Holiday apartments: The landlords are still hoping for an Easter holiday - "We are not the problem, we are the solution"

For many, a “vacation at home” in times of Corona is an obvious option.

Like hotels and pensions, landlords of holiday apartments are not yet allowed to accept guests.

They still hope for an Easter holiday - and for quick tests.

Munich -

The last vacationers left at the beginning of November.

Since then, Ann-Kathrin Brückner and Gottfried Garnreiter have had a couple of business travelers and a family in their holiday apartments in Bernau am Chiemsee (Rosenheim district), whose daughter is currently being treated in a clinic nearby.

"Of course business travelers are welcome, but unfortunately it is hardly profitable," says Brückner.

"They often only stay for one night."

The couple built six new holiday apartments three years ago; they specialize in holidaymakers with dogs.

You still get a lot of booking inquiries, "and we always write the same sentence in the reply emails: If you are not allowed to travel, we will cancel the booking free of charge." Ann-Kathrin Brückner and Gottfried Garnreiter don't understand why they still have to be closed .

“The risk of infection in holiday homes is low.

And with us, the guests would be registered on the way. "

Holiday apartments in Upper Bavaria: "We are not the problem, we are the solution"

The region around the Chiemsee attracts vacationers all year round.

“We are always overrun,” says Markus Ritter, Managing Director of the Association of Private Hosts in Chiemgau.

“There is actually nothing safer than vacation homes.

We are not the problem, but the solution. ”With every day of lockdown and ban on accommodation, the situation is becoming more dramatic for landlords as well.

Many private and commercial hosts have invested in their holiday apartments and guest houses, as politicians had demanded.

But because there is no compensation for private providers, “some of them are now facing huge problems”.

Despite the current uncertainty, many guests book on good luck or even for the next year, “and we are happy about that.

However, there is currently always the risk that we will have to cancel again ”.

The effort of a reversal is great.

Nevertheless, the associations currently advise members to accept all bookings, but to forego the usual down payment.

Holiday at Easter: The landlords have not yet given up hope

This is also how the Pfaffenwinkel tourism association works.

Its boss, Susanne Lengger, is optimistic.

Does she still believe that guests can stay overnight in hotels, guest houses and holiday homes over Easter?

She hesitates.

“Yes,” she says then.

"In any case, I hope that we can open at Easter."

While some providers with predominantly short-term bookings described their situation as bad in a recent survey, according to Lengger, others are already fully booked until autumn.

Also because, due to the current situation, they mainly rent to companies for longer periods.

"Craftsmen and fitters are always welcome," says Lengger, "but we would like to welcome holidaymakers again."

Holiday apartments in Upper Bavaria: The demand is great

The hosts in the tourist regions of Garmisch-Partenkirchen and on the Tegernsee (Miesbach district) are also equipped to accommodate as many holidaymakers as possible.

"The accommodation companies are in the starting blocks," says Ines Wagner from Tegernseer Tal Tourismus.

There, vacation homes make up around 65 percent of the host businesses.

The demand increased extremely last year, and there are also many bookings for this year.

"Everything now depends on whether there is an opening."

The landlords in Chiemgau are also clinging to the hope of being able to reopen at least from Easter.

And the possibility of ensuring safety with rapid tests.

The demand from vacationers would be there despite great uncertainty.

Markus Ritter says that even in normal years it is not easy to find the apartment you want for the desired period of time.

"Of course it is still possible."

The apartments of Gottfried Garnreiter and Ann-Kathrin Brückner are already fully booked over Easter.

"We very much hope that we can open at the end of March," says Brückner.

"Then all would not be lost."