TÉMOIGNAGES : Glace vendeur, camping entertainer, sailing instructor… While we unwind, they work. These seasonal employees spend their summers taking care of vacationers, for better or for worse.
In July and August, there is no question of resting. For some, it is the ideal time to work, the most popular period for the French to go on vacation, with nearly 31.3 million people in 2024. Mostly students, they are hired on fixed-term contracts most of the time, for seasonal contracts throughout France. Restaurants, beaches, campsites, souvenir shops… They appear as the central figures of our summers. Why do they come back every year? What are their biggest challenges? Their favorite moments? Four of them confide in Le Lesoir.
« We are at the beach, the weather is nice, and the vacationers are relaxed. »
Grégoire Laboulet, 21, ice cream vendor in Le Touquet.
On the beach in Le Touquet, along the Opal Coast, Grégoire does not open the small pink trailer until 2 pm. However, ice cream is already in demand in the morning. « We have regular customers who come back every day, especially for the vanilla flavor, which sells the best, » notes the 21-year-old commerce student, also mentioning the success of the lemon/mint/basil flavor. Since last year, he has been playing the role of ice cream vendor during the summer season and sells more than thirty cones per day. « Sometimes I only do sales in the afternoon, but on busy days, we start at 10:30 a.m. to pick up the trailer and set up. We serve until 6:30 p.m. or 7 p.m. and we often stay until 9 p.m., » he describes.
With two other employees, they alternate tasks so that the organization suits everyone, although it does not bother Grégoire: « I prefer the busy days, because it is more varied, time passes more quickly. » If he was a little apprehensive about the service, the clients turn out to be « rather cool, » even when they are indecisive. « Often, we joke with family members, for example, teasing the one who can’t make up his mind, » adds the student from Lille. During his contract, the young man stays with his grandparents and enjoys the beach and terrace drinks when he finishes his day. Of all the odd jobs he has done (vendor, entertainer), this one remains his favorite. « There are no negative points, we are at the beach, the weather is nice, and the vacationers are relaxed, » concludes Grégoire, already hired for the 2025 season.
« When we say we are on the same boat, it is not for nothing. »
Xavier Piérard, 32, sailing instructor in Arcachon.
The sun shines in Arcachon, near Bordeaux, where Xavier teaches sailing. « I just had a chocolate croissant while watching the sunrise, with my feet in the water, it’s quite the life, » says the instructor before his first class of the day. Since he was eight years old, sailing has been a « vital need » for him. Yet, during the year, this physics chemistry teacher who lives in the Bordeaux countryside, is far from the water. « The year is physically and mentally exhausting for me, so in the summer, I work as a sailing instructor; I sail every day, for courses or private lessons, » shares Xavier. Private lessons are his favorites: « we can more easily show the gestures and we don’t need to shout to be heard, » he explains.
His worst fear when out at sea? The lack of wind, « like all sailors ». But also the traffic, which he has to manage in addition to watching and guiding the students. « In high season, there are many motorboats or jet skis that go very fast, you have to be extremely vigilant, » warns Xavier. But after teaching from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., when the wind picks up and the sea empties, it is impossible for him to leave the waves of the basin. « As an instructor, I can take out the sailboats if they are available, so it allows me not to pay the rental, » points out the thirty-year-old. Every year, the atmosphere with the other seasonal workers motivates him to come back. « When we say we are on the same boat, it is not for nothing. We help each other when sailing, we create bonds. Even if we only see each other during that period, we are close, we often share each other’s stories, » appreciates the instructor.
« We act as police next to the slides »
Clément Chaval, 23, lifeguard at Les Sables-d’Olonne.
In the absence of a sailboat, Clément and his colleagues share chairs. They are lifeguards at a campsite pool in Vendée. For the third consecutive summer, this medical student spends his days watching over two pools and large slides. « It’s very long to sit for eight hours on a chair watching the water under 30 degrees. We try to rotate: one goes around the area, or we stay next to each other and chat while watching the swimmers, » details the 23-year-old Parisian. On average, he attends to between 5 and 10 minor injuries in children per day, with more serious interventions being rarer.
« Our role is also to prevent accidents to avoid this; we act as police next to the slides because it is the most dangerous place, » adds the lifeguard. However, his most dangerous task remains enforcing the pool rules. « Some make a whole scene over a simple swimsuit, which is not allowed in the pool, » marvels Clément. Despite everything, he admits, « it’s nicer than working at McDo ». Especially in terms of benefits: this year, the employee is accommodated on-site, has no additional costs, and can even invite a loved one at reduced rates. « Plus, we all live together with colleagues, who become friends with whom we can go out in the evening, » adds the young pool inspector. « Last year, my colleagues were more party animals; this year, it’s a bit calmer, but at least we are fresher in the morning on our chairs, » acknowledges Clément.
« We always have to show that we have energy. »
Carla Soares, 20, camping entertainer in Saint-Cyprien.
For Carla, not arriving in good shape in the morning is not an option. This summer, the literature student is in charge of the children’s mini-club at a holiday village in Saint-Cyprien, 20 km from Perpignan. « It’s different from the big campgrounds with more than 2000 people where I worked, » says the young twenty-year-old, mentioning lunch breaks where she had to choose between eating or sleeping. This year, she opted for a quieter and more family-oriented environment: « I have only about ten children in the mini-club, aged 4 to 12, and I love them, they surprise me every day. » The program includes activities all day and theme nights in the evening. Pool party on Tuesday, giant karaoke on Wednesday, cabaret show on Friday… « You always have to show that you have energy, despite fatigue or personal problems. It was difficult at first, but it’s easier when you see vacationers in a good mood, it carries us, » notes Carla.
If she attaches herself to warm clients, with whom she shares aperitifs and stays in touch, others are more annoying. « We see a lot of bitter visitors who come to complain about details, such as the lack of air conditioning in the accommodations or pool hours that do not suit them, » notes the entertainer, pointing out one of the disadvantages of this job. « Since we are the most visible on the campsite, they complain to us, but it is not our responsibility. In the end, they are on vacation, but we, we take it in the face, » despairs the young mini-club manager. But not enough to put Carla off this job, which she appreciates mostly for Fridays. « As it is the end of the week, we organize a snack with the children and take the time to talk with them. Then there is the evening show, and I see how happy they are, it always touches me, » she describes, already nostalgic for the group of this August week.
