You can book a stay at the Italian villa from The White Lotus and the quirky holiday house from The Castle, and now you can add the lavish Parisian opera house from The Phantom of the Opera to that list. To celebrate the global success of the film, which recently completed its residency at the Arts Centre here in Melbourne (a performance we gave four stars), Airbnb is opening up a booking lottery to stay at the majestic Palais Garnier.
The Box of Honour, an exclusive private viewing area within the opera house, is being transformed into a bedroom fit for two guests. It's a box that is usually reserved for visiting dignitaries, so it's pretty special to get to step inside, let alone have a snooze there.
Your overnight stay will also comprise a tour of hidden areas in the Palais that are rarely seen by the public, including the Opera's private archives and the famous underground lake featured in the novel and play. Opera de Paris Ballet dancers will offer you a private ballet initiation, and the Paris Opera Academy will perform an exclusive recital complete with Champagne and hors d'oeuvres. When dinnertime comes round, you'll get to eat in the lavish Foyer de la Danse, a private rehearsal room behind the stage that's used for warming up before a show. Last but certainly not least, you'll get a rooftop tour of the building and enjoy picturesque views across Paris.
The stay is hosted by Véronique Leroux, the great-granddaughter of the novelist behind the world-famous phantom character. "My great-grandfather's classic story has inspired so many people through the years," says Leroux. "This is the perfect time to honour him and welcome 'phans' to the famous setting of his much-loved novel for a once-in-a-lifetime stay."
If you're thinking, 'Wow, this must be super expensive!', think again: the stay will only cost you a measly $57AUD. The catch? It's only available for one exclusive booking. To enter for your chance to stay, you must submit your request through the website from Thursday, March 2 at 4am. The only other criteria you need to meet to be selected are to have a verified Airbnb profile, a good track record on the platform and be aged 18 or older. Transportation to and from Paris is not included.
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