Some are waiting for them with a firm footing.
The start of the February school holidays is launched for zone A (academies of Besançon, Bordeaux, Clermont-Ferrand, Dijon, Grenoble, Limoges, Lyon and Poitiers), before successively zones B and C. If an obvious joy should s seize the youngest, the social and economic context could distress the oldest.
Inflation actually forces some households to give up travelling.
“The cut is very clear.
Some of the holidaymakers will no longer be leaving in February
,” confided Jean-Pierre Mas, president of Travel Companies.
And for those who choose to take time off, the challenges are daunting in a period marked by runaway inflation.
Decryption.
Read alsoTourism: which countries to visit in 2023?
Our 15 destinations
Transport: between strikes and price increases
Do strikes and demonstrations against pension reform threaten the winter holidays?
The concern is in order, while the SNCF trade unions are proposing a "
sequence of two consecutive days of strike
" on Tuesday February 7 and Wednesday February 8, i.e. just after the start of the school holidays for zone A. The mobilization could take the form of a “
renewable strike for periods of 24 hours
”, envisaged “
from mid-February
”, which would therefore impact zones B and C, whose holidays begin on February 11 and 18.
On the air side, the USACcgt controllers union filed a strike notice for February 7 as well.
He calls
"all the personnel of the DGAC [Direction générale de l'Aviation Civile - NDLR] and of the ENAC [National School of Civil Aviation - NDLR] to go on massive strike and to participate in the demonstrations"
.
During previous movements, the DGAC had notably asked airlines to cancel one in five flights at Orly airport, near Paris.
Read also Strikes against pension reform: should we worry about the winter holidays?
What about prices?
On this level, at least it is clear: whether you go on vacation by train or plane, inflation remains king.
In January, the price of SNCF tickets increased by 5% on average.
This new pricing policy concerns main line, TGV and Intercités tickets.
As for regional trains, the communities will decide.
The bill is even higher for the plane.
The latest official indices suggest a 21.7% surge in ticket prices since January 2022 departing from metropolitan France.
Tickets at 10 €
"it's over"
even launched the boss of Ryanair, in view of the summer.
If you take your car, there's no respite for the wallet either.
Fuel prices remain at high levels, especially since the end of rebates, and toll rates swelled by an average of 4.75% on February 1.
Holidays in France: the big winner in the mountains
French mountain destinations, with the Alps in mind;
Valais (Switzerland);
the Riviera ;
Brittany;
Lapland;
but also the French West Indies and Reunion.
This is the “top” of reservations at Interhome (accommodation rental) and other platforms.
And the trend is quite clear for these winter holidays 2023: the French still seem to be as numerous as favoring domestic destinations.
The mountains appear to be the big winner of this vital season for the economy of altitude destinations.
The catastrophic weather at the start of winter did not discourage ski lovers – including foreigners – or snowshoes.
At the very end of January, the forecast occupancy rate in stations was 72%, i.e.
"the
, underlines to AFP Jean-Luc Boch, president of the National Association of Mayors of Mountain Resorts (ANMSM).
Read alsoSki resorts are surfing on the move upmarket
From February 4, the corks will therefore make their big comeback.
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is the only region classified red by Bison Futé.
If the celebration will take place in mondovision in Courchevel and Méribel, which host the world ski championships, fears of stoppages in the ski lifts have not entirely dissipated due to a call for an indefinite strike by FO and the CGT.
Appeals to reason seem to be the rule for the moment in resorts, whose economic model has been hit hard by global warming and the energy crisis.
Read also Ranking of the 200 French ski resorts: snow cover, ski pass prices... Which one is right for you?
Holidays abroad: an (almost) return to normal
Travel conditions: the lifting of health restrictions
Has the pandemic become ancient history?
Without drawing hasty conclusions, the gradual lifting of health restrictions seems to be a first encouraging sign.
With a few major symbols, such as the complete reopening of Japan or Thailand.
Last October, the country put an end to the obligation of the vaccination certificate and the negative test on arrival.
The French can reconnect with two of their favorite foreign destinations.
The health chapter closed for the moment, geopolitics is regaining its rights, with its share of misfortunes.
Some destinations are now not recommended or even impossible to access, like Peru, in the grip of social and political unrest.
Some destinations call for vigilance.
This is the case for Turkey.
The Quay of
Destinations: the return of sure values
With the lifting of health restrictions, Asia is regaining its position on the chessboard of world tourism.
A trend confirmed by professionals in the sector.
"
We are seeing strong demand (...), especially in
Thailand
", says Eva Fouquet, vice-president of strategic partnerships for the Kayak.fr platform.
Same observation on the side of Liligo.
In a recent communication, the flight comparator reveals that Bangkok is the favorite destination of the French for winter holidays.
For its part, Dubai, which occupied the first position for two years, tumbles to eighth place.
Closer to home, Southern Europe remains popular and easily accessible.
Italy and Spain thus continue to hold their own,
