When I was in Paris recently, I did something I had never done before, but will now do every time I stay in a hotel. No, I didn’t steal the bathrobes – though they were pretty nice. I used a concierge.
He works at the wonderful Hôtel Dame des Arts in the Latin Quarter, and just like a dentist, I can’t tell you his name. Well, I can, but only his first name, which is Erwin.
We wanted to get a table at a fabulous Michelin-starred restaurant. It was, of course, booked out for weeks. We’d heard that Erwin was great at his job – so we thought we would try our luck. I mean, we wanted to go on that very day – surely that wouldn’t be possible. Except… Erwin pulled some concierge strings (possibly), called in some concierge favours (probably), and got us a table. And it was exquisite. And we, and our tastebuds, were very grateful to have used his services.
nd I became obsessed with what it is that concierges do, and how you become a great one. If you are anything like me, you may have been under the assumption that concierges are there to book you tours, get you taxis or organise theatre tickets, and that their services cost extra.
But, as my new obsession has since taught me, while not all concierges are created equal, what a great concierge can actually do is make sure you feel like a VIP. It’s hotel hocus-pocus and the best travel hack ever. And just like the mini bar, the bathrobes, the slippers and the coffee machines provided, they’re there to be used. For free! In other words, there is no extra charge. Do you follow?
“Absolutely some guests hesitate, thinking it’s reserved for celebrities or that there’s an extra cost,” Erwin tells me via email. “The concierge isn’t a luxury. It’s a shortcut to making your trip smoother, more beautiful, and more meaningful.”
