Hi!! My hubby just called and said hey lets go to New Orleans in December without our kids for a long weekend. We haven't been there since our college days and Mardi Gras.

We would like to stay somewhere deluxe, maybe romantic and without a car. We would like to actually see, enjoy, and remember the city opposed to what we did in our partying days. Any suggestions would be fantastic.

My husband and I did this in 2004 for our 10-year anniversary. We stayed in a condo in the French Quarter, which was great. We rode the St. Charles Streetcar down through the Garden District and had lunch at the Clover Grill. We rode it back to the D-Day Museum, which was AMAZING!! We ate a LOT fo good food!! And, yes, we had to go to Pat O'Brien's for hurricanes for our anniversary dinner!

The one thing I would definitely do is have beignets and cafe au lait at Cafe DuMonde. Always special...

Thanks for the feedback!!

What about hotels?? I see there is a W in the French Quarter and some other places that are local. Any suggestions?

The Royal Sonesta is a great old hotel in the heart of the French Quarter.

You should ask for a room on the inside corner that overlooks the pool area, as they're bigger and very quiet.

Windsor Court is hard to beat. Very nice and easy walk to the Quarter.

Avoid the W. I was in New Orleans a couple of weeks ago on business, and I visited the W: I have never seen such an out-of-place hotel -- it could have been anywhere, no sense of New Orleans.

If you wish to go top shelf, the Audubon Cottages (http://www.maisondeville.com/) are the way to go & there is no reason to have a cr unless you plan to leave the city. (Not likely since we are talking long weekend here). My wife & I just returned from a similar trip, you can check out my report if you like.

What about restaurants, any suggestions??

I have hear about Stellas, Muriels, Bayona, Jaques Cafe . . .

Any comments on those or others?? Also wondering about a Sunday Jazz Brunch place.

Bayona's is good. Would also add

Galatoire's
Commander's Palace
Pascale's Manale

Definitely try Sunday jazz brunch at Commander's Palace. We've been going to NO for over 40 years and that's our single favorite meal

Although it may not have the charm, we LOVED our very spacious room at Leow's on a high floor with a river view. It was especially cozy to watch the torrential rain,wind, lightning storm our first day. And equally enjoyable to watch the barges on clearer days. We also enjoyed our stay at Windsor in the past, but would likely return to Leow's.

Where oh where has my trip report gone?????

found it....

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=35132974