Mat's place is a beautiful home located so close to the metro station you don't realise you're staying a little way out of the city. It's close to all the shops you will need, and some lovely cafes. Mat's son is sweet and polite (or in Mat's words "he is well taught" :) ) and I was sad I don't speak much french so I could interact with him more. Mat's girlfriend Pierette is delightful. Mat is a very accommodating and organised host and will give you very clear directions. He is prompt with all communications.

The setup in Mat's home means that you need to be OK with a communal style of living. The bathroom is shared between you and the family, and it is necessary to go through Mat's bedroom to get to the room we were in (so that includes the middle of the night if you need the bathroom!). To begin with, I found it a little awkward, but I got used to it after a couple of days. The room that we stayed in had a kind of musty smell to it, but I don't know if that is normal for basement rooms? (We don't really have basements in Australia!).

I readily recommend Mat's place to individuals, couples, or families with older children. If you have young children, it will depend on your needs as to whether this is the right place for you. We were travelling with our 2 year old daughter, and though Mat's family were wonderful with her, his house is not what I would call "toddler friendly" (completely understandable as he does not have young children). For one thing, there is a steep and narrow stair down to the room, which I knew about when booking so I had made an informed choice, but once there it turned out I did worry a lot that she would hurt herself on it.