HUGE Favor

[Bella_HHD]

Okay, folks, I've been waiting to ask till D&T filled up a bit more, but time runs short.

In March I will be taking my daughter to New Orleans as a 21st birthday gift. We'll be driving and she, being the smart little thing she is, will be setting up our accommodations through Hotwire or Hotels.com or whatever website she works her magic through.

HOWEVER, we need some questions answered.

Where is the best place to stay if one wants to enjoy NO's historic nightlife, but doesn't want to end up uh - I dunno how to politely put it - robbed or worse. I'd like to get some ideas before hand instead of going down there and looking like the rubes we will actually be.

NO has always been my dream visit, but I've read and heard so many terrible things since Katrina that I'm starting to get a bit afraid; having my daughter with me will make it worse. Christ, you should've seen me on Michigan Ave in Chicago and we stayed at the HILTON.

I'd like to incorporate some walking tours, be able to enjoy a few cocktails w/her and see some real history.

I'm asking here cuz y'all are so well-traveled and I "know" you better than the rest of the board, but please, anyone who reads this feel free to chime in, PM or email me.

Gratefully,
Bella

[Happy Diver]

My two favorites are the Inn on Bourbon Street and the Monteleone. I like the Omni Royal Orleans too. Worldwide NOLA is still one of my favorite places to go. Taking the current honey there this year myself.

[pjorourke]

You can't go wrong with the Windsor Court: http://www.windsorcourthotel.com/web...dsor_court.jsp
It is one of the country's great hotels that is hurting for business. They are advertising rooms as low as $149 a night and full suites for $209. It is right next to the casino and within safe walking distance of the French Quarter (i.e., major streets).

[discreetgent]

Le Pavillion has some great rooms. Also look into B&Bs

[atlcomedy]

Originally Posted by Happy Diver

My two favorites are the Inn on Bourbon Street and the Monteleone. I like the Omni Royal Orleans too. Worldwide NOLA is still one of my favorite places to go. Taking the current honey there this year myself.

Sounds like a great trip!

I favor the properties on or half a block off of Bourbon, myself. One little bargain gem I've found is Hotel Prince Conti -- less than $100/night and half a block from Bourbon on Conti right in the middle of anything. Can't beat the location.

Beware of some of the descriptions of location on websites. Actually go to a map & see where the place is. "Walking distance to French Quarter" is abused and even some places in the Quarter are a little rough.

[SeaDog]

As a New Orleans native, all of the suggestions above are good. However, the Windsor Court and Monteleone are right in the casino district, close to the river and very pedestrian friendly. Another good bet is the Hilton New Orleans Riverside. Situated roughly between Windsor & Monteleone at the foot of Canal St. overlooking the Mississippi River. Immediately adjacent to the Riverwalk shopping mall and the riverfront park that extend from Canal St. downriver to end at the Aquarium of the Americas.

Le Pavillion, while a great hotel, is on Poydras and caters primarliy to the central business district.

Some of the boutique hotels actually in the French Quarter can be great fun also.

My suggestion is to stay close to the casino, which is on the Mississippi river between Canal and Poydras.

Not to miss is a streetcar ride up St Charles ave. I can suggest many stops along the line. Also river cruises. We have a world class zoo run by the same group as the aquarium. You can take a streetcar uptown to Audubon Park & Tulane University, catch the free Zoo shuttle at the front of the park which will transport you to the zoo at the back of the park - or you can walk thru the park to the zoo. Spend several hours with the animals then catch a riverboat at the back of the zoo for a ride downtown to the Aquarium and your hotel. Great way to spend a day.

I'm sure you will enjoy!

[terbul]

I have been to New Orleans and stayed in the French Quarter, Faubourg Marigny, and the warehouse district; all without incident.

There are lots of B&Bs, small inns, guesthouses, etc. that are alternatives to the hotels.
Plenty to do in New Orleans, depends on what your interests are. I tend to spend little time on Bourbon St. preferring Frenchmen St , Preservation Hall, and others for music; Royal St for wander around shopping, almost anywhere for good restaurants.

The rabbit/alligator Jambalaya at Coop’s is worth a trip.

[wgh1973]

If you get to New Orleans, stop and have a Pimm's Cup at the Napoleon House at 500 Chartres.

[atlcomedy]

Originally Posted by wgh1973

If you get to New Orleans, .

I think this entire thread was based on the premise she'd get to NOLA

[sorry I realize I'm just being a smart ass...but I couldn't resist]

[Exotic Lily]

Originally Posted by discreetgent

Le Pavillion has some great rooms. Also look into B&Bs

Nice website, I never knew your were in the let's say... entertainment industry.

[discreetgent]

Originally Posted by Exotic Lily

Nice website, I never knew your were in the let's say... entertainment industry.

LOL it was a fun site to put together when a tongue-in-cheek discussion was going on in another thread.

[SeaDog]

Originally Posted by terbul

I have been to New Orleans and stayed in the French Quarter, Faubourg Marigny, and the warehouse district; all without incident.

There are lots of B&Bs, small inns, guesthouses, etc. that are alternatives to the hotels.
Plenty to do in New Orleans, depends on what your interests are. I tend to spend little time on Bourbon St. preferring Frenchmen St , Preservation Hall, and others for music; Royal St for wander around shopping, almost anywhere for good restaurants.

The rabbit/alligator Jambalaya at Coop’s is worth a trip.

Originally Posted by wgh1973

If you get to New Orleans, stop and have a Pimm's Cup at the Napoleon House at 500 Chartres.

All great suggestions. This is a REALLY fun city. You will find activities for every taste.

One suggestion: we have so many truly excellent restaurants that you will not in several lifetimes get around to all of them. Plan to "graze" for some of your meals. Most all of the better restaurants have a counter or dining section specifically set aside for customers who want to sample a couple of things but aren't interested in a full meal. Most all of them have menu's available on-line. That is also the way many locals "in the know" bypass the frequent door lines.

Look like you know exactly what you are doing, and tell the doorman you're going "to the bar". You'll walk right in.

[guest051510-1]

Originally Posted by discreetgent

LOL it was a fun site to put together when a tongue-in-cheek discussion was going on in another thread.

From my review of DG:

Were photos real: No
Were photos accurate: No

Ratings
Looks: 8 He was really HOT
Performance: 10 It was a one in a million

[guest041110]

I’m a little late on this thread but if you are interested in taking the trolley’s and don’t mind a bit of a ride in one then I would recommend the Pontchartrain Hotel on St. Charles Avenue in the Garden District near Tulane and Loyola Universities. It's an historic hotel with some good things to learn and you are away from places that are more prone to crime. It is not far at all from the Commander’s Palace which is a great place to eat. From the hotel, I jumped on a trolley at around 9pm and was in the French Quarter in no time at all. If memory serves me correctly the only caveat to the trolley's is that they have a cutoff time and are prone to power outages.

[SeaDog]

Columns Hotel