This text is part of the special book Plaisirs
Like Nathalie Poisson, many of them, in summer, review the itinerary of their road trip. “Last year, three weeks in the Gaspé cost us about $900 in gas [pour un VUS tractant une roulotte]. This year, it would cost more than $1,500 for the same trip! says the interior designer from La Plaine. Hence a change of course: “We decided to travel less and spend more time in the same place. »
A region that has always been a favorite of vacationers, and even more so since the start of the pandemic, Gaspésie is preparing for the consequences of the cost of gasoline on the behavior of those who frequent it. “We expect that there will be an impact on spending above all once at destination,” says Stéphanie Thibaud, marketing director for Tourisme Gaspésie. And, yes, gasoline can quickly add to an RV or trailer vacation budget, but camping can also be a cheaper solution than a hotel: you can prepare your own meals and, often, benefit from activities on the site: hiking, swimming pool, beach, etc. »
Some campground managers have taken the bull by the horns. In Sainte-Madeleine-de-la-Rivière-Madeleine, the Chalets Mer et Montagne campsite offers a 20% discount on its rates until the end of August to relieve motorists a little.
The fact remains that Nathalie Poisson’s strategy – travel less far and stay longer in the same place – is one of those advocated this summer by the Alliance de l’industrie touristique du Québec. Another of his good ideas? Practicing slow tourism on one of the 18 tourist routes in the province, to (re)discover on the site bonjourquebec.com.
Nearby getaways
On the Bonjour Québec website, some forty itineraries with varying themes and mileages are offered. For example, in the Outaouais, a three-day course combines, along 158 km, relaxation, culture and nature. (To extend the fun, head to Canada’s capital, where Ottawa Tourism is offering the third hotel night free until October, among others at the ALT and Le Germain Ottawa hotels.) Motorcyclists will love exploring the Route desnavigators between Nicolet and Pointe-au-Père, a 470 km circuit to be covered in 10 days. And if we spend our holidays in Balconville, the circuits in Montreal and Laval could inspire us!
Do you want to satisfy a little craving (or a little thirst) and learn more about local products? Create your own tour and tasting tour that includes a detour to a farmer’s market. (We consult ampq.ca to unearth those offered in the area where you are.) On vacation in the Eastern Townships, you can, for example, combine a guided exploration of the abbey of Saint-Benoît-du-Lac, without forgetting its boutique of gourmet products, with that of the L’Orpailleur vineyard, in Dunham. Incidentally, the pioneer of viticulture in Quebec is celebrating its 40th birthday this year and has developed a new low-alcohol and sparkling wine, the fresh rosé Frisant, for the occasion.
Another beautiful tandem: the Fromagerie Nouvelle-France, at the Locavore market in Racine, and the idyllic Le Coteau des Artisans vineyard, in Béthanie, which can be visited on weekends. In terms of entertainment, there is no shortage of free festivals in the province. They can be found under the “Events” tab of the site quebecvacances.com.
Discounts on the transport side
Fancy a trip to Quebec or Toronto? Go by train! At Via Rail, you get between 10% and 20% off the Economy class Evasion fare in the Quebec City-Windsor corridor when you book your trip on Tuesday for the following week. It’s good for the wallet and the environment!
It should also be remembered that under the Air Access Program to the regions inaugurated last June, you can take advantage of a $500 round-trip ticket on the wings of certain carriers, including Air Canada and Pascan, to several destinations provided , of course, that the offer is not exhausted…