Martin and Simon are quite splendid hosts. Communication before was helpful and encouraging. It was going to be alright..... I hoped! Some of us are nervous about Airbnb but the reviews seemed good so I took the plunge and booked.

It was better than OK! Martin was especially generous in allowing me to check in at a time convenient to my flight arrival, which is not always the case with hosts. They both took the trouble to come over to greet me and show me round the lovely house. We had a good time gossiping about my reasons for being on the island - I am working on a huge local reconstruction project and they knew some of those involved.

The house is an absolute delight. Welcoming, homely and cosy. A very well appointed kitchen - best ever, vast Siemens microwave, dishwasher, even an espresso machine and complimentary, quality coffee, tea, bottled water etc are all very nice to find on arrival. The sitting room has the loveliest 18th century bureau bookcase with a gorgeous, blue and white China collection. This is a classy place.

The house is 2 streets away from Republic Street which is the central, main street of Valletta. Next door is a friendly local supermarket and a fabulous bakery. Wander into the bakery itself on your way home from dinner and the baker will take your few coins with flour dusted hands. The smell is terrific and wafts down as far as the house.

Upstairs, there is a double bedroom with very comfortable bed, French doors to a mini balcony and a very well-appointed bathroom - bidet and huge 'rain forest' shower with lashings of steaming hot water.

I was there in November and so was not being 'overheated' by the climate but, in summer, guests will be pleased to know that the house is properly air conditioned and the bedroom even has a slow turning fan over the bed, reminiscent of my travels to the Deep South of America. Being November I didn’t go swimming but the house is just by the sea and when I went for a walk I spotted 2 courageous swimmers! The whole place is impeccably clean, these are fastidious folk.

Over the road there is a charming and idiosyncratically named cafe eatery called Jews Sally Port - look it up on Trip Advisor – it’s run by the fabulous Vanessa and is a great place to take morning coffee and a croissant if you're too lazy to do your own, in the house.

It was such a comfort to come back to the house each night, after long days on my reconstruction project. Truly, a ‘home from home’.

Thank you both.