Getting ready to book your dream getaway

Dreaming of a fishing trip on your favourite lake in Réserve faunique Mastigouche; a week spent in ready-to-camp accommodations at Parc national de la Gaspésie during the construction holidays; an evening of Perseid viewing at Parc national du Mont-Mégantic... you’ll need to plan the getaway of your dreams carefully and in advance.

That's because most Sépaq activities and stays can be booked starting on specific dates. A new online tool, the booking opening calendar brings together details of all booking launches and a wealth of information to help you prepare for these decisive moments.

To learn more, we chatted with Gabrielle Gleeton, quality control coordinator at the customer experience department. Here are her top tips to help you snag the booking of your dreams.

A single calendar to find your way around

"Bringing all the information together on one page for use at any time of the year was a really innovative idea," sums up Gabrielle. “In the past, some launches were less publicized, leading to a lot of questions," explains the Quality Control Coordinator, who has over six years' experience with the customer service team.

With a single calendar, important dates are easy to find. And that's where Gabrielle's first tip comes in. "There's often a launch time, so be sure to check what time the bookings for your destination are scheduled to open," she points out, suggesting that you add a reminder to your calendar.

Saving a few minutes

During a launch, you can book over the phone or via the online platform. If this is your first booking on the Sépaq website, remember to open your account in advance. "A new customer can create an account at any time. When you make a booking, all you have to do is enter your payment details," says Gabrielle.

Already have a Sépaq account? Update your personal information and keep your login information handy!

Another recommendation: take a look at the booking calendar page to familiarize yourself with the process. Our team has even included some frequently asked questions to help you make sense of it all. Still unclear? "We're here to help," Gabrielle affirms.

Your dream stay is just a few clicks away

Research is the key to the whole process, according to the head of the quality control team. With her years of experience, she can confirm this fact beyond the shadow of a doubt: "Having upstream information on what you want to book is so important."

For a day fishing trip, for example, she suggests checking out the destination's fishing plan and finding out about the characteristics of the various lakes. That way, there’ll be no surprises in store at booking time.

"On the website, people have 12 minutes to book, so of course if they're not ready, it can add a bit of stress. If you're well prepared, it helps move the process along," reiterates Gabrielle, who’s been involved in launch planning for the past two years. You can explore the web page of the destination that attracts you, imagine yourself in one or other of our accommodations, dream about your next hike... Let your research inspire you!

For more advanced activities, such as canoe-camping or long-distance hiking, we invite outdoor enthusiasts to check the difficulty level of the circuits so as to choose the most appropriate route to take. If you need help, our customer relations team is always at your service.

The biggest mistake

Even if you prepare properly, you may not get the campground, fishing lake, or date you were hoping for. Some sectors and periods fill up quickly.

To avoid disappointment when booking time comes, have a second option in mind. Gabrielle admits as much: "Having more than one choice of date or location is your best bet. Customers think less about their Plan B, especially new ones."

And after the booking launch?

Even if network favourites are sold out on booking launch day, sometimes for the whole season, all is not lost. "If the person is open to going to another sector of the same Sépaq establishment, other options are often available," confirms our coordinator. A great opportunity to discover a lesser-known corner of paradise!

"Long weekends and statutory holidays sell out fast, during the booking launch and for a few days afterward. But all sorts of options remain available throughout the summer and winter!" she continues, mentioning the last minute getaways page.

When you’re looking for a stay, Sépaq's parks and wildlife reserves are never short of little nuggets of pure gold.