Skip to main content

Spend a Night Alone at the Louvre Museum with the Mona Lisa

Even for non-art-aficionados, visiting the Louvre and seeing the Mona Lisa, in particular, are seriously bucket-list-worthy. However, the reality of the latter is that museum guests are often forced to elbow through a crowd of thousands of museum-goers for a glimpse of the da Vinci masterpiece.

Now, for one night only, the iconic Paris museum is opening its doors to just two guests in one of the most epic Airbnb stays ever.

Recommended Videos

The Obamas did it. Beyoncé and Jay-Z did it. This April 30, Airbnb has partnered with Louvre to give one lucky winner and a guest exclusive overnight access to the museum.

The pair will arrive at the museum just after sunset to meet with an art historian for a private tour. From there, the night’s itinerary reads like the travel diary of a one-percenter. They’ll enjoy a Renaissance-inspired aperitif in an exclusive lounge setup beside the Mona Lisa amid a soundtrack of atmospheric French music on vinyl. That’s followed by a private feast at a pop-up dining room inside the museum, then an acoustic concert in Napoleon III’s opulent Apartments. The night caps off with a sleep inside a custom-built mini pyramid inside the museum’s famed glass pyramid.

This Airbnb campaign is the latest in a long line of amazing, once-in-a-lifetime experiences. In 2016, it hosted an overnight stay at Dracula’s Castle in Transylvania, then partnered with Audi on a “drive and stay” package that included the keys to an Audi R8 and a stay at an Architectural Digest-worthy home in Death Valley. The following year, it gave away a one-night stay at the famous LEGO House in Denmark. Last year, it teamed up with Planet Earth and BBC Worldwide on a two-night trip aboard a deep-sea exploration vessel in the Bahamas.

Pedro Fiúza/NurPhoto/Getty Images (left); Julian Abrams (right)

This latest contest kicks off an entire year of Louvre-centric Airbnb Experiences the company will officially announce this month. It’s keeping a tight lip on the details, saying only that the “series of exceptional Experiences … will give everyone the opportunity to rediscover the most famous museum in the world from a totally new angle, with exclusive visits and intimate concerts.”

It’s simple to enter. Visit the official Airbnb contest page by April 12, 2019, at 11:59 p.m. (French time) to answer one question: Why would you be the Mona Lisa’s perfect guest?

Mike Richard
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…
Yes, you’re probably overpacking — 7 travel tips for packing I swear by
Years of travel mistakes led me here. These tips actually work
An overhead view of a man packing a suitcase

There are two types of people in the world – the ones who pack two weeks in advance with a packing checklist, and the ones who shove a random pair of shoes into a bag 10 minutes before leaving for the airport. I’ve been both.

But after years of red eyes, lost luggage, and trying to survive long layovers in jeans, I’ve learned what actually works. These are the travel tips for packing I swear by – the things that save space, stress, and yes, your sanity.
1. Lay everything out. Then put a third of it back.

Read more
Move over Vegas — this U.S. city is now the top casino spot
Is Chicago the new Las Vegas?
Casino

Before you book your next trip to Las Vegas, you might want to consider a surprising alternative. A new ranking from gaming aggregator SlotMatrix reveals that Sin City isn’t even in the top three casino destinations in the U.S. In fact, Las Vegas came in fourth place, while the number one spot went to an unexpected winner: Chicago, Illinois.

The study analyzed several factors, including the number of casinos per 100,000 residents, casino amenities like hotels and restaurants, the number of slot machines, table games, poker tables, late-night bar options, and average hotel prices.

Read more
Luggage shipping gains popularity as travelers seek stress-free flying
Avoid long baggage claim waits and lost luggage stresses
Man carrying luggage in both hands

In case you are unaware, AAA says a record-setting 72.2 million Americans are estimated to travel ahead of Independence Day this week (between Saturday, June 28, and Sunday, July 4th). AAA projects that this year's domestic travel forecast will surpass 1.7 million travelers over last year, and 7 million more than in 2019. Busy summer travel also means an increased chance of encountering common airport hassles, such as long wait times at baggage claim, and even lost, damaged, or stolen luggage. Travelers are also looking for new ways to avoid rising checked bag fees and overweight baggage fees.

As a solution, more travelers are turning to luggage shipping as an alternative to make their summer journeys a bit smoother. With luggage shipping options at The UPS store, specialty luggage boxes are used to accommodate a wide variety of the most common suitcase sizes. For airlines with strict size and weight regulations, using luggage shipping may offer an easier, stress-free option to transport your belongings without the hassle. Travelers with specific mobility issues or with multiple suitcases have also turned to luggage shipping as a more straightforward solution than navigating busy airports with numerous suitcases at once.

Read more