Space: Located on the third floor of a beautifully-restored, mansard-roofed Second Empire style building, this 1,800-square-foot apartment has a large sky-lit living room, two dining rooms, a fully-equipped kitchen, an ensuite master bedroom, a guest bedroom, communal bathroom, and an outdoor terrace that can be accessed via the master bedroom or one of the dining areas.

Dormer windows, complimented by additional skylights flood the space in a wonderful glow, even in wintertime, making this a great choice as a base for family get-togethers. Warm wooden floors and modern furnishings combined with the odd antique table and chair give the apartment a cosy, and regal, New England feel.

Amenities: The property includes a fireplace, television with most premium cable channels, a kitchen with cooker, oven, microwave, fridge with ice-maker and freezer, gas stoves, toaster, coffee machine, utensils and cutlery, a washing machine and dryer, plenty of closet space, a study nook in the guest bedroom, bathroom heating, and a parking space with 240V EV charging outlet.

Location: The apartment is located in the peaceful and safe Agassiz neighbourhood – a tree-lined area full of charming 1800 Victorian homes – in Cambridge, where many faculty and graduate students from Harvard and Lesley University live. It’s a short walk (or even shorter drive) to MIT, Tufts, Porter Square, and you can drive or walk to the metro station, and take the red line to downtown Boston.

Service: The apartment’s owner Peter lives next door with his family. He was very prompt in responding to our emails, and had left the key in a lock box for our arrival, which was most convenient, as we arrived at the property after midnight.

Downside: The entrance is through the front door on the ground floor, which leads up a flight of stairs to the apartment, so keep this in mind if you have mobility issues. The area around the apartment is relatively quiet, so you’ll have to walk some distance to find restaurants and shops, and this can be a bit of an inconvenience when it’s raining, or there’s a snowstorm. This property is probably a better choice you are renting a car, like we did.

Upside: The apartment is very commodious, and ideal for families or couples looking for a more spacious accommodation. The apartment is also eco-friendly with separate compartments in the kitchen for recycling and composts, Nest smart thermostat controlled heating and cooling, and electricity supplemented by a rooftop solar array.

Room rate: Available through Airbnb from US$175 per night.

Address: 128 Oxford Street, Apartment 3, Cambridge, Massachusetts.