Lying close to France's western coastline, this ground-floor apartment is both contemporary and full of character – a combination that's not as easy to achieve as you might think. Behind the front door, you'll find living quarters with stark white walls and wooden floors, plus an eclectic collection of decorative items that range from large artwork and mounted antlers to quirky feature walls and big mirrors. That being said, all the basics are nailed, too – the tiled kitchen has lots of sleek surface space and equipment for whipping up some tasty home-cooked fare. One of the home's biggest perks is the fact that guests get access to a large private garden complete with a terrace on which to lounge and dine while taking in refreshing lungfuls of crisp coastal air. The lawn's also big enough for games if you're bringing little ones or four-legged friends along with you. When it comes to seeing a little more of the locale, the Matata Caves are all of two minutes' walk from the front door and offer a unique way to appreciate the Gironde Estuary. Nuns Beach takes about a quarter of an hour on foot to reach if the weather's being kind to you, while the large coastal town of Royan is twenty minutes away by car, too. Home truths: *The single-level apartment is on the ground floor of the building, but there are two steps before the front door *Your host can provide a cot and high chair for free upon request *There's space to park on the premises or on the street – there's also bicycle storage available *Though there isn't a dedicated desk here, the dining table doubles up as a laptop-friendly workspace *Some of the beds are squeezed in between two walls, so there isn't loads of room on either side *The bunkbeds are for children only *The garden here is private, but there's a flat on the first floor that has a balcony – they'll be able to see you if you're outside