New Orleans Hotels

[Rudyjohn]

Now, we're off to visit Loyola and I need advice from some of you New Orleans peeps about hotels.

Looking on the Loyola website, it shows a list of 6 hotels they "recommend." I am only familiar with the Hotel Monteleone (we always stayed there when I was a kid). Is it still nice or is it long past it's heyday? Staying there would be comforting to me as it is familiar and we could walk to the French Qtr. But, we would be open to other recommendations near there.

The other hotels listed were on St. Charles St. (Hampton Inn, Marriott Courtyard) & since it's been 20 yrs since I've been there, that might be an unsafe area.

Admissions was not exactly forthcoming with details about nearby hotels, cabs, etc.

Also, would it make sense to take a cab to Loyola? Probably public transportation would be out because he would be dragging a cello around in a 20lb. flight case. And, I really, really don't want to rent a car and drive. The car rental expense in Tallahassee was horrendous & we need to budget as much as possible.

Thanks in advance for your help. Everyone was a tremendous help with the Tallahassee details.

.

 

[GoodWitch58]

How was your Tallahassee trip...did you post already on it?

 

[ktmeadows]

Now, we're off to visit Loyola and I need advice from some of you New Orleans peeps about hotels.

Looking on the Loyola website, it shows a list of 6 hotels they "recommend." I am only familiar with the Hotel Monteleone (we always stayed there when I was a kid). Is it still nice or is it long past it's heyday? Staying there would be comforting to me as it is familiar and we could walk to the French Qtr. But, we would be open to other recommendations near there.

The other hotels listed were on St. Charles St. (Hampton Inn, Marriott Courtyard) & since it's been 20 yrs since I've been there, that might be an unsafe area.

Admissions was not exactly forthcoming with details about nearby hotels, cabs, etc.

Also, would it make sense to take a cab to Loyola? Probably public transportation would be out because he would be dragging a cello around in a 20lb. flight case. And, I really, really don't want to rent a car and drive. The car rental expense in Tallahassee was horrendous & we need to budget as much as possible.

Thanks in advance for your help. Everyone was a tremendous help with the Tallahassee details.

.

I stayed at the Marriott Courtyard on a business trip a couple of weeks ago. It's only a few blocks from Bourbon Street. The hotel is comfortable and clean - nothing particularly fancy but it's nice and feels very safe. Great fresh-baked warm cookies in the lobby around 4 p.m.! I didn't find the area to be unsafe, though I have to admit when I first got there (it was evening) I was a bit wary. There's a great little sandwich shop across the street called Serio's Deli - location of the Bobby Flay Muffelata throwdown. I didn't have the muffelata, but they have a great turkey and provelone sandwich. I did learn something at Serio's....they'll ask you if you want your sandwich "dressed" which means do you want lettuce, tomato, etc.! They cracked up when I said I wanted it undressed...guess they didn't realize I was just a dumb midwesterner who really thought the obvious opposite would be just that

There's another, perhaps nicer, Marriott right around the corner, practically attached. There's also one a few blocks away near the Riverwalk. A colleague stayed at the Bourbon Orleans, which is at the corner of Bourbon and Orleans Streets. I never did check it out myself, I hear it's nice and it's right in the middle of the action.

Parking fees at the hotels are outrageous - around $20/day! I took the airport shuttle - $15.00 one way to the hotels downtown or $30.00 for a round trip. It'll drop you off right in front of the Courtyard. There are ticket booths on the lower baggage claim area; just make sure when scheduling your return to the airport you leave enough time for the famous New Orleans traffic (2 hours before flight time should be enough).

Good luck and have fun!

 

[rapunzel]

The Monteleone is very nice...it was remodeled top to bottom about three years ago. The streetcar is back up, but may not run as far as Loyola. You can always cab it.

The best deals in New Orleans are on Hotwire. If it's not an event day, you can get good deals on rooms and rental cars. Just stick with 4 stars and up for hotels.

 

[Rudyjohn]

How was your Tallahassee trip...did you post already on it?

No, I didn't post anything. Some think only things pertaining to Sowal should be posted so I usually refrain. But it was great, successful trip. Tallahassee is probably the prettiest little town I've ever seen.
FSU was a HUGE, HUGE hit with the boy! He doesn't want to look anywhere else!
.

I stayed at the Marriott Courtyard on a business trip a couple of weeks ago. It's only a few blocks from Bourbon Street. The hotel is comfortable and clean - nothing particularly fancy but it's nice and feels very safe. Great fresh-baked warm cookies in the lobby around 4 p.m.! I didn't find the area to be unsafe, though I have to admit when I first got there (it was evening) I was a bit wary. There's a great little sandwich shop across the street called Serio's Deli - location of the Bobby Flay Muffelata throwdown. I didn't have the muffelata, but they have a great turkey and provelone sandwich. I did learn something at Serio's....they'll ask you if you want your sandwich "dressed" which means do you want lettuce, tomato, etc.! They cracked up when I said I wanted it undressed...guess they didn't realize I was just a dumb midwesterner who really thought the obvious opposite would be just that

There's another, perhaps nicer, Marriott right around the corner, practically attached. There's also one a few blocks away near the Riverwalk. A colleague stayed at the Bourbon Orleans, which is at the corner of Bourbon and Orleans Streets. I never did check it out myself, I hear it's nice and it's right in the middle of the action.

Parking fees at the hotels are outrageous - around $20/day! I took the airport shuttle - $15.00 one way to the hotels downtown or $30.00 for a round trip. It'll drop you off right in front of the Courtyard. There are ticket booths on the lower baggage claim area; just make sure when scheduling your return to the airport you leave enough time for the famous New Orleans traffic (2 hours before flight time should be enough).

Good luck and have fun!

Thank you for this info on the hotel. That was one that was on the list. We're used to parking fees here in Chicago. We pay $20 minimum every Sat. for 3 hours. But it IS ridiculous. :roll:

The Monteleone is very nice...it was remodeled top to bottom about three years ago. The streetcar is back up, but may not run as far as Loyola. You can always cab it.

The best deals in New Orleans are on Hotwire. If it's not an event day, you can get good deals on rooms and rental cars. Just stick with 4 stars and up for hotels.

So glad to hear that the Monteleone is still up to par after all these years. The hotel website states that they do have the airport shuttle. So this will all work perfectly. I've never used Hotwire. Thanks!
.

 

[InletBchDweller]

The Monteleone is very nice...it was remodeled top to bottom about three years ago. The streetcar is back up, but may not run as far as Loyola. You can always cab it.

The best deals in New Orleans are on Hotwire. If it's not an event day, you can get good deals on rooms and rental cars. Just stick with 4 stars and up for hotels.

I agree with Punzy on the Hotwire. IMHO, That is the best way to get a nice room at a great cost. I would stay for sure 4 stars and up. 3.5 if you are not that picky as she and I.

 

[Rudyjohn]

I agree with Punzy on the Hotwire. IMHO, That is the best way to get a nice room at a great cost. I would stay for sure 4 stars and up. 3.5 if you are not that picky as she and I.

Oh, I might be the pickiest of them all. Online, the Hotel Mont. has rates as low as $159/night. I thought that was very reasonable. In Tallahassee, we stayed at a Hilton Garden Inn and it was like $180/night right on busy Thomasville Rd.!! And the rental car was $530 for 4 days!
NOLA is beginning to be cheaper than Tallahassee. Who knew?!!?

 

[Ocean Lover]

I agree with Punzy on the Hotwire. IMHO, That is the best way to get a nice room at a great cost. I would stay for sure 4 stars and up. 3.5 if you are not that picky as she and I.

In DC we went with 3.5 and it was Sheraton Suites. Other than the shuttle pick up we didn't have any complaints. We also paid for parking...$18 a day. I wouldn't go below a 3.5 though.

 

[Rudyjohn]

In DC we went with 3.5 and it was Sheraton Suites. Other than the shuttle pick up we didn't have any complaints. We also paid for parking...$18 a day. I wouldn't go below a 3.5 though.

gotcha.

It's amazing. The Hilton Garden Inn in Tallahassee was gorgeous. Lots of marble, beautiful b'fast buffet (not continental w/ rolls). Beautiful rooms, baths. Seriously, I felt like I was on a spa vacation. But back in Nov., we stayed at a Hilton Gardens in suburban Cleveland (college visit again) and I could barely touch anything. Yucky, sticky carpet, damp and dank. I was about to freak out. They both had the 3.5 stars but drastically different.

 

[rapunzel]

You can get 4.5 stars this weekend in NOLA for $122 on Hotwire. New Orleans is a huge bargain right now.

Go to OpenTable.com and get a dinner reservation for your stay!