The little cool wind? Nadine doesn’t care. On her deckchair buried in the white sand of Juan-les-Pins, she is in heaven. “Look, I’m sure I’ve already taken colors”assures the retiree who took out her two-piece swimsuit to celebrate the clemency of the weather this Easter weekend.
“People need to have fun”
“It’s a really good start to the season”, rejoices Françoise Pauget, who sees her mobile homes and motorhome pitches taken by storm at the Pylon campsite, in the Brague area, in Antibes. And this, despite the inflationary context: “With the rise in the price of energy, we warned our customers that we would increase the electricity share. They are understanding, we all face the same problems.”
This is perhaps why a desire for lightness has been hovering for 48 hours in the department. “People need to have fun. Admittedly, they may be looking at the prices more, but we feel a real desire to take advantage”recognizes Noël Ajoury, president of the Umih Côte d’Azur Nice cafetiers restaurateurs: “Besides when I speak to you, I cross the pedestrian Masséna, the terraces are full!”
Just like the beaches. If the less cautious try a spring bath, the majority prefer to bask. A godsend for beachgoers. “There is a mad world”notes René Colomban, president of the Nice beaches union and manager of Blue Beach: “The Italians are of course present. We also see Germans, English, many Scandinavians. But also Americans and Chinese.”
Can we think that international visitors, nourished by the images of the demonstrations in the capital, preferred the Côte d’Azur to Paris? “Two weeks ago we were very worried, the occupancy rates were peaking”concedes Christine Welter, of the Cannes hoteliers union and the Cannes basin: “But the trend has reversed thanks to last-minute reservations. On the Cannes hotel industry, Saturday evening, the 2 and 3 stars were full. For the top of the range, we were between 60 and 80% depending on the location. Which is very good!”
The Masters 1000 attract
On the east side of the department, it’s game and match with the Masters 1000 of Monte-Carlo. “The qualifying phases bring us a lot of people“confirms Thomas Laurenti, president of the Hotel Syndicate of Menton and the French Riviera.
Major events which, beyond the sun, can boost attractiveness. “That’s why in Cannes we didn’t wait for spring to work. We could start in January“assures Christine Welter, at the head of the Villa Garbo and the Cavendish Hotel, who has found the perfect saying: “With a beautiful winter on the balcony, we can say that Easter was the hope of a beautiful season!“
And for the weeks to come? Nice fix, according to those concerned: “Easter comes early in the European school holiday calendar. We are expecting a very nice weekend next week.“
The icing on the cake: public holidays benefit the sector, as the owner of the Prince de Galles hotel, Thomas Laurenti, points out: “May 1 and May 8 fall on a Monday. It’s ideal for us.“
“If we continue like this, it’s perfect!”
“It took me on opening day, Thursday, we hadn’t expected it at all but I came across it and immediately saw the potential.” What is Zouhair Belaych talking about? Pop poufs who have landed in force on its beach in Juan-les-Pins, Epi Beach. His idea, he is proud of it.
Especially since customers settle there with pleasure, their toes in the sand. Not far from the tables which have hosted numerous gatherings of family and friends. Relaxation, the real one. Enough to give a smile to the master of the place, delighted with this start for the 2023 season: “It’s sunny, people are happy, we work well, it’s fantastic.”
In his team, it rides. Barely time to warm up 48 hours before the marathon is already launched with Easter.
“Wait, you’re not going to leave us like that”, calls out the boss, addressing two customers, delighted with their experience. They will leave with, down their throats, a shot of a good aged rum, offered by the manager. The summer spirit wins hearts.
“If we continue like this, it’s perfect!”rejoices the Antibois who has already seen the habits of some come back at a gallop: “The locals have booked, but we also have last minute, and a lot of Italians.”
Eat well, laugh often, love a lot (1), yes, but with French Riviera sauce!
1. Italian expression: “Eat well, laugh often, love a lot.”