New Orleans Hotel Tips by starship

Best Western Landmark Hotel: Between the French Quarter and the Airport

About a half hour before leaving the great city of New Orleans we learned that our flight had been overbooked. When the airlines offered us 2 roundtrip tickets per person, a hotel for the night and vouchers for dinner and breakfast for each of us if we agreed to be "bumped" from our scheduled flight, we jumped at the chance!! (Who can turn down free travel!?!?) The hotel the airline put us up in for the night was the Best Western Landmark Hotel, a high-rise, cylinder shaped hotel in Metarie. It was a run-down, characterless hotel, but we had a large room, ensuite of course, and there was a bar and dining room on the top floor (about 10 stories high) with quite a view of the surrounding area. The best feature of this hotel was that it was only 3 blocks from a very nice mall which gave us something to do the next morning before our flight.

Unique Qualities: Had the room not been free courtesy of the airline "bump" we took, we certainly would not have chosen this hotel. However, it is not without guests--a few other groups were having a reunion or meeting here.

Good points -- the room was large, there was a dining room and bar on the top floor, and there was a free shuttle to and from the airport, it was close to a nice mall, and there was a gift shop in the lobby.

Address: 201 Severn Avenue, Metarie, Louisiana

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: About half way between downtown New Orleans and the Louis Armstrong Airport, and about 3 blocks from a very nice mall.

Other Contact: toll free: 800-528-1234

Phone: 504-888-9500

Price: US$40-80

Theme: Hotel

Windsor Court Hotel: A Taste of Britain in New Orleans Windsor Court Hotel Review

You might say that the Windsor Court Hotel is a little out of character for New Orleans. But not really if you recall that the British were defeated at the Battle of New Orleans! Well, the British did acquit themselves well in the form of the Windsor Court Hotel. Tucked into a little corner of Gravier Street it seemed like an oasis of calmness. As a reminder of the hotel's namesake, a small model of the real Windsor Castle is encased just off the lobby. After arriving in the front courtyard of the hotel, nicely dressed doormen will welcome you into the hotel's richly decorated lobby.

The hotel turned out to be a good choice for our family because of its gracious accommodations and the nearness not only to the French Quarter but also the Riverwalk Mall and the cruiseship terminals.

Unique Qualities: Because of our membership in a vacation club, we only had to pay a relatively small booking fee, and we were able to choose a suite. If we had to pay directly for the rooms, the cost would have been unaffordable most likely ($180 per night or more) but for a splurge it would have been worth it!! The rooms were simply the largest I've ever seen! It was more like an apartment than a hotel suite, having its own foyer, tiny kitchen, large livingroom, and an extra large bedroom with 2 queen beds, dressing room, sink room and extra large bathroom. A plate of cookies was delivered the first night and turn down service was offered. The hotel also offered a roof-top pool, several restaurants, valet parking and concierge. Front desk staff was very helpful, friendly and were anxious to make everything satisfactory!

The only negative about the hotel was the service at the dining room serving breakfast and the fact that we only received cookies one night!

Address: 300 Gravier Street, New Orleans

Comparison: most expensive

Directions: Across from Harrah's casino, and about 3 blocks from the Mississippi waterfront. About 5-6 blocks from the French Quarter

Other Contact: Fax: 504-596-4513

Phone: 800-262-2662

Price: US$180 and up

Theme: Hotel

Website: http://www.windsorcourthotel.com