LoraH

Hi, I have to make reservations very soon, and it boils down between Holiday Inn French Quarter and St. Charles/Royal...? any suggestions? I don't awnt to have to walk too far to the french quarter, but it looks like Charles is right across the street from H>I>. The HI is quite a bit more expensive, but it is a three star, and St. Charles is two.
thanking everyone in advance!!!

Deborah

Hi there!

We stayed at the Queen and Castle and it was nice - the bedrooms were pretty but not large. New Orleans has so much to offer that we rarely spent any time in our room anyway.

The Q&C was reasonably priced and only 2 blocks from the French Quarter - which can be quite noisy.

Duane

Deborah, do you mean the Queen and the Crescent Hotel?

Lora, I stayed for a night at the Royal St. Charles this past April. It's only a block or so out of the FQ and was fine for a place to stay. I think it just opened last year so it is still pretty new. The room was clean and had a contemporary feel. Not very large though, but we had enough space.

I can't compare to the Holiday Inn, but if the Royal is cheaper, it is a good buy. I think I paid $90 for the room during Jazz Fest. I would stay there again. Hope this helps.

Deborah

Yikes!
Thank you Duane, yes I did mean the Queen and Crescent - thanks for the save!

Heather

I too stayed at The Queen and Crescent earlier this year. I highly recommend it! The rooms (at least mine!) were charming and the smaller "boutique" feel of the hotel was very relaxing. My room was a corner unit in the secondary building, tastefully decorated with rustic brick walls, a huge bathroom and very comfortable bed (the terry cloth bath robes were a nice touch). The free continental breakfast was superior to others I've experienced and all employees I encountered were very nice and helpful. Its location is ideal, short walk from the Quarter but not in the middle of all the hoopla. I found a great rate through Orbiz for $74/night. Granted this was booked fall of last year for a Memorial Day Weekend trip...

kal

Aloha, Just got back from 5 "daze" in NOLA. A relative stayed at the St Charles Royal and liked it. Smallish but a boutique hotel as Duane mentions. Nice lobby and not too far off Canal Street to be that worried about walking back late at night.
Kal

LoraH

thank you all for responding. the reason I picked these two is that they are the only ones available when we will be going there. The HI is 150 a night, and St. charles is 90. St. charles has a continetal breakfast, too. I was concerned about the walking distance to Jackson square, as my husband has bad knees, but it doesn't look that much further, am I right?? I havent' been there before, can you tell? LOL
I live in Wyoming, where it is snowing and last night was 15 degrees. NO is going to be great!

kal

Lora,
I'd estimate that it's about a nice 15-20 min walk to get to Jackson Sq from your hotel. You can meander it into a 30 min. walk or zig zag to save time and stress on the ol' knees.

I uaually suggest for first timers to New Orleans that they get the tourist map called "MapEasy's Guidemap to:...".
They really come in handy in NOLA. I've been there 6-7 times and still take it with me just in case.
You can pick them up in any major bookstore. I usually get mine at Barnes and Noble.
I left mine at home...I mean Mrs Kal forgot it... so I picked one up at Louis Armstrong Intl Airport terminal (MSY) in NOLA at one of the "Wordsmith" (?) news stands.
http://www.mapeasy.com/NewOrleans.html
Kal

ps...You know my Ortho told me that sitting on a barstool or leaning up against an oysterbar is good phys therapy for bad knee...I REALLY like that Ortho!