Community Chat

[bonnielu]

Tried four times to post.  Lets see if this works.

Need hotel in New Orleans.  Going on cruise.  Group booked cruise but did not think about festival time April 2016 in New Orleans. Cost of hotels prohibitive.  

We want shuttles from airport, to docks.  We want to be able to go to French Quarter.  We are staying two nights.  Free breakfast would be nice.

Any advice would be appreciated.

[jaxs mom]

You're going to be there during Jazz fest? If so you might want to just go ahead and use a travel agent or other booking site that can pop up what's available for your dates instead of calling around individual hotels. An individual hotel recomendation probably isn't going to be helpful. 

[StylishLady]

We stayed at the Royal Sonesta on Bourbon Street back in 1989. The Monteleone off Bourbon was nice too. I'm guessing there are more options these days. Good luck and have fun. 

[Mz iMac]

Sheraton New Orleans

Marriott

Both are located right on Canal St.

French Quarter is right around the corner.

Burbon Street is 3 blocks down.

Harrah's Casino is 2 blocks up the street.

Mississippi River (River Walk) is across the street from Harrah's Casino. Restaurants & Mall there too.

If you are going to NOLA during any type of festivals, strongly recommend that you make your reservations through a travel agent.  If you deal w/the hotel(s) directly the rooms will be sold out and/or the rates are very high.

The hotels will have blocks of rooms reserved for travel agent bookings.  Plus through a travel agent, you will get "perks" like complmentary breakfast, lunch and/or dinner.  Coupons for restaurants & of course coupons for THE HURRICANE!   You cannot leave NOLA w/o getting your groove on w/that drink.  

Pat's is the place to go for a real Hurricane.  It's on St. John's which is off of Burbon Street.  Turn right on St. John's.

The only time you deal directly w/the hotel is if nothing is going on in the city.

P.S.  No matter how you book, if applicable ALWAYS play the senior card, AAA & AARP discounts.

GOOD LUCK & ENJOY YOUR CRUISE!!!!

[bonnielu]

Thanks, travel agent is on it.  But it seems so far we have not gotten any information.  Last quote was $500 for two nights.  They should not have booked a cruise during Jazz Fest.  Wow! good luck for fun and entertainment, bad luck for price!

[marytoodles]

@bonnielu

Jazz Fest 2016 is April 22-May 1

Do you know if your trip is in that time frame? 460,000 people attended last year.

$250 a night during that time period isn't that bad. Do you remember the name of the hotel?

There are a lot more hotels now than ever before but that is a super busy time. 

Hope you have a wonderful trip...

[beach-mom]

Hi bonnielu! When I answered you the first time, I thought you were going soon. Walking around NOLA this time of year is horrible! April will be much better.

But I'm afraid you're not going to find a less expensive rate in the Quarter. We've paid almost as much going off season. And as other posters are saying, with a festival in town, the rooms are going to be hard to get. 

If I were in your situation, I think I'd try one of the "non-chain" Quarter hotels, like the Dauphine Orleans or the Royal Sonesta. There are others in that "group." There are a lot of B&B's too. Good luck! 

[mima]

When we stayed there, we stayed at Harrahs.  That was a wonderful location.

[spindlegirl]

@bonnielu, I've read there are some good websites with reliable ratings of accommodations.  Maybe some posters know.......I can't remember but if I find the info I'll post it.  AAA ratings are usually good too.