Going away anyway, on a smaller budget
Holidays and restaurants feel too expensive, and the French are going anyway: they protect the trip and make their trade-offs around it.
For the first wave of the nabel travel and dining tracker, we talked with 263 people who choose their household’s holidays, all of them in a voice conversation with the nabel agent.
Get the full report30 pages, in French
263voice conversations
20 minmedian length
6 daysof fieldwork
Too expensive, and going anyway.
81%
find holidays too expensive, yet 91% plan to go away again in the next twelve months, including 90% of those who find prices too high.
No, I think we really treated ourselves. […] I did blow the budget, I think.
Woman, 35–54, small town, north-east France
73%
gave up nothing on their last trip. The trade-off comes earlier: 47% stayed in a holiday rental this year, for the space, the freedom and a kitchen.
Compared with a hotel, you can eat in the flat, which cuts food costs, and you can organise things however you like.
Man, 35–54, south-east France
68%
find restaurant prices too high, yet 79% were happy with their last meal. What annoys them is the price of drinks, and having to ask for bread and water.
What’s worth the price is the quality, the food. What’s excessive is more the price of desserts and drinks, which are a bit high sometimes.
Woman, 35–54, mid-sized town, north-east France
49%
say AI in travel worries them, compared with 87% for rising prices. They will let it search and compare, but not book or pay for them.
Payment and booking, I’ll keep those for myself. But finding me places to go at good prices, yes, I’d like that.
Woman, 55+, small town, north-west France
263 conversations, one bubble each.
Click a red bubble to hear or read what that person said.Tap a red bubble to hear or read what that person said.
What they protect, what they cut, and who they trust
The full report goes further. 30 pages, in French:
- 01Six findings on holiday budgets, accommodation, booking, restaurants and AI
- 02Three travellers’ stories, in their own words, transcribed verbatim
- 03Three opportunities for hotels, booking platforms and restaurants
- 04The conversation guide and the full methodology
Methodology · Mainland France · 11–17 Sept 2026
263 respondents who spent a paid night away from home in the past year, ate out in the past three months and choose their household’s holidays. 183 complete voice conversations with the nabel agent, plus 80 partial ones whose completed answers were kept.
Our latest studies
TrackerConsumer goodsBig brands, too expensive? Not mine→September 2026 · 259 conversations
White paperWith PureSpectrumAudio excerpt, 0:57What respondents don’t tell surveys→September 2026 · 333 conversations
TrackerRetail and e-commerceAudio excerpt, 0:33Wary of discounts, sold on Amazon→September 2026 · 246 conversations
TrackerFinancial servicesAudio excerpt, 0:32Bank fees: plenty of complaints, few goodbyes→September 2026 · 274 conversations
TrackerTransport and automotiveAudio excerpt, 0:28To the garage, not the dealership→September 2026 · 258 conversations
TrackerTechnology, Media & TelecomAudio excerpt, 0:28Telecom loyalty lasts until the next price rise→September 2026 · 305 conversationsGet the full report30 pages
