Parking fees at a popular French Riviera resort have jumped more than 35 percent this summer, adding a fresh strain to the budgets of holidaymakers already managing rising costs.
In Saint-Raphaël, in the Var department, the daily parking rate rises from 14 to 19 euros during the summer season. Some visitors have paid 9.30 euros for just a few hours, a figure that compounds quickly across a multi-day stay.
One holidaymaker, identified as Aline, said she was frustrated by a 25-euro charge for 24 hours of parking, money she said could have gone toward treats or souvenirs for her daughter.
The town is defending the policy. Frédéric Masquelier, mayor of Saint-Raphaël and a member of the Nouvelle Énergie party, said the annual parking revenue amounts to only 200,000 euros, which goes toward maintenance work and future infrastructure investment.
The summer tariff runs from 1 June to 30 September. Officials say the higher rate is necessary because the town’s population triples during those months, increasing pressure on public services and facilities.
