*THIS* is what a 5* Airbnb experience should feel like!

From even before we left home, we knew Louise was going to be an outstanding host - her emails were informative, friendly and custom-written. We arrived off a long flight to find Louise there to welcome us and a fridge full of delicious breakfast items - gorgeous fresh fruit, yoghurt, different types of breads, juices - and a pantry better stocked than my own at home.

Walking into the house, you're struck by not only how stylish it is but how personal - this home was decorated with taste and love. Gorgeous textiles everywhere - plush cushions, delicately woven blankets, and loads of big fluffy white towels (as well as beach towels). Beds are super comfy, showers are hot and powerful, bathrooms also stocked with everything you could need.

The space is absolutely perfect for families - with a large covered outdoor area, so kids can play without getting sunburnt, next to the lightly-sea-salted pool in what feels like a tropical rainforest. Only trees as far as the eye can see.

The feeling of calm dominates, and this is what makes the location so perfect; in a bustling city, where beaches can be just as busy at weekends, being able to escape back to Louise's idyllic retreat to rest and enjoy lush quiet, while still being only 20 mins from the heart of the city, was exactly what my family needed. 5 minutes away is Crows Nest with plenty of restaurants and bars, or Lane Cove with a cute shopping area. There are buses into the city every 20 mins at rush hour, but we used Uber a lot as it was so cheap and easy to get around. There's also a bus which brings you down to the nearest ferry port, which is always a fun way to get into the city.

Throughout our stay, Louise made us feel more like friends than airbnb guests. She was entirely unobtrusive but, as she and her son live on-site, was available to us whenever we needed, which mattered to us a lot (as I was traveling with my 70 year old mother and 3 year old son), for example helping us get the barbeque going, offering to do our laundry, or helping us find a local babysitter.

It was the most wonderful 2 weeks we could have hoped for, and as we explored this wonderful city, we felt truly at home here at Louise's - if only our home was as gorgeous, luxe and relaxing as this!