My wife and I had a great weekend staying at Jean's place, leaving the kids behind and enjoying some time together. It's a lovely apartment in a typical old Parisian building with tasteful and cleverly chosen furnishings and a beautiful wooden floor. We loved the romantic bath in the bedroom – and of course the eclectic and discerning CD collection.

The apartment is in a vibrant African neighbourhood, potentially daunting if you were on your own at night, but full of buzz and interest. And it’s minutes away from streets with quite different atmospheres – interesting shops, hip little bars and restaurants, a prize-winning boulangerie, and steps leading up Montmartre to the Sacré-Cœur. Also very handy for the metro.

Jean was very helpful, providing rapid responses to all our questions. Yes, we’d stay again.