Price

Greece Trip: Non-Conforming Services and Price Discrepancies – Should the Agency Pay? [ABO]

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Séjour en Grèce : prestations non conformes et écarts de prix, l’agence doit-elle payer ? - Depositphotos.com Auteur martinm303

TAP Air Portugal


Two travelers referred the Mediation after a trip to Greece organized by a travel agency. They believed that several services provided did not correspond either to the announced descriptions or to the price they had paid before departure. They were seeking a refund of €2,700.

The trip included several legs through the Cyclades. Upon arrival, the travelers noted various non-conformities: a room in Santorini they deemed different from the one shown at the time of booking, a hotel in Paros that did not match the advertised description, and a discrepancy between the price of certain services charged by the agency and the amount shown on the documents provided on site.

They notably found that the amount paid for their accommodation in Sifnos was higher than the price shown on the establishment’s bill.

The same observation was made for the boat crossings, whose rate actually paid to the companies was much lower than the amount billed within the framework of the trip.

The agency had proposed a first commercial gesture of 235 € to compensate for some differences noted during the stay, an offer the travelers had refused, deeming this amount insufficient.



Ce que disent les textes :

On the legal front, the Mediation notes that Article L. 211-16 of the Tourism Code places full liability on the seller of a package tour for the proper execution of the contracted services.

When the services do not conform to what was agreed, the professional must remedy them or, failing that, compensate the traveler.

Moreover, the case file elements do not call into question the price agreed at booking. However, they highlight a significant gap between the sums paid to the agency and the actual cost of certain services, notably the Sifnos accommodation and the maritime crossings.


Ce que préconise la Médiation Tourisme et Voyage :

In the interest of fairness, the Mediation considers it justified to retain half of these price differences, while taking into account the commercial gesture already offered by the agency.

At the end of its analysis, it therefore recommends the payment of an additional compensation of €277.96, to be added to the €235 already proposed, in order to amicably settle the dispute.


Find all the practical cases from the Tourism and Travel Mediation by clicking HERE.


Hotels and Taxis: The Hidden Price Women Pay for Safety When Traveling Alone

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When you’re a woman, traveling alone can sometimes be pricey. More expensive than for a man. In London, BBC journalist Lorin Bozkurt recounts that she was offered two types of capsules in a Piccadilly Circus hotel, those small design spaces where a bed simply fits in. The ones reserved for an exclusively female clientele were priced at 45 pounds (about 52 euros) per night, while the others, mixed, were priced at 35 pounds (about 41 euros).

Yet no extra comfort accompanied the first offer, aside from a corridor accessible only by card and, above all, the promise of feeling safer for an extra 10 pounds. This difference illustrates what some specialists call the “avoidance tax”, akin to its marketing cousin, the “pink tax”. Female travelers do not necessarily pay more for the same trip than their male counterparts, but they often make different decisions, motivated by safety, which can end up increasing the bill.

The luxury of having peace of mind

Better-located hotels, a taxi rather than public transport, travel insurance or an extra charge for an earlier early check-in during the day… Expenses pile up. And they aren’t necessarily the same for men. Carried by the British broadcaster, a study from the Safer Tourism Foundation shows that “64 % of women avoid walking home alone at night abroad”, compared with 43 % for the opposite sex.

Nearly half of women also forgo wandering the backstreets of an unfamiliar city at night. “They don’t travel less because they are less adventurous than men. They operate in an environment where the risks are different”, explains Stephanie Boyle, director of the Safer Tourism Foundation’s She Travels Safe campaign.

Safer, therefore more expensive

For women accustomed to traveling solo, these precautions eventually become reflexes. Jen Kaarlo, who has 53 countries under her belt, tells the BBC she plans all her movements in advance. After experiencing several troubling incidents, including being drugged without her knowledge in a bar in Paris, the young woman avoids “any risky situation”. In Panama, she even preferred to pay nearly $200 extra (about €173) to ensure she wouldn’t have to share her sleeping arrangements with strangers during a trip to the San Blas Islands.

Jodie Hughes, who has been traveling alone since the age of 19, makes the same point. She says she used to favor youth hostels to save money, but now chooses other options because a women-only dorm can be more expensive than a mixed dorm. “I’d rather travel less often, but when I travel, I want to be safer”, she says. At Generator Hostels, whose Bruges property has been singled out, it is explained that women’s rooms are “in high demand” and that their prices reflect that demand.

“Safety should not be a competitive element. It shouldn’t be something that lets companies think they can charge more because they are safer”, replies Stephanie Boyle. Beyond the price of rooms or transport, these precautions also carry a less visible cost. They force travelers to plan more, sometimes give up going out, or choose a more expensive option rather than a spontaneous one. The question is therefore no longer only whether one can afford an extra expense, but whether one can afford not to spend it. “The mental load, I think, is the heaviest of all”, confesses Jen Kaarlo.

SNCF: FNAUT Denounces Ouigo Price Hikes and Decline of the Inoui Service

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SNCF : La FNAUT dénonce l'envolée des prix Ouigo et le recul de l'offre Inoui - Depositphotos.com Auteur FotoPrivet

IFTM prenez RDV avec TourMaG


While SNCF has recently confirmed a modest increase in TGV INOUI and OUIGO fares for 2026, the National Federation of User Associations for Transport (FNAUT) has published a comparative study on how TGV prices and offerings have evolved from 2017 to 2024.

It had already unveiled, at the end of 2025, an initial report covering figures from 2017 to 2023. It now updates the data with 2024 figures.

According to FNAUT data based on the open data from the Transport Regulation Authority:

  • Between 2017 and 2024, OUIGO’s seat-kilometre offering surged by +185%, while TGV INOUI’s declined by around -13%.

  • This trend translates into a traffic split where OUIGO trains now account for a substantial share, at the expense of the traditional INOUI offering, criticized for its gradual decline.

“More OUIGO, less INOUI: the French TGV is changing its face… but not necessarily to the benefit of regular travelers.” states FNAUT.



Marked rise in OUIGO prices vs relatively stable INOUI

The FNAUT argues that this evolution reduces travel options for holders of discount cards (such as Avantage or Liberté), who often find fewer seats available on reserved quotas for TGV INOUI, the more traditional option.

The federation also analyzes price developments.

  • The average price of an OUIGO ticket rose by 75% between 2017 and 2024, and the price per kilometer climbed by 71% over the same period.

  • By contrast, INOUI TGV tickets saw their average price rise by only 8%, with a price-per-kilometer increase limited to 11%, well below overall inflation.


response from Alain Krakovitch: context, evolution and customers

On LinkedIn, Alain Krakovitch, director of TGV-Intercités and head of the TGV INOUI and OUIGO brands, replied to these criticisms by emphasizing several contextual elements:

According to him, a large portion of OUIGO price increases can be explained by changes in the offering: at launch, the brand served only secondary stations and short-haul routes. Today, it operates from major Paris stations and on much longer connections (up to Hendaye, Brest, Perpignan…), which, he says, accounts for about 80% of the observed price rise.

He suggests that the remaining rise reflects higher operating costs, but notes that, overall, the prices of TGVs (INOUI + OUIGO) have risen more slowly than inflation in recent years.

For Krakovitch, the two brands are not competitors but complementary: OUIGO generally remains about 30% cheaper than TGV INOUI on average and helps attract travelers who would not have taken the train otherwise. He also notes that more than 180 million customers have used OUIGO since its inception, with more than half of tickets sold for less than €30.


James Bond-Inspired Private Island for Sale at an Extravagant Price

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Off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, a private island encircled by turquoise waters is currently seeking a new owner. Behind this spectacular sale lies the story of a place shaped by a controversial figure in aesthetic medicine, frequented by celebrities and marked by an architecture that evokes the world of espionage cinema. Named Pitanguy Island, this property of nearly 30 hectares ranks among the most expensive private islands on the market today.

An island shaped by Brazil’s pioneer of cosmetic surgery

Named Pitanguy Island, this island off the coast of Rio de Janeiro derives its name from Dr. Ivo Pitanguy, one of the world’s best-known Brazilian plastic surgeons. Considered a pioneer of the Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL), he dedicated part of his life to turning this island territory into a private haven. The doctor, who died in 2016 at the age of 93, used the island as a residence reserved for his family, close friends, and a select group of invited guests. Since his passing, his family is said to have continued maintaining the property, which has now been put up for sale for $100 million, or about €86 million.

According to Beauchamp Estates, several international figures have stayed on the island over the years. Among them are actors Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, singer Frank Sinatra, and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. Beyond its celebrity history, Pitanguy Island stands out for the layouts crafted by its former owner. He built six modernist-style bungalows and nine suites, while preserving significant natural spaces.

The estate today features a swimming pool, three private beaches, a forest traversed by trails, natural freshwater springs, and a natural aquarium. Sports enthusiasts can also enjoy a tennis court, while several golf-cart-type vehicles allow for easy circulation around the island. Access to the estate is facilitated by a marina capable of accommodating large vessels, a heliport, and a private 400-meter airstrip. It can be reached by boat, helicopter, or airplane.

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A tropical landscape with James Bond vibes

The island’s distinctive character also lies in its architecture. The buildings showcase white façades, rounded walls, and large glass expanses opening onto the ocean and the tropical gardens. A modernist style that echoes some iconic Brazilian structures of the 20th century. According to Beauchamp Estates, the whole ensemble is also said to have been partly inspired by Francisco Scaramanga’s lair in the James Bond film The Man with the Golden Gun, released in 1974 with Roger Moore in the role of the British secret agent.

Yet the island could still evolve. The future owner might consider new constructions, subject to obtaining the necessary authorizations from the local municipality and the Brazilian Navy. A plan envisions adding a residence of about 2,790 square meters in the eastern part of the island. According to Beauchamp Estates, this expansion could lift the property’s value to as much as $135 million, about €116 million. Other transformations could also be possible, such as renovating or reconstructing the existing buildings, and modernizing the heliport, the airstrip, and the marina.

Pitanguy Island, an ultra-private refuge

Gary Hersham, founding and managing director of Beauchamp Estates, describes the island as “an exceptional property” that “also offers extraordinary potential”. He adds that “the island could remain an exceptional private retreat for a discerning multimillionaire or billionaire, or be transformed, subject to urban planning permissions, into an ultra-exclusive hotel complex of the Necker Island type, with world-class five-star facilities”.

Kay Louise Smith, a specialist broker at Beauchamp Estates, believes that “Pitanguy Island is one of the most exclusive private islands in the world, offering a James Bond-inspired hideout with remarkable modernist-style bungalows and suites, exceptional amenities, and a prestigious celebrity history”.

With its private beaches, extraordinary facilities, and James Bond-style architecture, Pitanguy Island demonstrates how far the transformation of an island territory can go into a private retreat. Beyond its spectacular setting, this island, one of the most expensive in the world, also testifies to the enduring appeal that these exceptional places hold for the wealthiest, who seek properties that become increasingly rare and exclusive.

Australia’s Smallest Town for Sale at a Surprising Price

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What if owning an entire town cost less than buying a house or an apartment in some of the major metropolises? In Queensland, Australia, a remote settlement is seeking a fresh start and waiting for its future owner. Behind this unusual listing lies a village that is almost deserted yet equipped with surprisingly complete infrastructure. An unconventional opportunity that could also allow its buyer to instantly boost the number of residents.

An Entire Town for 400,000 Australian Dollars

Tucked away in Queensland’s Outback, more than 800 kilometers west of Brisbane, the small community of Cooladdi is officially up for sale. The price is set at 400,000 Australian dollars, roughly equivalent to 240,000 euros. A sum that includes far more than land: the purchaser would also take over a four-bedroom roadhouse, a motel, a grocery store, a pub, and a four-star restaurant.

Cooladdi holds a rare distinction: with only two residents, it is considered Australia’s smallest town. The two current residents, Carol Yarrow and Jo Cornel, had bought the Foxtrap Roadhouse in 2023 with the aim of reviving the community for three years. As their project nears its end, Carol Yarrow now plans to retire while Jo Cornel wishes to relocate.

The number of inhabitants could, however, shift very quickly depending on who buys the town. Becky Jeisman, a Charleville Real Estate agent handling the sale, explains that “there are currently only two people living in Cooladdi. The population is calculated based on the number of people who own the Foxtrap”. She adds: “It’s the whole town, and if a group of four people buys it, then the population will double”.

A Prosperous Past and an Unconventional Lifestyle

Purchasing Cooladdi isn’t merely about acquiring several buildings. The future owners would also bear responsibility for a large part of the village’s essential services. They would serve as the postman, pub manager, shopkeeper, motel receptionist, and cook. Carol Yarrow sums up this versatility to The Guardian: “Restoration and the pub probably form the core of the work; we also handle mail delivery as part of the postal service”.

Despite this load, she looks back on the experience with fond memories. “I’ve always found that the best thing about it is the local community… the residents who live within roughly 70 kilometers and pass by the property”, she told the British outlet. This small town wasn’t always nearly deserted, though. At its peak, Cooladdi counted 270 residents. The town boasted a school, a butcher shop, a police station, and flourished thanks to the railway. But when the railway line was extended to Quilpie in 1917, its decline began.

“The lifestyle is relaxed”

The closure of passenger train services in 1967, combined with the decline of sheep farming, accelerated residents’ departures and the gradual disappearance of shops and public services. Today, despite this turbulent history, Cooladdi continues to welcome travelers thanks to its location on a busy Outback road that links several towns, notably Charleville, about an hour’s drive away and home to around 3,000 inhabitants.

Former residents remain attached to the place as well. Carol Yarrow tells The Guardian that “since the residents left—many settled in Charleville and the surrounding area—people who grew up here come back to visit the places they once knew”. And she concludes: “We see many travellers and wonderful locals passing through. It’s an exceptional community. The lifestyle is relaxed. All around us, there are only mulga trees.”

Hotel vs Short-Term Rental: French Preference Depends on Price

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Hôtel ou location de courte durée : l'arbitrage des Français dépend massivement des prix, Despositphotos.com

Dream Yacht


Face au durcissement de la réglementation sur les meublés touristiques, près des deux tiers des utilisateurs se disent prêts à modifier leurs habitudes de consommation en cas de hausse des prix des locations.

Cette étude publiée par Catella démontre que la fidélité des Français aux plateformes de courte durée est loin d’être acquise, ouvrant la voie à un retour vers l’hôtellerie traditionnelle.

En cas d’augmentation des tarifs des meublés de tourisme, 34 % des sondés affirment qu’ils se tourneraient directement vers l’hôtel, tandis que 29 % adapteraient leur choix selon les situations.

Only 10% would stay loyal to the rental regardless of price level. This volatility is even more marked among CSP+ (74 %) and in regions with strong tourist pressure, such as the Southeast, where 71 % of respondents are considering an hotel alternative.

Cette tendance pourrait s’accélérer sous l’effet du nouveau cadre législatif, notamment la loi Le Meur, qui réduit les avantages fiscaux des meublés touristiques et renforce le pouvoir de régulation des municipalités.

À Paris, les premiers effets se font déjà sentir : les annonces sont passées d’un pic de 79 000 à l’été 2024 à une stabilisation autour de 54 000 en octobre 2025 selon l’APUR, ce qui pourrait mécaniquement pousser les prix de la location à la hausse.


The price factor, the primary obstacle to accessing hotel establishments

The survey also reveals a massive renunciation of hotels, affecting one in two French people.

This phenomenon is particularly pronounced in the Paris region (59 %) and peaks at 70 % among young professionals aged 25 to 34. For 32 % of all respondents (43 % of those aged 25-34), the tariff constitutes the main barrier to entry.

This renunciation translates into trade-offs directly linked to the broader constraints on purchasing power and housing rather than a disinterest in the traditional hotel model.

Public opinion is also favorable to a better structuring of the market. Nearly half of French people (46 %) express the desire to see the regulation of short-term furnished rentals tightened.

The expectations are particularly homogeneous in the Southwest (50 %), Southeast (50 %) and Northeast (49 %). The economic stake is sizeable, since these furnished rentals generate, for instance, 585 million euros in revenue outside the hotel circuit in Paris, where they represent 3.5 % of the residential stock.


Towards a hybridization of hotel offerings to capture new usages

The hotel is now perceived as an opportunistic and pragmatic choice. Guests use it for short stays (33%), for price-driven opportunities (32%) or for the quality of included services (28%).

Expectations vary by generation: those over 55 prioritize brevity of stay (39%), while the 25-34 age group targets price competitiveness (40%) or the lack of availability of alternative rentals (24%).

This shift in behavior opens opportunities for the development of hybrid structures capable of combining traditional lodging, coworking and long-stay stays. This versatility responds to a growing acceptance of mixed audiences.

Indeed, 46 % of respondents believe that the cohabitation between business travelers and leisure travelers has no negative impact on their experience, and 13 % consider it even an asset for the vitality of the establishments. This stance is even stronger among the youth and in Île-de-France, sending a clear signal to investors for the creation of multifunctional hotel assets.

Didier Arino (Protourisme): This Year, Price Is More Important Than Ever as the No. 1 Criterion

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Didier Arino (Protourisme) : "le prix, premier critère de choix des vacances" - Photo Protourisme

Dream Yacht


TourMaG – We’re in early June, and indicators from travel operators are not in the green. Where do we stand on the latest figures?

Didier Arino: First, let’s review the annual figures. For 2026, 40.2 million French people say they have gone on vacation or intend to go, which is 2 million fewer than in 2024.

For the summer, we moved from 800,000 canceling trips abroad to 1.5 million. Of the 10 million who had considered traveling abroad, that represents nearly 16%, and while that number may seem large, it is quoted as 16% in quotation marks.

When I say they are giving up on traveling abroad, we should also view this trend with caution. Some have renounced the foreign destination they initially envisaged, notably in Asia, but they remain uncertain. They say they are abandoning their stay as planned, but that does not mean they will not choose, at the last moment, a closer destination in Europe.


The trend of “less far, cheaper, shorter”

TourMaG – Do these figures show up in bookings?

Didier Arino: Summer bookings remain subdued compared to previous years across most categories of accommodation, with the exception of camping, whose activity remains steady but not rising.

The trend of “ less far, cheaper, shorter ” is being confirmed. Vacationers are increasingly favouring destinations located about three hours from home, typically near major tourist catchment areas.

Accordingly, Lyon residents are leaning more toward the mountains, Ardèche, or the Occitan coast, Parisians toward the Norman and Breton coasts, while people in the North prefer the coast of Pas-de-Calais. This dynamic could penalize farther destinations, especially in the south of France, with the exception of areas like the Côte d’Azur that attract international clients.

TourMaG – Industry professionals are now waiting for last-minute sales. Will they trigger?

Didier Arino: For now, operators are indeed waiting for it to trigger… In my view, vacationers know there is still availability nearly everywhere and will therefore wait until the very last moment. If you’re leaving the following week, you might wait to know the weather forecast. This is, indeed, what we observed during the long weekends in May.

On the weekend when we had the heatwave, operators were at full capacity. There is also a psychological aspect at play: fuel under two euros per liter. For a single trip, this can amount to around twenty euros. In itself, it does not fundamentally alter the situation, but psychologically, the impact is enormous for consumers.

For the summer and last-minute bookings, the question remains whether they will manage to fully offset the delay observed so far. But with fewer people taking shorter stays… I don’t see how we could do better…


There will be good deals to be had!

TourMaG – The vacation budget is following the same downward curve…

Didier Arino: Yes, the vacation budget is down by 150 euros. There will be a problem of consumption within tourist spaces: places of visits, paid activities, shops, restaurants… We see this in the trade-offs; vacationers will be very cautious.

TourMaG – Operators have launched flexible offers; could this boost demand?

Didier Arino: What was very poor to start with was airline communication. They first announced the implementation of fuel surcharges. In consumers’ minds, this added to the worries tied to the context and the risks of kerosene shortages. Naturally, this discourages booking. In the end, this communication, combined with rising tariffs, ended up destroying demand.

Now, tariffs are falling… There will inevitably be good deals to be had! Operators are right to promote because price sensitivity is decisive.

This year, price is proving to be more than ever the number one criterion. According to our survey, 71% of vacationers consider it decisive in their choice. We have moved away from a value-for-money logic or the search for experience and pleasure. Today, the dominant criterion is price above all.


For the French, holidays remain essential but they must be affordable

TourMaG – All observers agree that the sector is resilient and that the desire to travel remains intact… Do you share this view given what we’ve just discussed?

Didier Arino: Holidays remain deeply rooted in the French way of life. Despite budget constraints, they continue to allocate an important share to travel. 55% of them say they are making sacrifices in other spending categories to be able to go, including food, home equipment, clothing, or even automobiles.

The reality, however, is that vacations are financed with what is left after all bills are paid. If every month you spend more on fuel, heating, or food, you inevitably have less money available to travel.

A CSP+ couple will not change their vacation for an extra 50 euros. But for a peri-urban family that has to drive long distances daily, pay for daycare, and absorb daily price increases, those 50 euros can make the difference. They are the ones who will adjust their vacation plans, or even rethink them completely.

This does not mean vacations are less important for these households. However, they may arbitrate differently: replacing a paid stay with free or low-cost activities, shortening the stay, or opting for two days at a leisure park to please the children. When 40% of vacationers modify their plans in this way, it inevitably affects the entire tourism ecosystem.

For the French, vacations remain essential but they must be affordable.

Vacationers tend to downgrade. The most upscale mobile homes are hard to fill, while there has never been as many bookings for bare pitches in campsites. In furnished rentals, it is mainly the mid-range and budget segments that are thriving. As for holiday villages, most are experiencing delayed bookings.

Contrary to what some sector players claim, the situation is not as favorable as they imply. At the same time, there is a rising prominence of short stays. At Center Parcs, for example, three- or four-day stays are expanding. The French continue to travel, but for shorter durations. The obvious consequence: the number of nights and long stays is likely to fall this summer, even if the total number of stays may not drop.


TourMaG – Luxury travel specialists also feel a chill. Prudence seems to be the watchword for business leaders, who are also constrained by the economic context.

Didier Arino: It’s a reality… Some scale back, others think that with France’s deficit they will be taxed more and more, and then there is fear of the future… in short, this creates a kind of attrition.

In the business world, particularly among those directly exposed to the market, worry is real. Added to that are all sectors tied to real estate, which suffer from slower transactions and, consequently, a drop in activity. Retail is also heavily affected, with increasing difficulties and business failures.

There remain, within the partner networks, doctors, people who work in finance, tech and AI… Even accountants or lawyers are cautious. We have entered a recessionary cycle intensified by fear of tomorrow. Sometimes it’s irrational, but one thing is certain, the post-COVID euphoria is over.

And this could last, because 2027 is an election year with presidential elections.


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