- Best for a Romantic Getaway: Take an old indigo plantation some blocks away from the Quarter, outfit it with some of the nicest furnishings in town, add in a full lavish breakfast, and you've got The House on Bayou Road, 2275 Bayou Rd. (tel. 800/882-2968 or 504/945-0992).
- Best Basic Hotel: You know, just a hotel, albeit a hotel that looks sufficiently NOLA-like. It's friendly, it's sweet, and it's better than basic allows it to sound -- it's the Maison Dupuy, 1001 Toulouse St. (tel. 800/535-9177 or 504/586-8000).
- Best Reason to Stay in Mid-City: Discouragingly, it got hammered by Katrina right as it was on the verge of a massive comeback. But fun businesses are coming back, the streetcar is up and running, and the prices are lower here than in the usual places to stay. Help revitalize a neighborhood that deserves it, and be the first to brag about a cool area that is mostly untouristed by bunking at the gorgeous Block-Keller House, 3620 Canal St. (tel. 877/588-3033 or 504/483-3033), where the skilled owners know their B&B business, or at the friendly, antiques-filled 1896 O'Malley House, 120 S. Pierce St. (tel. 866/226-1896 or 504/488-5896).
- Best Fabulous B&B: You need to see the Magnolia Mansion to believe it, from the blood-red entrance hall to the antiques-crammed public rooms to the wonderfully over-the-top accommodations. 2127 Prytania St. (tel. 504/412-9500).
- Best More Modest B&B: Chimes B&B, 1146 Constantinople St. (tel. 504/899-2621) is a delightful family-owned guesthouse in the Garden District. The charming owners have been operating the B&B for over 20 years, generating loyal return guests.
- Best Moderately Priced Hotel: The Wyndham Bourbon Orleans Hotel, 717 Orleans St. (tel. 504/523-2222), is the best value in its price range. It's centrally located -- but make sure to ask for a room that's not facing Bourbon Street unless you're sure you want to keep an eye on the nonstop partying.
- Best for Travelers with Disabilities: Two of the most accessible and accommodating choices are the Hotel Monteleone, 214 Royal St. (tel. 800/535-9595 or 504/523-3341), and the Windsor Court, 300 Gravier St. (tel. 800/262-2662 or 504/523-6000).
- Best Hotel for Hip Executives: The innovative minimalist style and myriad comforts at the International House, 221 Camp St. (tel. 800/633-5770 or 504/553-9550), have justly made this every film and record-company dude's (and dudette's) favorite hotel. It's the perfect palate cleanser if you can't stand Victorian frills.
- Best Health Club: The hands-down winner is the Hilton New Orleans Riverside Hotel, 2 Poydras St. (tel. 800/445-8667 or 504/561-0500). Its Rivercenter Racquet and Health Club features outdoor and indoor tennis courts, squash and racquetball courts, a rooftop jogging track, tanning beds, massage, a hair salon, and a golf studio. The Mayor works out here!
- Best Hotel in the Quarter: The Ritz Carlton -- they know how to do hotels. A top-to-bottom post-K fix-up has only enhanced this already splendid property. And if you want to go even more decadent, stay in the smaller, but elegant club level rooms in their Maison Orleans annex. Just say the words "24-hour butler service." You know you want it. 921 Canal St. (tel. 800/241-3333 or 504/524-1331).
- Best Little Hotel: The Hotel Maison de Ville, 727 Toulouse St. (tel. 800/634-1600 or 504/561-5858), is a highly regarded member of both the Small Luxury Hotels of the World and the Small Historic Hotels of America. Once you submit to its style, you'll understand why.
- Best Funky Little Hotel: The Frenchmen, 417 Frenchmen St. (tel. 504/948-2166), is small but full of pure New Orleans charm. But bear in mind that one person's "funky" may be another person's "dingy," though an excellent post-Katrina makeover has addressed some of those concerns.
- Best Brand-Name Hotel Addition: The Loews chain took over an old office building in the Central Business District and not only refurbished the Piazza D'Italia, a silly bit of public art that had long needed a fix-up, but also brought their brand of style and comfort to a city that probably has enough hotels but is always glad to have another swell place to stay. It's Loews New Orleans Hotel, 300 Poydras St. (tel. 800/23-LOEWS or 504/595-3300).
- Best Hidden Gem: Back behind a fence at the start of a so-so neighborhood above the Quarter is an enchanting set of renovated old buildings, a series of suites and rooms full of the sort of impossible romantic details that exist only on the pages of novels about New Orleans. And, of course, at The Garlands Historic Creole Cottages, 1129 St. Philip St. (tel. 800/523-1060 or 504/523-1372).
- In a Class by Itself: Of all the hotels in New Orleans, the Windsor Court, 300 Gravier St. (tel. 800/262-2662 or 504/523-6000), stands head and shoulders above the rest. Most guest rooms are suites with Italian marble bathrooms, balconies or bay windows, living rooms, kitchenettes, and dressing rooms. If you choose one of the two-bedroom penthouse suites, you'll have the added luxury of a private library and a terrace that overlooks the mighty Mississippi.
Selecting just one hotel in New Orleans is a little like picking your favorite flavor of ice cream -- there are just so many great options to choose from.
New Orleans Travel Experiences
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New Orleans
Repeat breakfast at the Old Coffee Pot and this time we ate outside and Pearl was there. Over to the Historic New Orleans Collectio... Continue reading »
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Help New Orleans
It was the first time I've been back to New Orleans since Katrina, what an eye opener! The French Quarter was rockin' as usual but as soo... Continue reading »
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Really good day
Saw lots of Katrina Damage thru Pass Christian, Waveland, MS. Unbelievable all that is still destroyed!! Spoke with a couple of ladies on... Continue reading »
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Living it up in "The Big Easy"
Left Tuscaloosa this morning and began our drive to New Orleans. Ann was driving as we began our daily journey. We took Inter... Continue reading »
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Magical Lundi and Mardi Gras!
The energy and the frenzy are contagious. Although I had never been to New Orleans before, I wondered whether the determination to fill... Continue reading »
Popular New Orleans Hotels
- Drury Inn and Suites New Orleans
- Loews New Orleans Hotel
- Hampton Inn New Orleans Downtown French Quarter Area
- Country Inn & Suites New Orleans French Quarter
- Renaissance Arts Hotel
- Hotel Monteleone
- Royal Sonesta Hotel
- Le Pavillon Hotel
- Le Richelieu
- Windsor Court Hotel
