'Romeo and Juliet' Fans, Airbnb is Offering Stay in Juliet's House in Verona on Valentine's Day
Airbnb is offering one lucky couple the chance to spend Valentine's Day at the so-called Juliet's House in Verona, Italy. The 13th-century house-turned Airbnb is often compared to Juliet's home in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet due to its balcony, and attracts thousands of visitors each year.
For the chance to celebrate Valentine's Day in Verona and a one-night stay at Juliet's House, couples must write a letter to Juliet telling her their love story and why they deserve to win this trip. Their story must be original, romantic, and reflect the spirit of Juliet's story.
The experience is in partnership with Juliet's Club, an organization made up of volunteers who handle and respond to letters addressed "Juliet, Verona".
The winning couple will be the first in decades to sleep in Juliet's bedroom and get to sleep on the original bed from Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 version of Romeo and Juliet. They will enjoy a dinner prepared by Michelin-star chef Giancarlo Perbellini in a grand dining room, served by a personal butler.
Additionally, the couple will get to read and respond to some of the thousands of letters that are written to Juliet each year and will take a private tour around Verona with a professional photographer. The prize also includes flights to Italy, or if the winners live in Italy, transport to Verona.
The competition closes at 11.59 p.m. EST on February 2, 2020, and the winners will be notified on Friday, February 7.
Those who don't win the Airbnb competition can still experience Romeo and Juliet's Verona. The experiences that come with the stay—a romantic dinner, a private tour, and a chance to respond to Juliet's letters—are available to purchase through Airbnb.
Unusual Airbnb Stays
Juliet's home is not the only unusual stay to have surfaced on Airbnb. In November, Airbnb listed the City Palace of Jaipur on its website, available to reserve for around $8,000 a night for selected dates in January.
Back in October, Airbnb teamed up with Barbie to create a one-time Barbie Malibu Dreamhouse, complete with an infinity pool, walk-in closet with Barbie costumes, plus experiences including a cooking lesson, a fencing lesson, and a makeover.
Jim Beam fans had the chance to stay at Jim Beam's American Stillhouse in Kentucky with an Airbnb that cost $23 a night, the same price as a bottle of Jim Beam whiskey.
In September, Airbnb gave Downton Abbey fans the chance to stay at Highclere Castle for one night in November, for under $190—an experience that came with a tour of the grounds and a complimentary breakfast.
Additionally, Airbnb partnered with Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children to create a "social impact experience." They offered the experience of an overnight stay in the hospital's pediatric ICU for $16,744, which is the cost of running a four-patient room in the ICU for a night.
