Paris’ 1st arrondissement isn’t number one for just any old reason. Home to the Louvre/Palais-Royal neighbourhood, this is a historically lavish part of the city where you'll find some of the biggest attractions. A four-minute walk from the Palais du Louvre itself, this apartment certainly continues on a majestic theme. Through a courtyard full of lush plants, the entrance to this building has the famous cream-coloured walls of Parisian homes that you’d expect. However, the interiors tell another story. A rich orange sofa welcomes you to the modern living space – with exposed brickwork, a glossy tiled breakfast bar, and a full-length glass partition wall to break up the bedrooms. While frosted windows save your modesty, there’s nothing modest about the decor of the rooms. Find striking floral feature walls, jazzy cushions, gilded mirror frames, and a freestanding tub in one of the en-suites – it’s bourgeois-bohemian at its best. Take a crisp, morning walk to the Jardin des Tuileries after your café au lait (it’s only ten minutes from home). The Louvre–Rivoli metro is just a two-minute walk, so you can also head out to discover any areas of Paris. You might find it hard to leave your surrounding area though – with boulangeries, restaurants, and bars aplenty, you can dine out or feast like a king in your sumptuous apartment.

Home truths:
* Even though it's located on the ground floor, there are some steps to tackle around the home and building
* At full capacity, two of the eight guests will be sleeping on a sofa bed in the living space
* On a gloomy day, you'll find that there isn't much natural light in each room
* There is no air conditioning, so it may get hot during summer months
* The host can provide a cot and babysitter recommendations upon request