This was the first time we booked an apartment through Airbnb and our fantastic hosts, Steve and France, have ensured that this is the way we will be doing all our vacations hereon.

The apartment is even more beautiful and well-maintained than the pictures suggest. There was ample room for our family of five and it made our seven-day stay in Paris comfortable and special.

The location is very good with some really good restaurants, cafes and bakeries around, supermarkets very close, even a well-stocked toy shop. We used all three Metro stations near the apartment and they are only an easy stroll away. Getting to anywhere in Paris needed less than half an hour of travel and the Arc d Triumph is a short walk away.

Before our trip, our first to Paris, Steve most patiently helped us plan the visit. He welcomed us to his stunning apartment with champagne and also handed us a most thoughtfully drawn up list of places to visit, eat at, shop at and numbers to call for any help, including that of a doctor who spoke in English. We always travel with the children and know the value of that one number.

Soon after we had locked up and left for the airport, we realised that my husband had forgotten his laptop, with crucial work on it, at the apartment. We would have missed our flight if we had attempted to get it.

We are very thankful to Steve, who went out of his way to reach the laptop the very next day to a friend who was flying back to Delhi a few days after us. The laptop has already reached us.

Paris is beautiful and the people are truly some of the warmest and friendliest we've met on our travels. Thank you Steve and France for being wonderful ambassadors of your lovely country.