Droff (Photo credit: SOTTO JEAN-MICHEL / HEMIS.FR / HEMIS.FR / HEMIS VIA AFP) 13:56 p.m., April 16, 2023

Imagine the sun, the heat, a drink in hand, rest, far from the hassles of everyday life. For some, it will be in 83 days and even if it seems far away, the French are organizing. To pay less in this period of inflation, many choose to anticipate for these summer holidays, by booking transport and accommodation.

"We rented a house in Sardinia, a sun destination with friends, where we can all be together without too much trouble," says a first passer-by. "I'm going to Indonesia. The idea was indeed to be able to take these tickets a little early. So we took that in January," added another passerby. "An organized holiday with the family, so it has to be planned. They are ready - not everything - but a part."

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Strong international tourism

Summer bookings are already up seven points compared to 2019, with several popular destinations in France. "The French prefer the sea, the coast. There is a real return to seaside destinations. The other novelty is a recovery in urban tourism, which is truly a new attraction for cities," explains Didier Arino, head of Protourisme.

A season that also promises to be marked by strong international tourism. "30% of summer holidaymakers plan to stay abroad and, in the other direction, a return of foreign customers, especially European customers and distant customers," he adds. And if you go abroad, check the validity of your identity documents. The time to redo them is currently very long, on average 65 days or more. Small tip: the site Vite mon passeport which allows you to quickly find slots everywhere in France and not to miss the beach.