HouseTrip Blog – Holiday apartment news, travel and rental tips

During the coming weeks we are going to write a series of posts on exciting destinations and ask one question to three local homeowners about their rental experiences.

Renting a Vacation Rental during the Cannes Film Festival

Cannes is situated in the Côte d’Azur area and is known as one of the most glamorous destinations in France. During the prestigious film festival, Cannes draws not only the stars to the beautiful coastal city but also thousands of visitors.

The city of Cannes, France

The grandeur of this event is not only reflected through the string of celebrities who join the event but also by the decupled accommodation prices charged to visitors. To be sure not to miss this event some people book rooms as early as 12 months in advance.

The good news is that hotels are not the only accommodation provider: many homeowners are renting their place or simply a room. Staying in a vacation rental during the festival is, although more expensive than usual, a more affordable solution compared to hotel accommodation.

We then asked three hosts what effect the Film Festival had on their rentals:

Niall Bates is the owner of Chic Gites and for him the Cannes Film Festival is the major event in the city, which lasts full 12 days. Other conferences last on average only 4-5 days. A positive aspect for property owners is the fact that the event almost always attracts more visitors than there are available beds, putting owners in an advantageous position. Niall knows that rates are generally 4-5 times higher than normal off-peak season rates. Despite the economic downturn Chic Gites realized comparable rates with other years, underlining the importance of the event and the quality of the apartments offered by Chic Gites.

Cosy atmosphere in all the historical buildings

Karon Mousley is Landlord of Etoilenord, a luxury apartment in the centre of Cannes, and she is keen to have her apartment booked during such a major event. Karon charges premium rates during this period and appreciates that expectations are high. Prior to being a host she was a guest for almost ten years during conferences in Cannes and understands that service excellence is what really satisfies her clientele.

Karon's Place: Spacious lounge with modern dining table

There are also non-professional hosts, like Pierre, who lives in a nice flat in the city centre and rents out his place during the Cannes Film Festival whenever he can. For him it is a great way to gain some additional revenue: last year he even managed to pay his tax with the money earned. Pierre is not the only accommodation provider of that kind, there are even people who created simple websites to rent their studio just for the festival.

Living like a local - Chez Pierre

Major events always attract a lot of people, driving up prices for accommodation in hotels. Hosts realize the potential and adapt their pricing strategy accordingly. However, in the end, short-term rentals often seem like a bargain compared to overpriced hotels and offer in many ways more value for money.