"In forty years, I've never seen this lake": leaving 10 minutes from home, the success of local holidays

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A camping holiday, right on the water, just a 15-minute drive from home, is what attracted a family from Strasbourg (Bas-Rhin). Surrounded by nature, on their inflatable boat, it was all it took to feel like they'd gone far away. A week's vacation at home, without the hassle of traveling.

"I've lived in Alsace for over forty years, and I've never seen this lake," says a surprised family vacationer. Sixty percent of the campground guests live nearby. For some, it's a way to treat themselves without breaking the bank.

Retirees paid for their caravan pitch for 5 months at the same price as a week elsewhere in France. "This year, I don't want to go to the South anyway, with everything we hear there, the fire, the heat..." , explains the wife.

To save money, some families have had to cut back even more this summer. A few kilometers away on this stretch of water, a mother has been coming here every day to swim with her daughters for the past week. "It's starting to get really expensive, and as I said, when we go on vacation, it's usually to treat ourselves. So, I preferred to stay here and let them enjoy it more," she explains.

A few towels away, a retired couple hasn't gone on vacation for five years. With their health concerns, they prefer to enjoy themselves 10 minutes from home. "Everything is beautiful. The lake is magnificent. The people are friendly. Life is good," enthuses the resident. Since Covid, local vacations have been popular: 80% of vacationers stayed in France this summer.