Everything we learn from the field.
Market, regulation, taxation, destinations, owner advice — by the SmartStay team.
Airbnb in Lyon in summer: the urban market owners wrongly discount
Everyone assumes Lyon empties out in June as residents leave for the coast. The opposite is true: between the Nuits de Fourvière festival, international tourism and business travel that never fully stops, the Lyon summer is one of the steadiest seasons — provided you don't slash your rates on reflex.
Becoming an Airbnb Superhost: the badge that lifts your revenue
Superhost status is not a decorative trophy. It is a trust signal that directly drives your visibility, your conversion rate and the price guests will accept to pay. Earning the badge takes discipline; holding it quarter after quarter takes real organisation.
UTMB and Alpine trail races: the late-summer revenue window owners underrate
While most owners think in terms of the ski season and summer holidays, a second calendar quietly overlaps in the Alps: the one set by the great trail races. The UTMB and the events that punctuate the warm season generate premium, predictable and largely untapped demand spikes.
Airbnb concierge in Courchevel: high-end property management in the 3 Vallées
Courchevel holds the most coveted leisure real estate in the French Alps, and a clientele that tolerates no shortcuts. Letting your property there without professional management means losing both revenue and reputation. A look at a market unlike any other — and what it truly demands.
Shoulder season in the Alps: turning quiet months into revenue
Between the May–June snowmelt and the September–November pre-season, Alpine resort calendars empty out. Most owners simply close their property — yet the shoulder season can deliver 15–20 % of annual revenue for those who know how to work it.
EPC and furnished tourist rentals: the timeline that can ban your listing
Long spared, short-term rentals are now firmly within the scope of energy performance rules. France's Loi Le Meur is gradually aligning furnished tourist lets with the energy-decency standards applied to ordinary housing. For a property owner, ignoring this timeline means risking the loss of the right to rent the property at all.
Furnished tourist rental classification: the most overlooked tax lever in 2026
In 2026, the official star classification of a furnished tourist rental — from one to five stars — has become the most profitable and most overlooked optimisation lever available to landlords. Since the Loi Le Meur, it directly determines your micro-BIC allowance and sends a decisive quality signal to guests. Here's how to obtain it, and why it pays for itself within a few nights.
Hotel-grade cleaning in short-term rentals: the quiet pillar of 5-star reviews
Guests rarely forgive a lack of cleanliness. It's the first thing they see on arrival, the last thing they remember on departure — and the single most-cited complaint in negative reviews. As the summer peak season approaches and turnovers stack up, cleaning becomes the link that makes or breaks your rating.
Airbnb amenities: which ones actually grow your revenue
Not all amenities are created equal. Some pay for themselves in a single season and unlock a premium clientele; others tie up capital without moving your occupancy. Here, backed by data, are the ones that genuinely shift your rental income.
Tourist tax for short-term rentals: the complete 2026 guide
Tourist tax looks like a harmless formality. In reality it is one of the line items where short-term rental owners are most exposed to a reassessment — often without realising it. Between Airbnb's automatic collection and total oversight on every other channel, the line is thin — and municipalities now cross-check the data.
French SCI or direct ownership: which structure for short-term letting?
It is the question owners most often ask us before signing. The SCI (real estate civil company) is attractive for succession planning and joint acquisition — yet its compatibility with furnished tourist letting hides a little-known fiscal trap. Here is a clear analysis to decide with eyes open.
Guest damage protection: Aircover, deposit or pro insurance — what really works in 2026
A guest who breaks a sofa, a group that wrecks a kitchen, an unauthorised party: every short-term rental owner eventually faces it. Between Airbnb's Aircover, a Stripe damage deposit and a professional multi-risk policy, the real question isn't which to pick — it's how to combine them so you never pay a euro out of pocket.
Saint-Gervais-les-Bains: the spa resort that extends the rental season
At the foot of Mont Blanc, Saint-Gervais-les-Bains offers what no other French Alpine resort can match: a ski area connected to Megève, thermal baths in operation since 1806, and access to the Tramway du Mont-Blanc. For an owner-investor, it is one of the rare addresses where rental yield no longer depends on snow alone.
Buying to let short-term: building a credible business plan in 2026
Building a business plan for a short-term rental investment requires far more than averaging a few Airbnb prices. With higher interest rates, the Loi Le Meur and rising operating costs, a credible 2026 plan must stand up to both a banker and the reality of day-to-day operations.
Cycle tourism in the French Alps: the summer market property owners overlook
Amateur cycling, granfondos, the Tour de France passing through: the Alpine cycling season generates dense, international, high-spend rental demand — yet most property owners overlook it in their positioning strategy. Here is how to capture it this summer.
Self check-in: a flawless contactless arrival for your guests
Self check-in has become one of the strongest expectations among short-term rental guests. Done well, it cuts your operational costs, smooths peak-season turnovers and improves your scores. Done badly, it creates stress, poor reviews and security risks. Here is how to nail contactless arrival, from choosing the lock to the guest experience.
Renting by Lake Annecy in summer: the market that flips the season
Annecy is far more than a winter base near the ski resorts: it is one of France's most sought-after summer destinations. Between June and September, rental demand around the lake surges, driven by guests willing to pay for a rare location.
Your co-ownership AGM is voting to ban short-term rentals: what you need to know
You have received a general meeting notice with an agenda item proposing to ban short-term rental in your building. Since the Loi Le Meur of 19 November 2024, such a vote is legally possible — but only under strict conditions that many managing agents fail to mention. Here is what you must check before, during and after the AGM.
Annecy Animation Festival 2026: the most profitable week of the year for your property
In two weeks, Annecy hosts the world's largest animation film event. For a well-positioned owner, this is the single highest-priced window of the year — often above Christmas week in Courchevel. Provided you prepare now.
Professional Airbnb photography: the highest-return investment in your listing
On Airbnb and Booking, a guest decides in under four seconds: they click or they scroll past. That decision rests almost entirely on the cover photo. Yet more than half of all listings still rely on amateur snapshots that cap their conversion rate — and with it, their revenue.
Airbnb review management: how to earn 5-star ratings consistently
On Airbnb and Booking.com, your average rating is the most visible signal for guests — and one of the algorithm's most decisive ranking criteria. Below 4.8 stars, you lose visibility and must compensate with lower rates. Above it, you can command a 15–25 % premium on your nightly price. Here is how to structure your management to earn 5-star reviews consistently.
La Clusaz: the Aravis resort that combines authenticity and yield
45 minutes from Annecy and an hour from Geneva, La Clusaz is Haute-Savoie's benchmark family resort. Its preserved Savoyard architecture, spruce forests and loyal French clientele make it an unusual rental market — and a particularly resilient one.
Val d'Isère: concierge & property management in the queen of the Alps
Val d'Isère is France's most international resort and one of the most expensive in Europe. Its rental market is as demanding as it is lucrative — here is how to make the most of it.
Renting on Airbnb in Lyon in 2026: is it still worth it?
The Loi Le Meur of January 2025 has fundamentally reshaped France's short-term rental market. In Lyon, the question is more pressing than ever: stay on Airbnb, or switch to long-term letting?
Méribel: Airbnb management in the heart of the Three Valleys
Méribel sits at the centre of the world's largest ski area. Its dark-timber chalets and villages attract a loyal clientele, especially British guests. Here are the distinctive features of this market.
Airbnb property management in Chamonix: maximising peak-season revenue
Chamonix is one of the few resorts in the world with two equally intense peak seasons: winter skiing and summer trail running / mountaineering. A well-managed apartment can generate revenue for 10 months of the year.
Morzine: concierge & short-term rental in the Portes du Soleil
Morzine is the gateway to the Portes du Soleil, Europe's largest Franco-Swiss ski area. An authentic village, a warm atmosphere, and a dual French and international clientele make for a distinctive rental market.
Tax regime for French furnished tourist rentals in 2026
Since the 2024 Finance Act and the 2025 Loi Le Meur, the tax treatment of furnished tourist rentals has changed significantly. Here is a clear, up-to-date overview of the available regimes and the right strategy for your situation.
Val Thorens: Europe's highest resort, top-altitude revenue
At 2,300 metres above sea level, Val Thorens is Europe's highest ski resort. Guaranteed snow cover, a long season and the Three Valleys ski area make it one of the most stable rental markets in the Alps.
How to prepare your chalet for the winter season
The winter peak season typically accounts for 70–80 % of a mountain property's annual revenue. Thorough preparation in September–October makes the difference between a smooth season and a series of unpleasant surprises.
La Plagne: property management in the Alps' most visited resort
La Plagne is the most visited ski resort in the French Alps, with nearly 2.5 million skier days per year. For an investor or owner, this means guaranteed rental demand — provided the property is well managed.
Tignes in summer: rental yields as strong as winter
Tignes is often associated with skiing and its winter season. Yet over the past three years, summer has become equally — if not more — profitable for owners who let year-round.
Les Ménuires: the underrated rental yield of the Three Valleys
Les Ménuires is often overshadowed by neighbours Val Thorens and Méribel. Yet its position in the Three Valleys, accessible prices and yield-to-price ratio make it a rational choice for savvy investors.
Airbnb concierge vs letting agency: what's the difference?
Many property owners hesitate between a traditional letting agency and a short-term rental concierge service. The models are fundamentally different — here is how to choose.
La Rosière: the Franco-Italian resort attracting investors
La Rosière is a family-friendly resort in the Tarentaise valley with a rare asset: a direct ski connection to La Thuile in Italy. This cross-border ski area and still-accessible prices make it an interesting choice for yield-focused property owners.
Short-term rental regulation in France 2026: what has changed
Between the Loi Le Meur of January 2025 and the wave of municipal by-laws in tourist areas, the regulatory framework for short-term letting in France has tightened considerably. Here are the key points to stay compliant.
Courchevel 1850: how to make an exceptional property pay
Courchevel 1850 is the highest segment of the French Alpine rental market. Acquisition prices are among the highest in Europe — but so are rental revenues. Here is how to maximise return on investment.
Short-term rental in Villeurbanne: the opportunity that Lyon overlooks
Villeurbanne is often seen as Lyon's suburb. In reality, it is France's 10th largest city and an under-exploited short-term rental market, with acquisition prices 30–40 % lower than Lyon for similar demand.
Megève vs Chamonix: where to invest in the Alps?
Megève and Chamonix are two of the most sought-after alpine destinations in Haute-Savoie, but their rental markets are fundamentally different. Here is a factual comparison to help you choose.
Airbnb vs Booking.com vs VRBO: which platform for your property?
Each short-term rental platform has its own rules, its own clientele and its own commission structure. Understanding these differences lets you choose the right distribution mix to maximise your revenue.
Revenue management for short-term rentals: our techniques
Dynamic pricing is the most powerful lever for increasing your rental income without changing your property. Here are the principles we apply at SmartStay to optimise rates across our portfolio.
Preparing your mountain property for summer: our practical tips
Summer in the mountains now generates revenue comparable to winter in many resorts. But preparing your property for the summer season requires specific attention, different from winter preparation.
Annecy: short-term or long-term rental?
Annecy is one of the French cities where this question is most acute. Strong summer tourist demand, increasingly strict regulation, high property prices: here is how to choose the right strategy for your property.
Where to invest in the French Alps in 2026: our market-by-market analysis
The French Alps offer vastly different markets depending on the destination. Yields, climate risk, appreciation potential: here is our analysis of each market to guide your investment decision.
Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise: the hidden resort that outperforms
Sandwiched between Val d'Isère and La Rosière, Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise remains one of the Alps' best-kept secrets. Yet its rental metrics outperform many far better-known resorts. Here is why.
Short-term rental in Lyon: which neighbourhood to choose?
Lyon is a city of sharply contrasting micro-markets. From one arrondissement to the next, the clientele, nightly rates and regulatory constraints vary considerably. Here is our neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood analysis.