24 hour airbnb apartment break in Paris

WHERE: For our stay in Paris, we chose carefully considering we only had 24 hours. We were heading to a gig in the 19th arrondissement, so decided to stay close to the venue to avoid navigating the winding Parisian rues after dark.

Montmartre, the bustling arrondissement housing Sacre Coeur and of course the Moulin Rouge, was the perfect location for us, conveniently located next to the 19th yet also central. It strikes the perfect balance between touristic and rustic, with its cobbled backstreets and bustling centre.

WHAT: If you prefer to immerse yourself in the lifestyle of a culture rather than observe it from afar, it's best to avoid being a tourist and channel your inner Parisian. The best way of doing this when you've only got one night is through location and accommodation.

Sure, you could pick any number of tres chic (et tres cher) hotels in Le Marais or near Rue de St Honore, but if you want to live like a Parisian, then stay in a Parisian's home. I'm talking, of course, about Airbnb the masterful service that allows you to 'rent' a home.

Having started in 2007, this San Francisco-born company (in which Ashton Kutcher has a stake - serious cool points) has grown into a globally used service, offering fairly priced accommodation in luxurious cities as well as in the remotest of towns. It's the perfect way of getting to grips with a culture; staying in luxe hotels is all very well, but once you step into a native's home, you're immediately thrown in at the deep end.

Once you've decided on a location, choosing your apartment is the next hurdle. The great thing about AirBnB is that you can opt for a whole apartment or just a room if you want to cut costs. With only one night and knowing we might be crawling in the early hours from seeing The 1975 at Le Trabendo, we thought it best to rent an entire apartment. Paris isn't known for its space when it comes to accommodation, so we were fully prepared for a studio flat which suited us fine seeing as we wouldn't be spending a whole lot of time there.

Our apartment was small yet had all the necessary amenities; just a 5 minute walk from a Metro station, it was located within a cute little courtyard on a quiet street behind Sacre Coeur. All that we needed was there - a comfortable sofa bed, a kitchenette and a shower room, as well as a television and free WiFi. Our host met us at the apartment and showed us around, and was extremely helpful, making sure we had everything we needed before she left.

WHY: Thanks to the ease of Air BnB's app, finding a place to stay (one week before Fashion Week, no less) was a stress-free experience. Air BnB is ideal for short city breaks as well as longer vacations. Use it to rent a villa for a week with a bunch of girlfriends, or for a romantic long weekend with your partner - you're guaranteed to have a comfortable and relaxing trip in the comfort of someone else's home!

Top Tips for surfing Airbnb:

If there aren't any pictures, avoid avoid avoid. You want to be able to visualise, and if they don't post pictures, you have to assume there's a reason?

Think about where you'll want to visit and base your location on proximity - if you know you'll be spending most of your time in the centre of Paris, don't opt for an apartment on the outskirts!

Always take time to chat to your host before your trip - arrange meeting them at the apartment and tell them what the nature of your visit is. They're always eager to help and to make your trip as comfortable as possible.

Narrow it down - use the filters on the site to avoid trawling through hundreds of similar looking flats. Be specific and it will be a lot easier to find your perfect spot!

Embrace the concept - don't expect the same luxury as 5* hotels. Of course you can find some stunning apartments, but Airbnb is about comfort and practicality too.

DO IT: You can rent the apartment in Montmarte, Paris from ?62 per night.