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Summer holidays: campsites, holiday clubs, train tickets ... Reservation conditions still very flexible

2021-04-24T02:42:29.457Z


Tourism professionals, who expect a rather busy “Franco-French” summer, recommend booking now. But what advantage does the holidaymaker derive from it?


New summer under the sign of Covid-19 in perspective for holidaymakers.

However, the end of traffic restrictions scheduled for May 3 bodes well.

In France, campsites, accommodation rental platforms or holiday clubs are counting on a (strong) demand from French customers between June and September.

Read also: No, you will not need to be vaccinated to travel this summer

A situation already experienced last summer: more than 90% of French people taking leave in July - August had remained in the country, according to a Raffour study. “

Despite the crisis, things went pretty well last summer, so we are optimistic about the coming season

,” positive Céline Bossane, general manager of the Huttopia brand, a high-end camping chain surrounded by nature. "

We think that the summer will be good but atypical, like last year, when the month of August was exceptional

", agrees Grégory Sion, CEO of Pierre & Vacances, who predicts a summer "

once again French -french

”. He nevertheless hopes - like many tourism professionals - "

a little more anticipation

», The trend towards the ultra last minute, having increased since the start of the pandemic.

However, is this the right time to book?

What are the advantages ?

How flexible are rental agencies?

Answers.

To read also: Plane, hotel, stay ... Who to contact if my trip goes badly?

Holiday clubs: cancellations or postponements made easier to encourage reservations

"

We strongly encourage our customers to book now for this summer, because it is likely that tourism will be 100% blue white red and that we will quickly be full,"

warns Alexis Gardy, president of Belambra Clubs.

To encourage customers to go in this direction, the “Tranquility” offer benefits bookings made

before April 30

, a date that is undoubtedly extended.

This free offer makes it possible to cancel up to 5 days before the start of the stay.

The customer is then reimbursed (in money and not in assets) without having to justify himself.

Read the file: Where to go in France?

Our travel guides

At Pierre & Vacances, the “Flex” offer at 1 euro allows you to modify or cancel free of charge up to 3 days before the start of the stay, for holidays until July included; and up to 15 days for stays planned in August. The group also offers on its site reductions of around 20% on a selection of villages on pre-established dates in July and August. In addition, payment in four installments is now offered.

The postponement / cancellation conditions are a little more complicated on the Club Med side.

Without insurance, it is possible to cancel or postpone your stay without transport free of charge up to 14 days before departure, but on condition that "

the new departure date chosen is postponed at most 7 days before or at most 7 days after the date initially planned

”.

For stays including transport (train or plane), cancellation or postponement can now be done up to 45 days before departure (against 180 usually) for 40 euros.

Read also: Travel and Covid-19: how to choose the right insurance?

Our comparative table

The "Club" offers a reduction of 15% per person for all reservations made

until April 27 inclusive

.

This offer is likely to be extended to be extended, but with a lesser reduction.

Campsites: more flexibility

In terms of reservations, camping operators are not too worried about this summer 2021. They hope to achieve a turnover comparable to a “

normal year

” in July and August. However, "

we must give people a maximum of possibilities so that they can withdraw quickly and without too much expense

", advocates Marc Canavaggia, general manager of Sunêlia, which has 24 4 and 5 star campsites in France. With the "Serenity Pact", valid for bookings made

until April 30

, the group offers a single deposit of 100 euros per reservation, a reduced rate.

The balance will have to be paid on D-30.

Another advantage: free cancellation followed by a refund is possible up to 60 days before departure.

Here too, the dates of this Serenity Pact should be extended.

For its part, Huttopia has implemented a "Zen" rate (approximately 20% more expensive than the "No Flex" rate) which allows you to cancel your summer stay until D-7.

The two camping chains also undertake to reimburse or offer a free postponement of the stay if it becomes impossible "

due to decisions of the competent authorities

" (closure, confinement, etc.)

.

Rental platforms: it all depends on the owners

On the Airbnb site, a search filter allows you to select only "flexible" accommodation. Airbnb screenshot

The Abritel holiday home and apartment rental expert, as an intermediary, does not intervene in the setting of rates and cancellation policies, which are the responsibility of the owners of the rented goods. However, specifies the platform, "

holidaymakers are more inclined to book their summer holidays in advance because they know that they could very often cancel free of charge if necessary

". Since May 2020, Abritel has encouraged rental companies to relax their cancellation conditions. To make it easier for Internet users to find it, a filter has been added.

“It allows holidaymakers to only look for listings with flexible cancellation conditions that allow full refund in the event of cancellation, close to the date of stay.

"

At global market leader Airbnb, hosts have the choice of three cancellation policies.

In the case of “flexible” hosts (to be favored in case of uncertainty), the traveler must cancel at least 24 hours before the local arrival time if he wishes to benefit from a full refund.

Depending on the platform, the majority of listings have flexible or moderate cancellation policies, which allow full refunds for cancellations made, up to D-5 and regardless of the circumstances.

Here too, a new search filter allows you to select only “flexible” accommodation.

Trains: more flexible conditions until August 29

SNCF continues to relax its exchange and cancellation conditions until August 29 for travel by TGV inOui, Ouigo, connecting TER, Nomad trains, Intercités and certain international TGVs. For trips made

by May 3

, cancellation and exchange are possible free of charge until the last moment (up to 1 hour 30 minutes before departure with Ouigo), regardless of the rate chosen.

For trips

from May 4 to August 29 inclusive

, tickets remain exchangeable and refundable until D-3 before departure.

Less than 3 days before departure, the standard ticket pricing conditions apply.

In the event of an exchange, the price difference remains your responsibility.

TER tickets without a connection, on the other hand, are 100% refundable until D-1 before departure, with the exception of certain promotional rates.

The refund is made in a few days on the credit card used for the purchase.

Read also: Night trains: the new lines to take in France from this year

Air travel: credit or change of tickets

This summer, tourist flights should mainly concern destinations in Europe, and in particular the South (Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, etc.). Major airlines departing from France maintain flexible fare conditions to accommodate travel restrictions. At Air France for example, all tickets can be changed free of charge until the day of departure. Passengers can also request a refundable credit note valid for one year. At Transavia, it is also possible to request that your trip be postponed free of charge, up to 2 hours before departure. The price difference on the new tickets remains the responsibility of the traveler. A few rare companies, like Air Corsica,offer passengers a full refund of their tickets in addition to the possibility of modifications free of charge.

Read also: Santorini, Menorca, Calvi or Sfax ... The new summer air destinations

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2021-04-24

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