Stop flyers, switch to StyQR!
We’ve all heard about that shelf full of flyers for touring the region, discovering a new museum or eating in a gourmet restaurant. What if you freed up some space and offered all this in one digital booklet ?
1. Why not offer flyers anymore
Have you ever found a flyer folded into 48 pieces in your pocket after doing the laundry ? We did, we saw it, thought “why not” and kept it in our pocket for a long time. All to forget and never go to see the place he was selling.
Also think about the environmental impact of all this printing. The ink, the paper… all to end up in the bin most of the time.
So to put an end to this waste and offer communication that really works, switch to a digital booklet!
2. The advantages of StyQR
With StyQR, all the information you want to communicate to your customers is in one application. With just a few clicks, your customer can find out where to eat, where to walk and which museum to visit.
You can also tell them about promotions and partnerships negotiated for them with certain companies. So, rather than showing up with a flyer that they might lose, they’ll simply pull up their app and present the code.
For them it’s simpler, more up to date and more personal. Indeed, you will be able to offer them personalised recommendations according to their tastes and desires. For example, you won’t have to offer them a family excursion if they are travelling as a couple, or a great promotion for a duo massage if they are a single person.
So, do you want to move into the digital age and offer a complete experience to your customers?
Looking after your pet during the holidays
Sometimes you can’t take your pet on holiday with you and that’s a shame! But how can you leave with peace of mind?
1. For custody in your home
If it is the first time, or if you do not wish to stress your pet more than necessary, you can opt for a pet-sitter at home.
In this case, many pet-sitter websites exist such as :
On these sites, you have the notes of the pet-sitters, their availability and their rates.
Here, you have two options: either it’s a regular visit, or the pet-sitter stays with your pet during your holidays. It’s up to you.
2. For outdoor custody
You can also choose to board your pet. He will be with other animals and will be supervised by professionals. You can opt for boarding with or without a kennel, for shorter or longer periods.
The website 30 millions d’amis refers to many of them. Here again you have two choices, either you have it kept close to your home, or close to your holiday destination! That way you can pick him up on your return!
This is probably the more expensive of the two solutions, but it allows you to leave knowing that your pet will have fun!
Now there’s no excuse! You’ve got all the information you need to make sure your pet has a great holiday too.
And if you’re looking for a nice place to go in France, check out our article on the PACA region.
3 zero waste brands for a clean rental!
Do you want to have a clean rental but also pollute as little as possible? We’ve got 3 great brands for you to choose from!
1. Natural Danika
Danika is a transparent brand with natural and biodegradable products. They offer you many products such as natural detergents to make your own, floor cleaners, and dishwashing soaps.
What triggered the creation of the brand? The composition of commercial detergents, which are too aggressive and which, when not fully treated in water treatment plants, pollute rivers and affect biodiversity.
2. Lopa
LOPA stands for Love Our Planet Again. And for this, the brand offers you: a bag of powder to make your own shower gel.
Thanks to it, you will be able to offer your customers zero waste shower gels!
3. Iris Hantverk
This pretty Swedish brand offers a refined design for high quality brushes. The best part? They are made by blind craftsmen according to the classical Swedish tradition.
You will find brushes for all uses: dishes, food, bath… You will see that they will make an ox effect at home!
Do you know of any other zero waste brands? If so, tell us in the comments!
And if you’re interested in being green, we have an article to help you create your own eco-friendly accommodation.
Child safety in your rental property
It is important to think about the safety of children and babies if you are hosting them in your rental! Even if parents have to keep an eye on them, accidents can happen, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.
1. For babies
In order to keep babies safe, you need to make sure that certain things are present in your home:
- Doorstops
- Window guards if you have bay windows
- You also need bars to prevent climbing up and down the stairs
- A few socket covers (giving parents the key to remove them if necessary)
- Finally, locks on cupboards giving access to household products
To go further, you can also provide protections for the corners of walls or furniture, warn parents of slippery places or put your plants up high to prevent baby pulling on them.
2. For older children
For older children there are fewer precautions to take, but you can still think about things like :
- Storing household products high up
- Keeping knives out of reach in the kitchen
- Protecting a staircase from falls with a non-slip mat or simply a gantry
- Marking potentially dangerous places with your StyQR booklet
Have you put all these little things in place? To go further, we had prepared an article for you to welcome them at best.
Animal hair: the equipment to get rid of it
Do you allow pets in your rental property but can’t bear to spend hours cleaning up pet hair? Here are some useful accessories!
1. For furniture
There’s nothing worse than pet hair on a sofa! They get stuck in and are impossible to remove!
Here’s what we use to get rid of it:
- Razors
- The hair brush (also great for clothes)
- A roll of duct tape (an old tried and tested technique)
For hair on furniture, it’s easy, just use a swiffer or a microfiber cloth.
2. For floors and clothes
Let’s tackle the floors now, first of all, to clean the surface we have two options: the hair brush or the special pet hair hoover.
Also remember that animals walk on your floor and lick their paws, so it’s best to be careful and use a product specially designed for them (here is an example).
As for clothes, plaids, sheets, you can wash them using hair catchers like these.
Do you have any special techniques for removing pet hair? And if you want our opinion on pet-friendly rentals, here it is!
Seasonal rentals and hotels: who wins the duel?
The figures for holiday bookings in France are in. We now know whether the French prefer holiday rentals or hotels. Any ideas before you read on?
1. A preference for seasonal rentals
Once again this year, the French are choosing to rent hotels! According to Europ Assistance: “Only 29% of French holidaymakers will sleep in a hotel during their stay this summer, compared to 46% on average for Europeans”.
And this, despite the definite increase in rental prices! +9.4% for houses in the mountains, +7.6% in the countryside and +7.2% for the seaside.
Among the most popular regions, we find, not surprisingly, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (excluding the coast), the region that is progressing the most with +49%, followed by the Côte d’Azur (+37.5%) and Corsica (+26%) (in comparison with 2019).
2. Is it really a dislike of hotels?
According to the agency, the French do not shun hotels, but are very attached to holiday rentals.
The main explanation would come from the impressive choice of rentals offered. Indeed, in France, there are about four million second homes. That’s a lot of possibilities!
More and more people want to feel at home, in a cocoon with a garden, rather than being constrained by hotel hours. If you are going to travel in your own country, you might as well do it in a house!
What do you think? When you go on holiday, where do you choose to sleep?
If you are interested in this topic, we also have an article on the figures for tourist accommodation in 2021.
Organic and local: the new values
These are the only words on our lips: organic and local. So if you have a restaurant or offer some products to your customers, opt for these two important values. We’ll tell you how.
1. Why it's important to get started
Why get involved in organic and local labels? Simply to gain new customers, help your region and support the planet.
Indeed, the search for authenticity is increasingly present among travellers. For them, a visit to a country or a region now includes a culinary discovery. People are also increasingly trying to take care of their bodies by eating better, and therefore by eating organic. So if an establishment offers you organic options and buys from a few local producers, the choice will be made quickly.
Think partnership too. If you buy your meat from a local producer, you can specify that he supplies a hotel, potentially bringing his customers to him. It’s a virtuous circle.
2. What to propose
Of course, changing and modifying your offer will take time.
So start gradually, for example :
- For breakfast: offer jams from the region, organic (and local if possible) fruit and vegetables, bread from the baker across the street…
- Lunch: why not offer biodynamic wine? Or wine from the vineyards next door? Meat from the local producer or vegetables from the garden?
- Finally, for dinner: fresh pasta from an artisan, local alcohol, flowers on the table…
All this will allow you to create a link with the shopkeepers, to bring them additional sales by your customers who will have tasted and liked it and finally to make your brand or location spread more widely by word of mouth.
In conclusion, not all your products need to be organic, but offering a few products is already a very good initiative. And if you want to go even further, bet on home-made products!
The most beautiful swimming pools in Paris
With this nice weather and the heat coming quickly, we would like to take a dip in a nice cool pool ! And as we are in Paris for a few weeks, here is our selection of the 3 most beautiful pools to stroll in!
1. The Pontoise swimming pool
This swimming pool in the 5th arrondissement is known for its historical value. Indeed, its buildings (built in 1933) are classified as historical monuments. It was also made famous by Jacques Cousteau with his diving suit tests.
What do we like? The possibility of night baths and its large 33-metre pool.
It costs about 5 euros to enter.
2. The Butte aux Cailles swimming pool
Another swimming pool classified as a historical monument ! It is one of the most famous swimming pools in Paris with its Art Nouveau façade.
Why do we like it? For its spring water supply and its low price : 3 euros.
3. Josephine Baker Pool
Finally, Josephine Baker. Located in the 13th arrondissement, this floating pool has solariums and a 25-metre pool. Very popular with Parisians for its beautiful view of Paris and the Seine, its entrance fee is 3 euros.
4. The other emblematic swimming pools
Paris has many swimming pools, but if we had to add a few to our selection it would be :
- The Keller swimming pool in the 15th arrondissement
- Château Landon and Catherine Lagatu in the 10th arrondissement
Finally, we also love the Molitor swimming pool, but it’s quite a budget! And you, what are your favourite pools?
What is Atout France?
We told you recently that the allocation of stars has changed. But do you know who manages these allocations ? Atout France will soon have no secrets for you.
1. Who is Atout France?
Atout France is THE reference in the classification of tourist accommodation. Created in 2009, it is an economic interest grouping, an operator of the French State for tourism.
What are its main missions ?
- To promote France and its destinations internationally
- To promote global brands as a point of entry to the territories
- To support the development of territories
- To contribute to the quality and renewal of the offer through classifications, labels and registrations
2. More about the ranking
Atout France therefore defines a classification of collective tourist accommodation : hotels, campsites, leisure residential parks, tourist residences and holiday villages.
This system is based on 4 main pillars :
- A range of classification from 1 to 5 stars
- A classification awarded for 5 years
- Qualitative criteria
- Evolving criteria
Did you know that this classification is done at the request of the establishments ? It is a voluntary process !
Atout France is therefore a body linked to the State to promote French heritage. Do you think this is important ?
If you like numbers, you will definitely be interested in this article !
When you have foreign travellers, you can be sure that they will have all the information in their language !
For most of you, summer is a pivotal time. But how do you fill in your booking calendar ? It’s over here !
1. On the internet
This is where it all comes together! Think now about :
- Update your prices
- Update your photos
- List all possible activities near you in summer
Also very important : highlight all your key assets. A swimming pool, a bright house, a view of the sea… The key word is to make travellers want to book with you and not elsewhere.
2. Summer at home
Let the sunshine in ! Don’t forget to do some spring cleaning (curtains, carpets, household appliances…) and add a few touches of colour !
Travellers come to have a good time, relax and enjoy the sun, so help them ! Why not provide them with a few things :
- Sunscreen
- Beach towels
- Straw hats (which can also be used as decoration…)
And to take it a step further, don’t hesitate to provide them with :
- Cold drinks
- A nice fruit basket
And you, more summer or winter for your reservation ?
By the way, did you know that you don’t have to be there to open the door for your travellers ? This is one of the advantages of the key box. Find out more !