Host Story: Pride in Paris

Aug. 25 2021

by Lachlan

Fred has been hosting in Paris with his husband for three years, and is showing no signs of slowing down! A passionate misterb&b host, Fred promises a dreamy stay in the City of Lights from start to finish, offering everything from aperos, gorgeous accommodation, and a Jacuzzi! Find out about the fantastic hosting experience he and his husband have enjoyed so far here.  

What does hosting for the gay community mean to you?  

Even if attitudes towards the LGBTQ community have evolved over the years, it is still not guaranteed that LGBTQ travelers will be welcomed everywhere they go while on vacation. By booking with misterb&b, travelers know that they can enjoy hospitality in full security and discretion, and Les Fauvelles is no exception. For me, it is very important to be able to offer inclusive, non-discriminatory accommodation, and misterb&b has allowed me to do this.

Why did you become hosts?

We started hosting on misterb&b by sheer coincidence! My husband and I were co-owners of a large, subdivided house in La Defense suburb in Paris. When our neighbour downstairs decided to sell his apartment, we decided to buy the entire house - all for ourselves! We did a lot of renovations in order to create two separate, fully-refurbished apartments. We then decided to rent both apartments on misterb&b for short stays because we liked the idea of welcoming unique and interesting travelers from across the globe. 

In your opinion what attracts guests to your city/region?

It is impossible to get bored in Paris. It is a city rich in monuments, museums, and other famous attractions. At Les Fauvelles, we are lucky to be within easy reach of public transport, with everything from the tram and bus, to the metro or RER right on our doorstep. This means our guests can easily access top tourist sites such as Disneyland Paris, Versailles, The Louvre, Musée Grévin, Montmartre, and of course the city’s gayborhood, The Marais. There are also plenty of great things to do in our neighborhood, without needing to take any public transportation. We have great local restaurants and bars, as well as various commercial centers where you can enjoy different activities like escape games, bowling, or lasergame.

What is your best memory of a guest?

That’s a difficult question! We’ve been hosting for three years, and have had so many wonderful experiences with our guests. Some have even become close friends! However, I think one of the best experiences to date has been with Martin and his boyfriend. They were one of the first people to book a stay with us via misterb&b. We spoke a lot, laughed, and enjoyed an apero in our very own Jacuzzi! Due to Covid-19, they haven’t been able to return to France since, however, we are in contact with them through social media. Here’s hoping they will be able to come back for a visit as soon as things return to normal again.

How has hosting impacted your life?

We had so many new experiences through hosting! The decoration of our apartment, the welcoming of new guests, the management of bookings, we have had to balance all of these new aspects with our day-to-day careers. It’s a very demanding activity, albeit a rewarding one. We always need to be available to respond to booking requests, and we often need to work during the weekends or in the evenings in order to prepare the apartment for our next guests. But we do not regret anything because hosting with misterb&b is a very enriching experience which allows us to “travel the globe” right from the comfort of our own home. We love to welcome LGBTQ travelers and share a little bit about ourselves with them, and it really touches me every time we read our reviews and see that our guests feel like they stayed in a home. If I had to do it all again, I wouldn’t change a thing.

Give us 3 reasons why you recommend hosting on misterb&b:

Firstly, by booking your next accommodation with misterb&b, you have absolutely no concern that the property owners will be holophobic. Additionally, it’s satisfying to know that you are welcoming travelers from the global LGBTQ community, and doing your bit to make them feel welcome everywhere they travel. And finally, misterb&b a French start-up!

Why should a guest stay with you?

At Les Fauvelles, we guarantee the best possible accommodation experience for LGBTQ travelers during their stay in beautiful Paris. Their satisfaction is our priority! We give a lot of attention to the entire experience, and following the Covid-19 pandemic,we make sure all hygiene precautions are put in place. We are also in contact with our guests before check-in to ensure they haven’t forgotten anything important. In terms of our apartment, we have also put a lot of time into the decoration, adding lots of unique objects we have picked up from our travels. We also have many beautiful works of art, including the iconic Mona Lisa, which our guests often like to take selfies in front of. 

All the essentials are also right by the house, including bakeries, pharmacies, and supermarkets, and the area is very calm, so you have the possibility to relax a little. It is also super easy to travel into the center of Paris when you’re ready for some sightseeing. And don’t forget, we are two lovely, welcoming gentlemen! What more could you ask for?

Want to discover more about Les Fauvelles? Check out Fred's great Instagram for extra inspo!