I wasn't sure what to expect - some reviews were good, others not so brilliant. Citadines is rather odd hotel. We booked a two room apartment; a bedroom, a living room and a small kitchen. Their site also says that a cheaper studio room is available.

The toilet and bathroom is separate, which I think is a good thing, and the kitchen had a two ring cooker, a microwave, a fridge and a dishwasher - all you need in fact for a bit of breakfast or a sandwich in the evening. There is no need to cook a meal - there are plenty of wonderful places to eat nearby - this is France after all. You also have to be a giant! The kitchen cupboards are so high above the work surface that I couldn’t reach the plates in the cupboard without standing on a chair – perhaps they should supply a little step ladder for smaller people like me?

When we checked in we were offered various options. We could have booked a daily cleaner, but we said we would clean our own room and saved around 25 euros that way. It did mean that we did not get clean towels, but you could take towels off the cleaner’s trolley if you needed more. There was also breakfast on offer and a laundry room, which we never used. We preferred to run out in true French style and buy fresh bread and croissants in the morning and make our own coffee – there is a fabulous baker just up the road and a little store across from the hotel. Nearby there are other supermarkets, which are very good, value considering they are right in the city centre.

We were in a room at the back that overlooked the carpark, so it could be a little noisy when cars were driving by, but other than that it was very quiet at night.

Other reviews have mentioned cleanliness. We found the facilities were clean, but the toilet, which is separate from the bathroom, smelt a little like a man’s urinal and could have done with a good dose of bleach! Apart from that, we had absolutely no complaints about the accommodation – other than it was a little more expensive than we thought it should have been, but I suppose we paid extra for its position. Had we used the breakfast and cleaner option, then our stay would have cost us a whole lot more.

As for Strasbourg, it was my first visit and I was very impressed by the place and will return. Shame you cannot fly directly from London though. We went by Eurostar from London to Paris, walked up the road to another station and went the rest of the way by TGV. There were no problems on either route and we arrived far more relaxed than if we had driven there.

Alsace being near to Germany was a bonus because we spent one day in the Black Forest, where you can walk miles if you are so minded, and on another day we went to Colmar; two very easy journeys to make by public transport. If you like architecture or history you just have to go to Colmar and also walk over to Petite France in Strasbourg: rows and rows of medieval houses. Absolutely beautiful!

Another must to try is the Quiche Lorraine. Yes, I know it available around the world, but you cannot beat the real thing.

Transport was easy, just jump on a tram, bus or train. We went over to see the European parliament by tram and just walked in. They could do a bit more to make the place welcoming – with perhaps a little teashop or welcome centre. As it is you just walk around the building and get the tram back again as there isn’t anything else nearby that we could see.