The summer Olympic Games in Paris are expected to draw over 15 million tourists, creating a significant influx for a city with a population of just over two million. This surge will likely result in long lines at popular attractions like the Eiffel Tower, the Musée d’Orsay, and bustling cafés. However, savvy travelers can avoid the crowds by opting for exclusive, customizable, and high-luxury experiences.
VIP tour companies and well-connected concierges are busy organizing private excursions to top museums, restaurants, and fashion houses for elite clients. Some of the most exclusive tours offer Olympic tickets paired with private meetings with athletes, with prices reaching up to $500,000. Whether visitors seek an immersive cultural experience or the chance to mingle with Team USA’s basketball players, these tailored tours promise an unparalleled Parisian summer.
Designed for Luxury
London-based luxury travel company Jacada Travel offers unique experiences like after-hours visits to the Palace de Versailles and backstage tours at the Opéra Garnier. Founder Alex Malcolm emphasizes that truly bespoke experiences are personalized for each client. This could mean a baking class focusing on choux pastry in a private Parisian apartment or a stay at the Dior Suite with a private chef and after-hours access to the Dior Gallery. Jacada Travel’s team of Travel Designers gets to know each client individually before crafting a personalized itinerary, including exclusive access to landmark locations. For instance, a private visit to the Musée Marmottan-Monet could start with coffee before the museum opens or include a private dinner in the gallery after hours.
Bigger Is Better
The GR8 Experience is renowned for providing clients with the most exclusive experiences on earth, and this summer, it’s all about Paris. In addition to elite accommodations, dining at Paris’s finest restaurants, VIP transportation, and access to any desired experience, GR8 offers the ultimate Olympics package. This includes accommodations for 11 nights and premium seats for the opening ceremony. Although they don’t officially sell Olympic tickets, they guide clients to official ticket sellers for the most popular events. CEO Barnabas Carrega mentions that GR8 will also provide access to athletes during the games. Clients can contact GR8 with their budget and interests, and the team will tailor an itinerary including accommodations, transportation, and dining experiences, directing them to official Olympic ticket sellers for event access. GR8’s ethos is to make the inaccessible accessible for top clients, with packages ranging from $250,000 to $380,000, and meetings with athletes priced from $25,000 to $500,000 depending on duration.
Night at the Museum
For art lovers, history enthusiasts, fashion aficionados, or children who dream of seeing Madeleine come to life, Anya Firestone, founder of Maison Firestone, offers bespoke experiences at Paris’s most popular museums, including the Musée d’Orsay and the Louvre, as well as smaller, lesser-known ones. Firestone’s clients often want to have museums to themselves and are willing to spend generously for the privilege. She facilitates exclusive experiences, allowing clients to bask in front of a painting without interruption, capture moments with a professional photographer, and enjoy educational yet entertaining tours. Beyond art, her American clients are keen on acquiring luxury goods, viewing it as a way to own a piece of French culture. For instance, if a client wants a tiara, Firestone takes them to Napoleon’s original jewelry house to see pieces unavailable in the U.S. Her tours might also include visits to the couture house of Schiaparelli or playing on one of Chopin’s pianos in heritage salons overlooking Place Vendome.
Toasting at the Top
Award-winning luxury travel company Kensington Tours offers the Bridge 360 Package this summer, allowing visitors to watch the Opening Ceremonies from Alma Bridge while toasting athletes with the finest Champagne. This package also includes live music and a meet-and-greet with Olympians. Kensington Tours has secured top-tier Olympic event tickets for their clients, costing between $500 and $1,000 each. When not attending the Games, clients can enjoy activities like private whiskey tastings at distilleries. The package starts at $10,300.
One-Stop Shop
Paris by Emy is a personalized service run by founder and owner Emelyne Bonnes. She provides detailed itinerary planning, continuous support throughout the trip, hotel and restaurant recommendations and reservations, skip-the-line museum tickets, and various leisure activities like baking classes and spa visits. Her customizable packages include private guided tours with a driver. This summer, one of her top clients booked a three-week package with five-star hotels, a private driver, gourmet restaurant reservations, excursions to Champagne and Auvers-sur-Oise for Van Gogh, and a private oenology course and shopping experience with French Maisons. Packages range from about $2,723 to $3,812.
Gold Medal Travel
Angela Adto Tepper, founder of New York-based Aza Luxury Travel, specializes in France, Italy, and Portugal. This summer, she’s organized a program for a family from Hawaii attending the Olympics. Their itinerary includes Michelin-starred restaurants, curated shopping guides, private tours of the Louvre, and attendance at basketball, wrestling, and volleyball games. Tepper describes planning for the Paris 2024 Olympics as an exhilarating experience, highlighting the unique opportunities Paris offers luxury travelers during the Games. Her booking process starts with understanding a client’s preferences to create a tailored itinerary. A week-long trip during the Olympics, similar to her Hawaiian client’s plans, starts at about $100,000.
These exclusive, high-luxury experiences ensure that even during the busy Olympic season, visitors can enjoy Paris without the crowds, immersing themselves in the city’s rich culture and world-class events.
