Des Bouillons, a 43-year-old accountant, is forgoing one of France's sacrosanct rituals: the great August lull in which the country shuts down for the entire month, turning cities into ghost towns as the masses hit the beaches or country retreats.
Not only is des Bouillons staying in Paris, but he also intends to (quelle horreur!) work through August so that he can go away off-season once prices drop. "I have to be careful about my budget," des Bouillons said.
Across the continent, Europeans are sharing des Bouillons's pain.
The deepening economic malaise has made many wary of splurging on expensive breaks. And would-be travelers have been hit by soaring costs in Europe for food, road trips and air travel - in short, just about everything needed for a successful holiday. Gasoline, for example, is the equivalent of $8 a gallon in France and the fuel surcharge on a round-trip long-haul Air France flight is as much as $418.
In Italy, even gelato, the typical holiday treat, is taking a hit. Rome vendor Giuseppe De Angelis says many customers have asked for smaller servings or family discounts since he was forced to raise prices by a $1.50 a cone because of soaring milk and fruit costs.
In Spain, another country that traditionally shuts down in August, travel agency Marsans has been luring customers by giving away flat-screen televisions with travel packages costing more than $2,320.
Some European leaders have shown restraint so as not to shock their countrymen with scenes of living it up during the economic downturn. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown opted for a quiet holiday in the countryside. French President Nicolas Sarkozy, nicknamed the "bling-bling president" for his penchant for borrowing private jets and yachts, took an ordinary airline flight to his wife Carla's Mediterranean villa.
France's main hospitality and catering union said in a report last week that hotel occupancy was holding steady. But it said there was a 20 to 30 percent drop in customers at cafes and restaurants as people cut costs.
Another survey indicated more French people were skipping vacations altogether.
