The blog insists on having a photo for each entry. I don’t have a picture of any of the places we stayed so you’ll have to put up with a dragonfly!

We had varying experiences of these:

1. A lovely cottage in Nashville with all mod cons, a patio, all nicely furnished as well as being in a nice neighbourhood with restaurants and bars an easy walk away. Oh, and a garage for the car! And a washing machine!

2. An ‘historic’ apartment in Chattanooga. It has to be said that the pictures on the website looked better than the real thing. I think it is what you would call an ‘improving’ neighbourhood - there being some recent new developments and older, less desirable properties! The apartment was not too bad though, although the air con was ancient and noisy so you couldn’t have it on at night! Oh and apparently it ‘freezes up if you set it below 73F!! All in all it served its purpose!

3. Known as the ‘Tiny House’ in Bryson City, it is a modern house and is tiny. Sitting room, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom on the ground floor and a mezzanine floor for a lounge/bedroom above. Very well equipped. There were a few other houses of similar design as well as another new development along the street. The only downside was that it looked over a small and old trailer park - although we think these were holiday places based on the quality of cars parked outside! Easy walk to the pleasant town with restaurants, craft. brewery etc.

4. Apartment in block in midtown Atlanta. Difficult to find, we were finally met in a gas station and guided in. Kitchen area and huge sitting room with separate bedroom and bathroom. Having been installed we discovered that there were no bowls, glasses or cups and only plastic plates! The host did remedy this with a couple of bowls, some glasses and two unmatching tin mugs!! Oh and half a dozen Starbucks takeaway cups!! Bizarre.

The sitting room smelled of cigarette smoke (we bought an aerosol spray) although thankfully the bedroom didn’t. There was no table or chairs or even breakfast bar stools. A bit short on the furnishings!

So, all in all, a bit of a mixed bunch but overall it worked for us and made a change from hotels!