There are the most optimistic: "
No new confinement?
The holidays are saved!
".
The most grumpy: "
Where to go?
And why do ?
".
Or again, the rebels: "
It is not our leaders who will prevent me from leaving!"
".
If the projects diverge, all have in common to be subject to unfailing health restrictions, which shade the prospect of the next vacation.
Until the last minute, the French were suspended from the announcements of the executive.
Thursday evening, on the eve of the start of the school holidays for a third of France, Jean Castex simply announced the maintenance of the curfew, however urging "
the greatest caution during the holidays
".
Read also: Coronavirus: Jean Castex hardens his tone in the face of the threat of variants
“
This is the first time in years that we will not do the traditional family ski week
,” says Stanislas, 21, whose parents chose to cancel reservations a few days earlier.
“
Even without skiing, we could have made do with snowshoe hikes.
But the predictions of a new containment scared us.
We canceled everything
”.
Between the fear of reconfinement, ski lifts prohibited and borders closed, many French people, like Stanislas, have given up on their projects.
This year, they would be less than 100,000 in France to pack their bags for the winter holidays, against nearly 3 million in previous years, according to the organization of Travel Companies.
"
The February holidays will be confined to the house
", summarizes President Jean-Pierre Mas.
A finding confirmed by a study by PAP Vacances, according to which reservations fell by 58% compared to the same period last year.
A restricted program
It must be said that the choices are limited.
Main disappointment: the continued closure of the ski lifts in February.
In the mountains, hotel reservation rates have fallen: 20% instead of the usual 80% in Serre-Chevalier (Hautes-Alpes);
same occupancy rate for the four-star hotel of Grandes Rousses, in Alpe d'Huez (Isère), whose rooms are still half-occupied during this period.
Read also: Closed ski resorts: 120,000 seasonal workers could fall into great precariousness
In the absence of skiing, Stanislas will spend the next two weeks with his brothers and sisters in the family home, near Nice.
On the program: board games, walks, hikes.
"
Trying to see local friends too, but having to be home at 6pm, that reduces the possibilities
."
Others were counting on this slack period to take a breath of fresh air abroad.
But since last Sunday, only a “compelling reason” authorizes travel outside France, with supporting documents.
Difficult to pass through the cracks.
“
I was on the verge of taking my tickets,
” laments Margot.
“
I was thinking of Mayotte or Tanzania, destinations far from the cold and far from masks.
But the closing of the borders fell on me ... I expected everything except that
”.
Even the overseas territories, Mayotte or Reunion, which until then have remained popular destinations for the French during this pandemic period, are no exception to the rule.
Read also: Closure of borders: "French people living abroad are not second-class citizens!"
If travel in France is allowed, juggling curfew times also complicates car journeys, especially for long distances.
“
From 4.30 pm, the traffic on the roads becomes hell,
” worries Sophie, a young professional in Nantes who is used to spending her holidays wandering from one city to another.
First destination: Montpellier, 8h drive.
"
I organize myself to find a base on the way,
" she explains.
For everyone, the real break that the winter holidays usually offer will not have the same effect this year.
“
The goal of vacations is to get out of the ordinary.
There, it will be normal life minus work
”, regrets Stanislas, who nevertheless recognizes his chance to have the mountains and the beach nearby.
"
For those of the city, it is harder
".