FILE. “More peaceful”, “more calm”, “less expensive”, going on holiday in September appeals to those who may be going against the grain

Avec les retraités, les jeunes couples, sans contraintes de calendrier scolaire, n’hésitent pas à partir en vacances en septembre (photo d’illustration). Timo Stern – UNSPLASH

Young couple, family with young children, workers freed from school constraints, retirees… Many of them go on holiday against the tide, once the summer holidays are over and it's time to go back to school.

Schoolbag on their backs, cuddly toy held by the paw, the grandchildren have gone back to school and daycare. Near Béziers, Philippe and Anne-Marie have jumped on their motorbike, heading for…the holidays! “We're leaving, say the young retirees as they pack their bags, a few minutes before leaving for Italy this time. There are fewer people everywhere and fewer traffic jams on the road. With helmets and jackets, we also appreciate that it is less hot."

"Like swallows"

Jean-Marc and Alain, also retired in Hérault, went to Brittany before being tempted by Barcelona, ​​after two months spent hosting family and friends and working for a cultural association. "We are like swallows. We are recovering from a summer and escaping the dictates of the crowd. After the frenzy of days that are too long and too hot, we fly away to other settings". More peaceful", in the light "softer", the couple feels more comfortable in the rhythm of September, "more peaceful".

"Prolonging the summer"

A young active man from Gard, Boris, also travels regularly in September. After Spain and Crete, it will be Corsica. "In the middle of summer, I don't necessarily feel the need to leave with the beach 10 minutes away. I like to travel later to prolong the summer."

He is not the only one. 48% of French people plan to take a trip or a weekend in September according to the National Federation of Institutional Tourism Organizations, ADN Tourisme. Among them, 32% on weekends and short stays and 16% on vacations and long stays. Depending on the region, September is heading towards relative stability or even growth for 26% of the destinations that participated in the ADN Tourisme survey. The outlook is particularly encouraging for mountain destinations. 43% of these places expect an increase in attendance.

A break before winter

Sophie, in her fifties, has just booked a week's holiday in Menorca for the end of September. With a son now in the workforce, the challenge is to go outside the school holidays. “I like to enjoy the Mediterranean atmosphere without being crushed by the heat. For hiking and enjoying nature, September is perfect. There is also the pleasure of leaving when everyone is working. I like to go against the current, without taking too many risks with the weather", comments the one who also appreciates the idea of ​​"taking a break before winter and diving into the gray November sky".

"We've gotten a taste for it"

Alain and Aline, almost sixty, not yet retired, have been traveling at this time of year for a few years. "We've gotten a taste for it. We've been to the Canaries, Corsica. This year, it will be Portugal. We like to extend the summer longer, to have a little more sun and fewer people." Price differences sometimes play a role in this choice:“I remember a campsite in the South of France for 400 euros a week in September instead of more than 1,000 euros in August”, recalls Alain.

In the Thau Archipelago, September is the 3rd highest month of the year in terms of attendance. In 2023, 1.1 million overnight stays were recorded, enjoyed by 1/3 foreigners and 2/3 French people, or 900,000 day visitors in all 14 municipalities in the Thau basin. Thau.

A "more curious"public

"These vacationers come for shorter stays, long weekends, explains Marie-France Parra, head of press relations for the sector. They are looking for walks in nature, on foot or by bike, and also ask for a lot of guided tours. I really like the September public. They are perhaps more curious, more eager to really discover the destination."

I subscribe to read the rest