Il Piccolo Principe

Treat yourself to a stylish stay at this recently renovated one-bedroom apartment. Just five minutes from the lake, this home offers you the chance to experience the glitz and glamour of Lake Como without necessarily requiring a bank balance with as many zeros as George Clooney's (whose own vast lakeside villa is approximately 20km away).

Cute and compact, with comfortable seating, stylish dining and culinary creativity all possible – this Como flat is the complete couple's package. Large windows look out over the neighbourhood, while French doors offer direct access to a private balcony. Finally, a cosy bedroom lies just off the main living space, with a chic contemporary bathroom occupying the opposite corner.

Head downstairs, and you can reach the cafe-lined Piazza del Duomo and Como's gothic cathedral in a little under ten minutes on foot, while the lake's shimmering waters are no more than a kilometre from your front door. For jaw-dropping vistas, drive a few kilometres out of town and take the Brunate funicular 500m to the top. Alternatively, enjoy a whole new perspective from the water, with boats waiting to whisk you off to other shoreside settlements from the nearby ferry terminal.

Home truths:
*At full capacity, one person will be sleeping on a futon
*The host can provide a baby cot and a high chair, at an extra cost
*The dining table doubles as a laptop-friendly workspace
*Check yourself in on arrival with the lockbox
*We'd recommend hiring a car if you're planning on exploring the area
*Though the kitchenette has both a hob and an oven, there's not a lot of worktop space so it may be best suited to preparing smaller meals