Jimthetravelinman

I am looking for a motel or hotel on the outskirts of New Orleans where it is quieter and parking is basically free. I will have a vehicle so I can drive to a tourist attraction or to a specific tour location for pickup to take a guided tour. An upscale type of motel would be fine with restaurants nearby. Any suggestions?

clarkgriswold

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...l-question.cfm

doug_stallings

Look for hotels in Metairie, which is out by the airport. If you have a car, you'll just drive into the city and park in a paid lot (probably at Riverwalk) or somewhere else in the CBD, where there are a lot of garages. This isn't cheap and will add $10 to $20 per day.

The highest-rated hotel in Metairie is a Sleep Inn. As long as you don't have a motel with exterior doors, I don't think it matters much where you stay if that's what you want to do, but there's a fair amount of traffic, but you can save a bit from the hotels in the city.

I cannot speak to restaurants, but if you have a car and want suburban-style dining, I can't imagine you'll have a problem.

Grcxx3

Mentally do a drive-by of the main thoroughfares in Metairie and I can't think of a single "upscale" hotel.

The best I can think of is the Marriott, by the Causeway bridge. Relatively easy to get to, easy on-off I-10, and lots of restaurants and shopping in the area.

happytrailstoyou

One time we stayed at the Best Western St. Charles Inn, which is right on the trolley line. There was no extra charge for breakfast or parking. We were pleased.

HTtY

Grcxx3

Just a quick correction (meant with complete politeness!) - it's a streetcar, not a trolley!

snowroosterlisa

Not sure what it is like today, but many years ago dh and I stayed at the Ponchetrain Hotel in the Garden District. We parked for free on a side street. It is also on the St Charles streetcar line.

I went to school in Metarie when I was younger and while it is outside of the city with free parking, I personally would not want to stay there on a vacation. Like someone said, it is the suburbs and you miss the New Orleans flair. Plus as I have driven through the area more recently, it seems there is more and more business there so I'm not sure how quiet it would be.

Personally I would either stay in the Garden District or reconsider the French Quarter. As long as you aren't on Bourbon Street noise should not be an issue. Last time I was in New Orleans it was $15 to park our car in the city, and it has probably gone up. The hotel we are staying at charges $35/day for parking, so there isn't much of a difference, and by staying in the French Quarter you can walk many places.

Ackislander

I just would not even dream about doing this, not for a minute.

If NO is your destination, just bite the bullet and stay in the Quarter or Garden District. If you are stopping by the area on the way somewhere else, the answer may be different. Could you stay in cheap long-term parking near the airport and take so bus or van into town?

Grcxx3

Agree with the others - just stay in the city somewhere. So much more convenient, rather than having to deal with traffic and parking wherever you want to go.

charsuzan

"Drive to tourist attractions"-New Orleans itself is the attraction. Stay there at least overnight. Consider the parking fee the cost of admission and enjoy.

BigRuss

Metarie, Slidell and the nearby suburbs tend to have lower-end chains. The phrase "upscale motel" is a self-negating oxymoron. Motels by definition are not upscale. Current use of the term "motel" is nearly synonymous with DUMP, that's why even the lower end chains eschew calling their lodgings motels.

Fact is, you're best off being in New Orleans. If you state a nightly budget, you can easily get recommendations as to which property would work for you.