My husband and I (60 & 50) will be traveling from RI to New Orleans in Aug (I know NO in August, right?) but my brother is retiring from the Navy after 25 yrs.of service. We fly in on Thur Aug 16th and head home Aug 21st. The retirement ceremony is on the base on Fri so we planned on renting a car for the first two days so we don't have to depend on anyone else getting us there.
We currently have a room booked for the full 5 nights at The Prytania Park Hotel in the Garden District but because we've heard/read parking is expensive and can be a nightmare so are now debating if we should stay closer to the base at a budget hotel w/free parking and move to the city and a nicer hotel for the remainder of our stay (Sat, Sun & Mon)?
We live in Newport, RI & I work in a former mansion on the Cliff Walk so we are interested in the history & buildings of the areas we visit. Also looking for must sees while were in town & great places to eat. Any suggestions are appreciated.
New Orleans - Family Visit/Summer Vacation
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I don't really recommend a car in NOLA, but I understand needing it for the first couple of days. I'm not sure where the base is exactly...but if you have a car prior to the ceremony, you shouldn't really need to stay near the base.
What kind of budget are you talking about? While the Garden District is lovely, I don't think I'd stay there unless you have no interest in things in the French Quarter/Downtown area. It's so nice to be able to walk everywhere! There are some nice properties in the back of the quarter (where it's quieter) that used to have free parking. I'd have to check to see if that's still the case, e.g. Provincial, Le Richelieu.
The Pyrtania Park hotel is nice but it's not very convenient to all the attractions like the FQ where walking to all the nice places to visit is very easy. Stay in the FQ and walk to all the great places to visit. Stay at Bourbon Orleans, Chateau Bourbon, Le Marais, Monteleone, Provincial, St. Marie, Place D Armes, Iberville Suites , Dauphine Orleans, Prince Conti, Hotel Mazarin or Maison Dupuy.
Bourbon Orleans Hotel @ 717 Orleans Street New Orleans, LA 504 - 523 - 2222.
http://www.bourbonorleans.com/
Chateau Bourbon Hotel @ 800 Iberville Street New Orleans, LA 504 - 586 - 0800.
http://www.chateaubourbonneworleans.com/
Hotel Le Marais @ 717 Conti Street, New Orleans, LA 504 - 525 - 2300.
http://www.hotellemarais.com/
Hotel Monteleone @ 214 Royal Street, New Orleans, LA 504 - 523 - 3341.
http://hotelmonteleone.com/
Hotel Provincial @ 1024 Chartres Street, New Orleans, LA 504 - 581 - 4995.
http://www.hotelprovincial.com/
Hotel St. Marie @ 827 Toulouse Street, New Orleans, LA 504 - 561-8951.
http://www.hotelstmarie.com/
Place D'Armes Hotel @ 625 Saint Ann Street, New Orleans, LA 504 - 524 - 4531.
http://www.placedarmes.com/
Iberville Suites Hotel @ 910 Iberville St., New Orleans, LA 866 - 229 - 4351.
http://www.ibervillesuites.com/
Dauphine Orleans @ 415 Dauphine Street, New Orleans, LA 504 - 586 - 1800.
http://www.dauphineorleans.com/
Prince Conti Hotel @ 830 Conti St., New Orleans, LA 504 - 529 - 4172.
http://www.princecontihotel.com/
Hotel Mazarin @ 730 Rue Bienville New Orleans, LA 504 - 581 – 7300.
http://www.hotelmazarin.com/
Maison Dupuy Hotel @ 1001 Toulouse Street, New Orleans, LA 504 - 586 - 8000.
http://www.maisondupuy.com/
Echoing those who suggest staying in the French Quarter, especially anyplace within the rectangle bounded by Bourbon St., Canal St., Decatur St., and Ursuline Ave.