Royal Park

Royal Park: Madrid

This unique, super stylish home stands opposite Madrid's beautiful Retiro Park, in the (somewhat confusingly named) Ibiza neighbourhood. In a traditional building but fully modernised inside, you'll have that perfect mix of period features and contemporary furnishings – think high ceilings, tall Juliet balconies and wood floors. There's a huge, structural steel beam running through the centre of the open-layout living and dining space and it just fits in with the styling perfectly, acting as a handy room divider. On one side you'll find the cosy sofa, desk space and a wall of shelves, while the other is reserved for relaxed dining at home on trendy chairs made from metal and bamboo.

There's an excellent kitchen with a couple of stools so you can hang out and chat while you're cooking, and it's not short of equipment so you can really go to town if you feel like throwing a mini dinner party. Three bedrooms make it perfect for a family or a group of friends, and there's a handy office space if you'll be working during your stay.

Surrounded by great bars and restaurants, and just steps from the lush green park, it's a lovely neighbourhood just minutes from the nearest Metro station for easy access to the rest of the city.

Home truths:
*There's laptop-friendly workspace at the desk
*The home has a shared entrance
*Pets are welcome but there may be an additional fee – check with the host first
*Weekly cleaning is included
*There is only air conditioning in some rooms
*Because of the location, some city noise should be expected – light sleepers might want to bring earplugs just in case