Best places to stay in New Orleans
As a tourist, your New Orleans experience is an unending loop of stroll, shop, dine, dance, bar-hop, enjoy different genres of music, celebrate local festivals and relax. Of this, whatever interests you more, can help you to decide where to stay. While some neighborhoods boast 24-hour parties and merry-making, others offer vast parks and beautiful architecture. Here are a few options to choose from.
French Quarter
The oldest and most historic area of New Orleans, the French Quarter offers plenty of traditional restaurants, lively bars, museums, and antique shops. It’s also home to Bourbon Street, one of the greatest nightlife streets in the world. Check out 1870 Banana Courtyard, a historic French Quarter B&B that offers a tropical courtyard, beautiful rooms with balconies and an excellent location, just 3 blocks from the world-famous Bourbon Street. The colorful New Orleans streetcars run along the streets outside this B&B. At the corner of Bourbon Street and Toulouse Street, you have the Four Points by Sheraton French Quarter Hotel. The hotel is within walking distance of all the major area attractions, and offers well-appointed rooms with balconies that overlook the vibrant streets.
Garden District
If you’re looking for a tranquil setting away from the hustle and bustle of the French Quarter, stay in the Garden District. This area is home to lush green gardens and several stately mansions in the style of Greek Revival architecture. Vintage streetcars chug up and down the famous, oak-lined St. Charles Avenue. Stay in the award-winning Grand Victorian Bed & Breakfast, a restored 1893-built house that offers charming rooms with period furnishings and modern conveniences. In the heart of the Garden District, you have the Henry Howard Hotel, a double gallery 1867-dated Greek Revival townhouse. This is a luxury boutique hotel that blends rich tradition with modern day design and amenities.
Faubourg Marigny
This is a hip and young neighborhood full of Creole-style cottages, budget-friendly B&Bs, and funky coffee houses. The famous Frenchmen Street features vibrant eateries, bars and plenty of live music venues where you’ll hear jazz and blues until the early hours of the morning. Enjoy individually decorated rooms, a courtyard with a pool and hot tub, and a sky-deck at The Frenchmen Hotel, a groovy boutique hotel in the heart of Frenchmen Street’s live music corridor. Check out the traditional rooms with antique décor in an 1850s-dated historic guesthouse, Creole Inn, just a short walk from Frenchmen Street as well as Bourbon Street.
Cheap hotels in New Orleans
Cheap accommodation in New Orleans will mean you are further away from the French Quarter which is the central point for all the attractions and action in the city. However, the neighborhoods surrounding the French Quarter are only a short walk from the lively Bourbon Street, where you are likely to spend most of your time, and your travel dollars. Consider the Historic Streetcar Inn, a family-run guest house set in two 1897-dated Victorian townhouses, a 10-minute streetcar ride to the French Quarter. In the Faubourg Treme neighborhood, check out the Jazz Quarters Hotel, an upscale jazz-themed B&B, set in elegant Creole-style cottages linked by tree-lined courtyards. In the Central Business District, just half a block from the Mardi Gras parade routes, you have the Best Western Plus St. Christopher Hotel. On St. Charles Avenue in the Lower Garden District, enjoy comfortable and stylish accommodation in The Quisby hostel.