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.
Departure gift, why does it change?
Forget about gifts on arrival, now offer gifts on departure to your customers. It will ensure that they leave happy. Let’s take a look at what you can offer as a departure gift.
1. Why a going-away present?
For rentals, we are much more used to receiving a gift on arrival than on departure. And that’s where the interest lies! You will create a surprise and as a result, the customer will remember you for a long time.
The departure gift allows your customers to end their stay on a positive note. Yes, they are leaving, the holiday is over, but they have a present! So they leave with a smile.
2. Some gift ideas
To ensure that your customers leave your home on a positive note, you can :
- Offer a bouquet from your garden or in season
- Jams or compotes from your region, or even better, homemade!
- Local fruit and/or vegetables
- A book about your region to remind them of good memories
- A snack for their return journey
- A personalised postcard
- A tea towel embroidered with your region or the name of your location
- A notebook stamped with your name…
It’s up to you and your budget! Try to think of two things in particular:
- Making it easier for them to return (food for example)
- Daily use in their home to remember you
Now you have all the keys to give the perfect gift to your guests. And if you prefer to stick to the welcome gift, here are some original ideas!
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.
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 !
Swimming pools: the regulations in force
Are you lucky enough to have a pool in your rental property? That’s a great asset! But have you checked that you are in order?
1. Mandatory equipment
Whatever the size of your pool, and whether it is in-ground or semi in-ground, you must install at least one of the following 4 pieces of equipment:
- a protective barrier
- an audible alarm system
- a cover
- a cover that completely covers the pool
Thanks to this equipment, you will protect the people coming to your house and you will protect yourself from an accident.
2. Fraud, what are the risks?
Here we assume that your pool is already built and that you have completed the necessary administrative formalities. We will only talk about the risks if you do not install the necessary equipment.
If you do not install the equipment, you risk a fine of up to 45,000 euros. But beware, it is up to the seller of your pool to provide you with a technical information note on safety equipment. If he fails to do so, he risks the same fine.
Apart from the financial aspect, if an accident could have been avoided with this equipment, you risk a court case in which you will lose and a tragedy on your conscience.
Now that you know everything, make the most of what your pool will bring you! And if you are still struggling to attract customers, here are some tips on how to get them to come!
Theft and breakage in your rental, what to do?
Damage and theft can easily occur in your rental property, whether voluntary or accidental. So how can you prevent it?
1. The contract
First of all, you need to draw up a rental agreement. This should include the terms of your tenancy: the price and a description of the premises with an inventory. You can also note the maximum number of occupants, whether or not smoking is allowed and your pet policy.
In the event of problems, this contract, signed by you and the client, will enable you to react.
You should also make sure that an inventory of fixtures and fittings is drawn up on arrival and departure so that any problems, such as theft, can be identified straight away.
2. The security deposit
The security deposit is essential but not compulsory in your contract. This deposit is paid by the tenant before they move in. It amounts to between 20 and 25% of the rental price and will enable you to repair any damage.
This is where the inventory of fixtures is important, because if you do not return the deposit in full, you will have to justify it. Note also that the tenant is entitled to ask you for all invoices relating to the repairs.
If, unfortunately, the damage is extensive and not covered in full by the security deposit, you must ask the tenant to reimburse you. If they refuse, take the matter to the local court as soon as possible.
To avoid all these problems, it is important to draw up a rental contract. It will save you a lot of trouble!