A French start-up launched in June 2024 is making ripples in the Airbnb-style rental market, but these are vacation rentals with a twist – allowing renters to hire not accommodation, but a pond or lake for recreation. Camping, fishing or family events are on offer at around 30 properties mostly in Brittany and Normandie so far, on Rentalake, a new site hatched by two French nature lovers who hail from the Haute Savoie region, Hugo Gruss and Jean-Baptiste Fariney, both aged 27.
Lakeside memories
Self-confessed fishing lovers and outdoors enthusiasts, the pair describe on the website a childhood spent in and around lakes with families where, Gruss told Ouest-France, “our great-grandparents, and grandparents and parents all owned lakes. For us, lakes were part of our life and central to family parties, birthdays, and camping weekends with friends.”
But, working as a project manager for SEB and wanting to relive his childhood lakeside memories, Gruss found it impossible to find a lake to rent for recreation. Spotting a gap in the market, the duo came up with the idea for Rentalake.
“It’s Airbnb for lakes,” Gruss said. “Reservations have only been live for a week and we’ve taken 15 of them. We’ve already had 21,000 visits.” With plans to add 100 more properties in July and 300 by the end of the year, the idea seems set to take off. The pair hope to bring other European lakes on line too.
Prices and facilities
Prices currently start at €30/day for a small lake with onsite camping near Belfort and rise to €468/day for a 17-hectare lake set among the vineyards of Bordeaux. It’s easy to see how the offer could cater for very different demands, such as a family get-together and picnic, or a corporate away day.
Like the costs, the size of the lake and the type of facilities featured at different properties also vary, presenting something for everyone. The largest lake available in the near future will measure 35 hectares, which is more suitable for “a group of fishermen” according to Gruss. The smallest is just 2,000 m² (0.2 hectares).
“Great concept”
Gruss insisted that, while the site puts renters and private owners in contact, “owners retain control of everything: the payment, prices, availability, and rules”. Hosts so far seem enthusiastic, with one 5-star reviewer, praising the “great concept – I don’t know why no one had thought of it before. One word: bravo Rentalake!”
For renters, all the necessary information, including lake regulations, capacity, fish population and camping policies, and the type of facilities on offer, can be found on each advert. Filterable by location and activity, the listings are also grouped on the homepage into six searchable categories: “Fishing”, “Camping”, “Family Days Out”, “Guided Experiences”, “Our Lakes” and “Places we think you’ll love” (coups de coeur).
