It started the second I landed in Capetown when Ian met me at the airport. He was welcoming, congenial, and ready to answer all questions and offer many recommendations on restaurants, places to visit, the vibe of Capetown, how to get around, and any precautions I needed to consider to have a safe experience. It helped that I didn't have to worry about how to get from the airport to his place.

You always worry about whether the marketing pitch matches reality. I was very impressed with the Beautiful and Central offering on the Airbnb site. The reality was better - the proximity to downtown, the view of the V & A Waterfront area within easy walking distance, the view of historical Robben Island in the distance, the proximity to good restaurants and nearby shops, and the quiet and relaxing location of Ian's property combined all the essentials of a perfect holiday.

I cannot ignore Ian's pride of the city, and his advice and recommendations on so many features and attractions - you can almost leave your guidebook at home. We had great conversations about travel, philosophy, and life that were stimulating to someone launched into the middle of a new city with no local connections.