For views of the water, definitely downtown or northshore. The Omni is downtown as well as a Holiday Inn that is like RIGHT on the water.
At northshore there is a days inn and a radisson, along with non chain hotels.
SPID is usually a popular area for travelers if water views are not a big deal due to the centralized location of most hobbyists.
I would suggest staying away from I37 near the Airport and Leopard street. Many arrests have been made in those areas, mostly BP gals mind you but still...
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