Booking accommodation in Brittany for the month of August without anticipating the new regulations on tourist rentals risks having your listing removed at the last minute. Organizing a vacation in France today requires more planning than it did two years ago. With changing rules on seasonal rentals and destinations quickly becoming saturated during peak season, let’s take stock of what really matters to prepare for a stay without unpleasant surprises.
The Le Meur Law and Seasonal Rentals: What Changes for Your Vacation in France
Since the law n°2024-1039 known as the “Le Meur Law,” the rental of furnished tourist accommodations is now much more regulated. For vacationers, the direct consequence is a reduced offer in certain high-demand areas.
Municipalities can now lower the rental cap for primary residences from 120 to 90 days per year in the most sought-after sectors (coastal areas, major cities). Paris has been applying this new cap since January 1, 2025.
Each listing must display a 13-character registration number. Fines can reach up to 10,000 euros in case of absence or false declaration. Platforms like Airbnb or Booking are co-responsible and must block non-compliant listings.
In practice, it is observed that the offer of short-term rentals is decreasing in cities that strictly enforce the law. To find reliable accommodation, it is better to plan several months in advance and systematically check for the presence of the registration number on the listing. A good reflex for comparing vacation offers in France is to use specialized platforms: https://www.vacanceo.net/ brings together various destinations with filters by region and type of accommodation.
Nature Destinations in France: Choosing Your Region Based on the Terrain
You don’t prepare a mountain stay the same way as a week on the coast. The choice of region influences the budget, the time of year, and the types of activities available.
Mountain and Hiking Off the Beaten Path
The Mont-Blanc massif attracts so many visitors in summer that some access points are now regulated. For hiking with comparable landscapes and fewer crowds, the Ariège Pyrenees or Cantal offer concrete alternatives. Mountain villages off the classic circuits remain accessible without long-term reservations.
It is recommended to check the condition of the trails with local tourist offices before leaving. Feedback on this point varies by massif, as some markings are only updated at the beginning of the season.
Coast and Less Crowded Beaches
The French Riviera remains a safe bet, but the beaches are overwhelmed starting in June. The Vendée coast, the Basque coast outside of Biarritz, or the beaches of Normandy in the Manche offer decent swimming conditions with significantly fewer people.
- Vendée: large sandy beaches, family-friendly, numerous campsites and residences nearby
- Basque Coast (Guéthary, Bidart): accessible surf spots, small villages, good local dining options
- Normandy (Havres Coast, Mont-Saint-Michel Bay): spectacular landscapes, cooler temperatures but low attendance even in July
Favoring seaside destinations outside the ten most well-known resorts can significantly reduce accommodation costs.
Budget and Logistics: Balancing Comfort and Flexibility
The accommodation expense often represents the largest portion of the vacation budget. With the tightening of rules on furnished tourist rentals, prices tend to rise in areas where the offer is decreasing.
Cottages, Campsites, and Holiday Villages
Rural cottages remain a solid option for family stays, especially in inland regions (Dordogne Valley, Loire, Auvergne). Reasonable availability can still be found by booking before April for the summer.
Holiday villages with pools and included activities are well-suited for families with children. They help avoid multiplying additional expenses (restaurants, park entries, equipment rentals).
Getting Around Without Breaking the Budget
The train remains the most convenient way to reach major French destinations. Discounted TGV tickets are generally released three to four months before departure.
- Book train tickets as soon as sales open for routes Paris-Bordeaux, Paris-Lyon, or Paris-Marseille
- Compare carpooling offers for interregional trips, often cheaper than the train at the last minute
- Rent a car on-site rather than driving the entire way, especially for poorly served rural destinations
For a ten-day stay in a rural area, the combination of train plus local car rental often costs less than the entire trip by personal car, including tolls and fuel.
Family or Friends Vacation: Adapting the Stay to the Group
A weekend with friends in a Loire village is not planned the same way as two weeks with family in Ardèche. The composition of the group determines the type of accommodation, activities, and pace of the stay.
With children, regions that combine nature activities and suitable infrastructure (pools, playgrounds, short marked trails) limit downtime. Dordogne, Ardèche, and the Basque Country check these boxes.
With friends, short stays of three to four days in picturesque villages work well. One can target wine regions (Burgundy, Alsace, Rhône Valley) to combine hiking, gastronomy, and visits to estates.
The choice of destination is better made based on the group rather than the destination itself. An accommodation that is too small creates tension, and an overly packed schedule tires everyone out. Planning one free day out of five without scheduled activities allows for spontaneous discoveries, often the best memories of the trip.
