This text is part of the special book Plaisirs
Even if the war in Ukraine may cool the ardor of travelers these days, many of them are still planning their summer vacations on the Old Continent. Tips and tricks to set sail for Europe in 2022. Second text in a four-part series.
“Some of our customers are worried, but we still made several reservations this week with, of course, flexible plane tickets and cancellation insurance,” said counselor Evelyne Mayrand, president of Club Voyages Orientation, in Boucherville.
At the end of February, its customers were already beginning to inquire about potential stays in London, Paris, Greece and Italy, whereas before the pandemic, “they began to think about Europe at the end of March or at the beginning of April. This shows how strong the tourist recovery looks set to be. “I think people still hope to make this long-awaited trip, so for now, the war is a slight brake,” she says.
Travelers who were planning to go off the beaten track to explore Poland, Slovakia, Hungary or Romania, countries where the Canadian dollar goes far, but also all neighbors of Ukraine, will reassess their plans according to current events.
To these, Aurélie Cartier, director for Canada at Voyageurs du Monde, would already suggest Turkey, a country rich in wonders straddling Europe and Asia. “The cost of living there is not too high, the beaches of the Lycian coast are magnificent and it is still a ‘secret’ destination as we like it at Voyageurs,” she says. We confirm it: on this Mediterranean Riviera, we do not soon forget the marine archaeological zone of Kekova and its sunken ancient cities.
With a responsible tourism angle, the very inspiring guide The Best of 2022 from Lonely Planet recommends Slovenia. The country ranks fifth in its world top 10 countries due to “a rare and attractive combination: affordable prices, beautiful surroundings, rich history and outdoor activities”.
Means of averaging
In the United Kingdom (THE summer destination because of the 70and anniversary of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II), in France, Greece or Italy, there is also a way to average on the budget.
With this in mind, booking plane tickets late may not be desirable, according to Ms.me Mayrand. “If the supply of flights increases, there will be last minute options this summer, but if suppliers and airlines remain cautious, it will be advantageous to book. And that means three to four months before the departure date. Good to know: the prices of the Eurail Pass, the famous train pass, are fixed regardless of demand or season.
Sophie Roy, who is currently organizing a family trip to the United Kingdom, intends to take advantage of an advantage provided by her Aeroplan credit card, namely the free check-in of her first baggage and that of her spouse. “This allows us to buy the cheapest Air Canada tickets, those that don’t include anything,” says the Montrealer.
In addition, the college politics professor follows what is happening in Ukraine closely. “If we feel that it is dangerous [au Royaume-Uni]we will opt for plan B, Hawaii, or plan C, Western Canada, but at the same time, a nuclear threat is dangerous everywhere…”
To reduce expenses related to accommodation, home exchange through sites such as trocmaison.com is advantageous. the home sittingwhich consists of watching over a residence and the pet of its absent owner in exchange for accommodation, as proposed by the site nomador.com, is another possibility.
In very busy destinations, the responsible traveler will decline the Airbnb option since the overabundance of rental apartments “touristsifies” living environments. As Jean-Michel Dufaux rightly points out in his new book, My year abroad (ed. Parfum d’encre), “if you don’t see any shoemaker in the city you are visiting […]you can be sure that this has nothing to do with real life”.
Sleep at low prices
The aparthotel equipped with a kitchenette (Adagio, Citadines) is a good substitute for investor apartments; the new version hostel as found on hostelworld.com too. One brand we tested is Generator, present in Europe’s most sought-after cities, from Barcelona to Stockholm. At the time these lines were written, for mid-July, in his superb Parisian address on the heights of the Saint-Martin canal, we found a bed in a dormitory at $60, a room with a private terrace at $218 and several others. choice between these two poles. In the same design spirit, Jo & Joe, Accor’s most affordable brand, stands out.
The religious stream is also economic. An example ? In Venice, the Istituto de San Giuseppe, an address where we have already stayed, is a convent installed in a vast residence of the XVIand century. It overlooks a canal and has 14 rooms for rent with private bathrooms. The price? Absolutely ridiculous given its location, a five-minute walk from Piazza San Marco, or 85 euros per night (and not per person) in mid-July.
Finally, a word on the all-inclusive trip (which ensures compliance with the budget) in tune with the times in Europe: the river cruise. Small capacity ships (between 22 and 180 passengers for the European fleet of CroisiEurope), slow travel par excellence, arrival in the heart of cities, including Paris… Let’s go, the river is beautiful! Except, for the moment, the Danube, unfortunately more gray than blue in Ukraine.
Read next week : Planning summer vacations in the United States and the South