Airbnb opens Palais Garnier—home of 'The Phantom of the Opera'—for one-night stay
Airbnb has announced that guests for the first time can stay for one night at Palais Garnier, the Parisian opera house that inspired the musical The Phantom of the Opera.
Specifically, the Palais Garner will open its doors for a Jul. 16 stay in its transformed Box of Honour. This is to celebrate the record-breaking musical's global success.
The Box of Honour, usually reserved for visiting dignitaries, is one of the most exclusive private viewing areas in the theater. It is undoubtedly the venue's best location to appreciate the Palais Garnier's architectural beauty, including its stage. This time, however, it takes the form of a majestic bedroom where guests will spend the night.
Moreover, guests will be able to explore the real underground lake, the home of the Phantom, and the halls of the iconic building, among others, as featured in the original novel.
The complete experience includes a tour of hidden and rarely-seen areas in the Palais, a private ballet initiation with one of the Opera de Paris Ballet dancers, an exclusive recital performed by the artists of Paris Opera Academy, dinner in the private and historic backstage dancing rehearsal room Foyer de la Danse, and a tour of the private dance studios underneath the opera building.
Véronique Leroux, host of the stay, traces her ancestry to great-grandfather, Gaston Leroux, the French novelist who created the world-famous phantom character.
“My great-grandfather’s classic story has inspired so many people through the years... This is the perfect time to honor him and welcome ‘phans’ to the famous setting of his much-loved novel for a once-in-a-lifetime stay," Véronique said.
Interested phans may request to book the overnight stay on March 1 here. It will cost 37 euros (P2,175) in honor of the Box of Honour’s number.
Qualified guests must have a verified Airbnb profile, a good track record on the platform, and be age 18 and above. The room's maximum occupancy is two people. Additionally, guests will be responsible for their own transportation to and from Paris.
The Phantom of the Opera is Broadway's longest-running show and has received over 70 major theatre awards including seven Tony Awards and four Olivier awards. It has had an audience of over 145 million people in 183 cities and 17 languages since its first opening in London in 1986.