Description Left Unsaid: Roma

This second-floor apartment in a Prati building dating back to the 1940s illustrates how to incorporate some eccentricity into a home's interior design without going overboard. Colourful pieces of artwork, gold motifs and boldly patterned feature walls pop off satisfyingly against the white walls, while the silverback gorilla in the living room is a playful addition. The kitchen and bathrooms play it relatively simple in comparison but are equally notable for their high quality — we especially liked the whirlpool bathtub. The location is another plus point in our books. Castel Sant'Angelo and the surrounding Parco della Mole Adriana are only ten minutes' walk away, while Vatican City takes about a quarter of an hour to reach on foot.

Home truths:
*Two people can sleep on a sofa bed in the living room
*Although the apartment can be reached by elevator and is step-free once inside, there are three steps before you reach the lift
*While there's a small balcony, it's more of a utility space for the air conditioner and water heater rather than somewhere to socialise
*There's no full partition between the living room and the second bedroom
*A cot, high chair, baby bath and babysitting recommendations can be provided by the host if required
*The building has no parking spaces, but there's a paid car park three minutes' walk away