One of the big travel trends this year is staying in a private rental apartment rather than a hotel.
What used to be mainly confined to ski and sunshine holidays has spread to city breaks too - so we checked out Housetrip to see what the fuss was all about.
The concept is simple; as a host, you can rent out your property through the website and as a guest, you can search through the listings then book and pay online. Housetrip act as a go-between, holding the payment for 48-hours after your check-in date so if there's any problems you can contact the customer care team and sort things out without worrying about losing your money.
[Related article: Sleep holidays]
Private rentals are, of course, far bigger than hotels, so you'll be getting more bang for your buck.
Love looking around markets when you're on holiday but hate not being able to cook with any of that scrumptious produce as you don't have a kitchen in your hotel? Not a problem when you rent someone else's home - you can really live like a local. Here are eight of our favourites.
A castle in Belgium
Who hasn't imagined living in a castle of their very own? Well, from just £210 a night, you and nine of your closest friends could make that a reality. Perched high on a forested hill, overlooking the Spa region of Belgium, the Chateau de Balmoral overlooks Lake Warfaaz and boasts five bedrooms, its own swimming pool and antique furnishings galore.
Beach stay in Barcelona
We love this cute two bedroom apartment
in Barcelona with a sea view and its own little terrace. Unbelievably
this rents out from just £69 a night and can sleep up to five people.
Based down on Barceloneta beach, just a stone's throw from the aquarium
and the bustling port and Olympic marina area.
A houseboat in Amsterdam
Imagine living on your very own houseboat in the heart of Amsterdam. Perfect for friends or a family stay, the Groningen Boltjalk gives you a chance to make that dream come true. Berthed at the corner of Keizersgracht and Utrechtsestraat you're moments away from shops, great bars and restaurants and museums. All from just £286 a night.
[Related article: The best of the Isle of Wight]
Private Seychelles beach
Book your flights to the Seychelles and stay in this cottage with its very own private beach.
Live like a millionaire from just £163 a night in Anse Volbert village.
Like all good beach retreats, this comes with its own kayak so you can
paddle around, spotting turtles and tropical fish.
Paris roof terrace
Head out to the suburbs of Paris to score this jaw-clanging 4,300 square foot loft,
just 15 minutes metro from the Champs Elysee. There are four bedrooms
but the space can accommodate up to 12 guests, there's a Jacuzzi, steam
room and a spacious roof terrace too. All this from £381 a night.
Bali villa with a private pool
Just wow. A Bali beach three-bed villa with its own swimming pool and room for six of you to enjoy a bargain beach break from just £96 a night. Laze on the shady balcony and terrace, enjoy a barbecue in the garden as the sunsets and the stars come out.
[Related article: Yorkshire tourism given Olympic boost]
Heritage London flat
A one-bedroom flat in London
for less than £100 a night? Sounds impossible, but you can stay in a
heritage apartment block, opposite the famous cemetery, from just £85 a
night. If you've wondered what it would be like to stay in an exclusive
London pad, wonder no more... and yes, of course, everyone knows that
Karl Marx is buried in Highgate, but did you know that Jeremy Beadle and
Douglas Adams are too? Tricky to say who's had the biggest influence on
society...
New York garden apartment
Prepare for the deal of the decade: an ultra-cool two-bed apartment with its own private patio garden in New York's hippest neighbourhood, Williamsburg, from just £154 a night. The apartment sleeps six and has Swedish Zen-style architecture (of course it does, this is Williamsburg!). You'll be minutes away by subway from SoHo and just a brisk walk from the world-famous Peter Luger steakhouse.
