For those of you who know me well, I've lived out of a suitcase since December 2012. So basically since I got married. Yeah, I lived in Los Angeles for a year but I just couldn't fight the travel bug. I was constantly on the go. I am a hotel connoisseur, building relationships with the managers/owners of every hotel I stay at and promoting their hotel lifestyle brands. With that being said, did you know I live in a hotel full time in Paris (if I'm not renting an Airbnb that is...)? The same rings true for every city I stay in all over the world. If you are traveling and want to stay in what Gregory and I call "frotels" (friendly hotels), we can hook it up and act as your personal concierge.
Why do I choose to live in a hotel you may ask? Well, read on...
There are major perks to hotel living.
We are the artists in residence. Sounds cool already, non?
I love to live opulently without breaking the bank. I'm a major bargainer with the proprietor(s) of the hotel, negotiating a monthly rate that makes it more financially feasible to live in a hotel than an apartment. So I live well, beating the rate of living in an apartment.
Room & maid service --- because it doesn't hurt to have the place spruced up a bit, right? As for room service, I hardly use it as I like to have picnics in our room while watching my favorite Gerard Depardieu films with the hubby. When we have breakfast it's free and we can come & go as we please (it's all about building relationships, people!)
Our sweet housekeeper does our laundry. But there is a modern launderette just around the corner of the hotel that has wifi! Believe me, if you were here, you would see it's a pleasure doing laundry there :)
Cleaning/laundry/wifi/utilities/landline/tv are all built into the monthly rate. No hidden charges for me!
24/7 front desk service. It's like having a security guard. There's always someone there.
When I have my dog over here, he will definitely be allowed to stay with us. Paris is super dog-friendly and full of Jack Russells, interestingly enough. My fur baby will fit right in!
People think that living in a hotel means not having a permanent address. Wrong! I have mail sent to me all the time in our cute boutique hotel in the 6e of Paris! (24/7 front desk service so my packages are always received properly with no issues) I also have a NYC & LA address, and yes you guessed right, they are at our "frotels" LOL
I can pay my "rent" on my credit card so I can build up mileage points or get cash back, depending on the card I use!
I don't own a car in Paris (thank God for no car payments) so no parking fees!
Marlon Brando filmed "Last Tango in Paris" outside our hotel. The hotel and its surroundings is drenched in history (Ernest Hemingway's hang was at La Rotonde Cafe; Brigitte Bardot lives right around the corner from us, etc.)
Gregory and I are in the works of buying our dream apartment near Saint Sulpice in Paris and one on the French Riviera, just 5 minutes away from the Croisette in Cannes. But with all the extensive traveling, hotel living is perfect for me. I joke with my friends all the time that I'm on the non-plan plan. Maybe it's the millennial in me but I operate better when I live spontaneously, inviting the universe to pleasantly surprise me with the uncertainties of life. It's exciting!
Love,
Cherie
