We had a wonderful honeymoon with Margaret Fort, whose house we found on Airbnb. We had never tried a holiday staying at someone else's home, but if we had been asked to describe what we would have wanted out of such an experience, I suspect we would have described almost exactly what we ended up getting.

First, the mundane. The room we stayed in was cosy, but well-ventilated. It contained all the furniture and appliances one would expect to find in a hotel room (lights, drawers, wardrobe, water heater, coffee cups, glasses, coffee, tea, etc). We were free to use the kitchen and the washing machine. The location is in a quiet suburb which is so safe that most houses do not even have fences or gates. However, Glenelg Avenue is also close to the city (10-15 minutes' drive), the beach (5 minutes' drive) and the shopping centre at Innaloo (5 minutes' drive). The location strikes a perfect balance between serenity and convenience.

Second, the poetic. The view from the gazebo was magnificent. We spent some time every evening just sitting out there, soaking up beer and the ineffably beautiful sunset. The air was fresh and clear, and the stars were bright at night. I do not really have the words to do the setting justice, so I will leave it to the readers' imaginations.

Lastly and most importantly, the personal. If you would like a holiday experience that is unique and feels like having a home away from home, go with the Margaret Fort Experience. Her attention to detail was amazing, and it was the little touches that really made the stay memorable for us. For example, Margaret knew that it was our honeymoon, so she had gotten roses from her neighbour and put them in our room before we arrived. Obviously, she is not going to do the same things for every guest, so when I said your stay will be "unique", I did not mean that it would be different from every other hotel or rented apartment. I meant that it would be different from every other person's experience, even if they were also staying with Margaret.

The host herself is charming and helpful. You should definitely try to have conversations with Margaret if you are staying in her house. At the very least, she will give you good suggestions for places to go on your holiday. More likely, you will also gain many practical tips about cooking, homemaking, property and life itself. I am not exaggerating when I say that she has become an inspiration for us after our short stay with her. Seriously, google her name and read her story.

In conclusion, I strongly recommend that if you are going to Perth and need a place to stay, staying with Margaret is one of the best options. The lady just has an enormous heart. If you are really lucky, she will even share some of her cooking with you and make your entire trip worthwhile.