I was lucky enough to steal a couple of restful days in Chamonix on my way from Geneva to an exhibition in Budapest. I usually stay in hotels but since I had several commissions to prepare for, on this occasion I needed somewhere with more space. I'm a contemporary artist/sculptor by profession (www.levine-art.co.uk) and generally find it hard to locate places that appeal to my taste, but this apartment was really exceptional. The owners have combined modern Italian furniture with design classics (the Harry Bertoia bar stools are a personal favourite) and added some original paintings and photos to create a space that's both cool and welcoming. The original wooden ceilings and exposed beams are beautiful and the whole place has a really nice vibe. It's bang in the centre of town, so everything you need is within a few minutes walk. There are two nice supermarkets (Casino & SuperU) within 100m and both stock a good selection of local and international products and some great value French wine. The 6* Mont Blanc Hotel is right next door and one night I enjoyed a delicious meal in the Matafan restaurant (and a long session at their very luxurious bar), before staggering home, which took all of 2 minutes. The next night I ordered take-away from the Chinese restaurant across the street (someone kindly left a menu in a drawer) and since it's wasn't very busy (I guess September is low season), the owner offered to deliver it for me...! The views across the valley from the large terrace are superb and I enjoyed watching the cable car ascend to the Aiguille du Midi and the cog train slowly working it's way towards the Mer de Glace. The weather wasn't particularly warm during my stay, but I imagine sitting out in the summer would be a real joy. It's a few years since I've skied, but I'm really hoping to get back next winter to see what it's like with some snow on the ground. I think it will be perfect. Thanks again to the Chamonix-All-Year team for recommending this great place.