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The Citadines Paris Louvre (located at 8, rue de Richelieu 75001 Paris, France) is perfect for families who want to feel like they're living in Paris rather than just touring it. The hotel is only a few minutes walking distance from the Louvre, the Tuileries gardens, and other famous landmarks, but the best part about the hotel's location is the huge variety of bakeries and restaurants nearby.

Instead of paying for the hotel's pricey breakfast, my family and I explored the area and found a huge array of treats to choose from.

The suite also had a kitchen so we could cook our own meals. It's a great way to save money and have a family meal when everyone's too tired to go out. The Monoprix grocery store is also literally down the street which is a plus! There's also laundry facilities in the basement and they will lend you essentials like a crib for babies or a highchair for the room.

Although the Citadines is convenient, it's also quite expensive, so be prepared for sticker shock. Of course this is a posh Paris neighborhood so some of the other Citadines apartments have lower rates. Linens and sheets are only changed once a week, but that's not too different from home so it wasn't a big problem.

French people love dogs, and we saw very well behaved ones sitting under tables in restaurants and walking down streets and through shops without a leash. We also saw families with dogs staying at this residence hotel, which my kids thought was really funny.

Overall, I'd recommend the Citadines for families who are planning an extended stay and want all the comforts of home while in Paris.

The A. T. Family of San Diego, California stayed at this hotel during a summer 2007 visit to Paris, France. They were traveling with two teens for four weeks across Europe. There are 15 Citadines Apart Hotels in Paris alone; call their European reservations line at 33/ 1 41 05 79 05, email them at enquiry.europe@citadines.com or visit www.citadines.com to check apartment availability.