Inflation of 8.1% in June | Five tips for saving money during the holidays

The news does not surprise anyone, but this figure is still hard to swallow at the start of a family vacation or when you are already on the edge of the beach alone: ​​an inflation rate of more than 8% in June. And this increase is fueled by the increase in the main expenditure items of vacationers: accommodation, gasoline and meals. In this context, how can you have a great holiday?

Stephanie Berube
The Press

Once installed, do not move!

Or less, anyway…

The price of gasoline jumped 54% during the year, according to data for the month of June released Tuesday by Statistics Canada. That doesn’t mean that we have to dare to review vacation plans, but it can encourage us to leave the car in the parking lot once we arrive at our destination.

“This year, the desire to leave was stronger,” said Nicolas Ryan, director of public affairs at CAA Quebec. The organization conducts an annual survey on the travel intentions of Quebecers. Although worrisome, rising gas prices have not been a drag on travel. On the other hand, explains Nicolas Ryan, once at their destination, holidaymakers will adapt their behavior, in particular by limiting their movements. For example, they will make two stops rather than the four planned on the route, he explains, which on the counter will reduce the total number of kilometers. Ryan says it may be for next year’s plans that distance to the destination will be factored in when making reservations. “This year, the recovery is very strong,” he says. And propelled by the two years of pandemic deprivation. This is what Nicolas Ryan calls “the revenge trip”.

At Tourisme Bas-Saint-Laurent, we confirm this trend: a good number of visitors who stay longer in the same place and travel less. “People are doing more free activities, hiking and picnics,” says Karine Lebel, communications officer for the tourism association. And that’s good: “The best show in Bas-Saint-Laurent is free,” she says. These are our sunsets! »

Enjoy the cottage

Prices for accommodation jumped 49.7% compared to June 2021.

Why ?

“The resumption of sporting events, festivals and other large in-person gatherings has led to an increase in demand for accommodations, especially in major urban centres,” according to Statistics Canada.

In this context, it is wise to choose your accommodation well to make your “investment” profitable.

Catherine Simard, owner of the B&B-café-garden Les Conifères in Saint-Adolphe-d’Howard, in the Laurentians, has decided not to raise the prices of her rooms, but she notes a change in the habits of her clientele: vacationers stay put longer. “People come with their coolers and eat here rather than going to a restaurant in the village,” she says. They even make themselves their morning coffee, which they can sip on the riverside.

Find out what grow around

Another item of expenditure where the increase is undeniable: food. The price of raw materials (fruits, vegetables, meat, etc.) has undergone an overall increase of 8.8% from June 2021 to June 2022. The restaurant bill, whether it is a snack or a restaurant more sophisticated, inevitably also increased.

In order to respect the budget planned for meals on vacation without losing pleasure, a visit to the public market is essential. “It’s taking the pulse of the taste of the region,” says Jean-Nick Trudel, president of the Association des marchés publics du Québec, who points out that a visit to a market in Abitibi-Témiscamingue has nothing to do with that of a market on the North Shore.

And it’s not just the price of food that’s rising, the popularity of Quebec’s public markets too. There are more than 160 now, compared to 123 before the pandemic, according to the Association des marchés publics du Québec.

Take it time

“Sometimes, minimalism, you have to have it imposed on you. And inflation does exactly that, ”says Dominique Bernèche, co-founder of the company Les Belles combines, which gives tips for better planning family life. According to this mother of seven children, we tend to want to fill the day with activities from the first day of vacation. “We feel that our children need water slides and rides, but not at all, it is often us who are afraid that they will be bored. They marvel at everything,” says Dominique Bernèche, contacted when she is on vacation, about to visit a beach near a chalet where there is neither water nor electricity.

According to her, nothing better than a nice campfire to end the day, and it doesn’t cost a dollar. His advice for those who have to reduce the holiday budget: tame camping, get out of your comfort zone and get away from your habits. “It forces us to be more in tune with ourselves,” she says.

practice tourism Proximity

At the Alliance de l’industrie touristique du Québec, we confirm that occupancy rates are good in campgrounds and that the season is going well, despite the very real budgetary concerns of travellers. To take advantage of the summer holidays without breaking the bank, the Alliance suggests giving priority to local tourism. This allows you to discover the attractions that you often see on the blue signs without really paying attention to them. In its list of advice for traveling on a low budget, the Alliance suggests attending the festivities and parks in our region, access to which is sometimes free for everyone or for children.

Finally, the Alliance also recommends going slowly… by car! “Take the back roads via one of the 18 official tourist routes spread across most regions,” reads its list of vacation tips. They allow you to travel more slowly, by car, on foot or by bike, and to better appreciate our landscapes, villages and heritage sites. »