Haven't been to NOLA in awhile but seeing rooms over $200/nt in early April. This seems high. I'd like to spend my money on the food! Any suggestions on places to stay that are affordable but still clean and safe? We like to walk do don't need to be right in the quarter and would even consider up St Charles area. Thanks for your help!

Check out Place d'Arms - we stayed there last time we were in NO. The rates were good and it is in a good location.

Since you are coming in April, check the dates for the French Quarter Festival - if that overlaps your trip, then that might explain the high rates.

I'd bite the financial bullet and stay in the French Quarter somewhere within the rectangle bounded by Canal, Bourbon, Ursuline, and Decatur Streets. NOLA can turn from great to dicey within a couple blocks in many tourist-area neighborhoods, so consider carefully where you're staying. What looks like a money-saver can put you in a bad area very easily.

Two of our favrites:

http://www.dauphineorleans.com/

http://www.ibervillesuites.com/

If you don't care that much about being in the Quarter, then go through www.hotwire.com. I just checked for April and I found a 4* hotel for $68/night in the CBD. I then checked with www.betterbidding.com and it looks like it could be either the InterContinental or the Omni. They also had a 3* French Quarter hotel for $84/night (looks like it's the Holiday Inn)

Good luck!

Oh, if you're interested in home rentals I've just booked this place: http://www.vacationhomerentals.com/v...oID-54335.html

There's still availability for the end of March/beginning of April.

I believe the FQ festival is the 7-10th of April. That may well be skewing prices. Look on the Nola website & see what is going on, on your preferred dates. A couple of days could save you some $$$, if your dates are flexible.

Here's a few good FQ suggestions.

Hotel Le Marais @ 717 Conti Street, New Orleans, LA 504 - 525 - 2300.
http://www.hotellemarais.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/

OldeTownInn.com or the Quality Inn Maison St. CHarlies

Just priceline it. Ask for 4 star hotel for $80 bucks or so in FQ, Warehouse District, and Uptown.

I received Hilton Riverside for $80 during Spring Break using that method.