The Easter weekend is approaching and with it, the prospect of hefty bills at the pump for those who take the road. To counter the rise in fuel prices and boost reservations, some tourism professionals have found a solution: they finance part of your journey.
“Come to my house, I’ll give you some of your fill!” This is the shocking argument of several establishments to attract vacationers. Near Saumur, the hotel La Demeure de la Vignole is offering a €20 TotalEnergies gift card for any reservation made from today. For the manager, the objective is clear: to motivate tourists to get back on the road while reservations are directly impacted by the cost of gasoline.
The big boom in campsites
If the traditional hotel industry is looking for its second wind, the campsites are filling up. Some are recording up to 20% more bookings. The principle is simple: the French are abandoning the plane to stay in France, favoring local destinations.
In the Gard, the Les Plans campsite goes even further by offering vouchers that can be used at local service stations: €25 offered for a week’s rental and up to €75 offered for a stay of three weeks or more. A strategy that paid off since the establishment saw its reservations triple compared to last year.
The pressure of “failed vacations”
According to an OpinionWay survey for Riverly, the pressure to succeed on vacation is immense. 44% of French people believe they have already “missed” their vacation, a figure which rises to 75% among 18-24 year olds. The most common causes of disappointment? Lack of calm, nature, or too crowded destinations.
To meet this need for serenity while avoiding the explosion of the fuel budget, new alternatives are emerging. First, river tourism: renting barges without a license allows you to visit a region via the canals, completely forgetting the car.
And “Slowtourism”: platforms like GreenGo are experiencing growing success. They allow you to filter accommodation according to your departure point and your maximum travel time, thus guaranteeing a controlled fuel budget. Between direct aid at the pump and a return to local tourism, there are many solutions to enjoy spring without breaking the bank.
