I've had a lot of great experiences using Airbnb, but Ming has the whole procedure down to a fine art. From the outset, communication was easy, prompt and clear. We arrived very late in the evening and Ming was there to meet us and tell us everything we needed to know about the apartment and the area; both of which, by the way, couldn't be more perfect. Proper dream-house.

The apartment was a beautiful oasis to return to each night and escape the heavy New York summer heat. It's a five minute walk to the L train, which gets you onto Manhattan in one stop, but we spent almost our entire week exploring Williamsburg and Greenpoint - such amazing, dynamic areas full of great shops, bars, cafes and all the rest.

Do yourself a favour; forget Manhattan, it's all about Brooklyn. And there's no better Brooklyn base than Ming's apartment.