This apartment on the outskirts of Le Marais is the picture of Parisian elegance. With walls painted a sultry blue and plenty of plush furnishings dotted about, we thought this home had the feel of an exclusive members' club. The open-plan kitchen leading straight out onto the living space adds to the air of sociability and makes the place ideal for small soirées. When you're not entertaining, your prime location on the famous Place de la République gives you plenty of options. For a start, the trendy North Marais — or NoMa if you want to impress the locals — is one street to the south, while galleries such as Centre Pompidou and Musée National Picasso-Paris can be reached in twenty minutes on foot.

Home truths:
*There are 4 bathrooms but only two toilets
*There is no AC
*This home is located on the first floor with no lift access
*This home does not have an instruction manual
*The check-in and check-out procedures may involve additional charges, not included in your booking fee, for specific times and delays – please contact your host for more information before booking
*Checkout is conducted in person by a greeter who will collect the keys and carry out an inventory
*This host provides a cleaning kit with sponges, various detergents, kitchen cloths, garbage bags, dishwasher, and washing machine tablets
*There’s also a toilet bag in every bathroom – all products are an essential oil blend of lemon/rosemary, paraben free, and hypoallergenic