Have rooms booked at Drury Inn & Suites on Poydras & also at the Amerihost Inn & Suites on Canal in New Orleans. I know they aren't in the FQ, have reasons for booking these 2 places. ANy suggestions on what is better? Have read that Amerihost not in good neighbourhood, is this a problem during day light hours? Is it any less "safe" then the Drury?

I definitely wouldn't stay at the Amerihost Inn on Canal. Anything on that side of Rampart can be VERY dicey.
I know nothing whatsoever about the Drury Inn but think the location would be much better (in terms of safety, not necessarily convenience).

I have stayed at the Days inn, which is on Canal street almost down to the freeway, so I walked to/from ( and past ) the amerisuites at least once a day.
There is a housing project down by the St Louis#2 cemetary, and is VERY shadey.
The area around the amerisuites doesn't look any scarier than any other area on canal.
It's ALL dicey.


I think the drury over on poydras is a little better....a little less dicey.

Last year mardi Gras I stayed at Crowne plaza, across from casino and it was OK.
Year before we stayed at this Holiday inn, which was on Dauphine near Conti.
A total dump, but the location was great and we were too drunk to care about the filthy room.
Compared to the filth of the french quarter, even the filthiest room appears clean.

Enjoy NoLA!!!

I just got back from NO and stayed in 2 hotels: Hilton (for business, pricey) and then on my own moved to a new Best Western on Magazine and Canal. It was great! Not your usual chain hotel - it is a renovated old building. My room and bathroom had exposed brick and both were bigger than the Hilton (which was $200 more expensive!). I had a room with a view and had a floor to ceiling window in the bathroom! Had substantial complimentary breakfast. Great location - just across the street from French Quarter so safe and out of the debauchery (but close enough to it to be convenient). Off the net I got a rate of $67. There is a brand new Country Inn and Suites across the street which also did not look like a chain and has a pool. Next door is the St James, an older more venerated hotel. And around corner on Canal are all the big hotels, Marriot etc. So convenient and "relatively" safe location. If you are restricted to the other 2 choices, I would definitely choose the one in the safer area.

SusanCS - we discussed hotels/safety/location in Memphis - I think we have similar thoughts!

I wouldn't stay in either. But a GREAT deal depends on WHAT activites you are looking at?? I am out EVERY night at various venues and want walkable distances in the French Quarter etc. Both these hotels are out for this. Especially FORGET the Amerihost, very bad location.

I have stayed at the Drury Inn. It was O.K. but not great. I was traveling alone and maybe was more critical about safety. Forget Days Inn...
the St. James is nice even though the rooms are small--
good luck

SusanC,

I was thinking about staying at the Country Inn & Suites you mentioned. I can't seem to find any reviews for it. Is is directly next door to the Best Western you stayed at. I was wondering how far a walk from Canal it is and is is safe for a women to walk from the hotel to Canal alone.

Country Inn & Suites must be very new (or newly converted from something else). I can't picture it, but it is about 2 1/2 blocks to Canal. You are a few blocks from Bourbon, but Decatur (Magazine turns into Decatur when it crosses Canal) is a pretty active street. I think it would depend on you activities. During the day/evening, I wouldn't hesitate to make the walk. I would not, however, walk from Bourbon to this area alone at night. It is not in a bad area, but you will lose the crowds along the way. I would pay cab fare from Bourbon if that is where you will be.

WARNING--WARNING: Don't stay at the Amerihost or anything in that immediate area. And the location of Drury Inn isn't all that great either, but a bit better than Amerihost yet more remote. So since you have reasons for choosing those two places, I would almost have to assume you already know something about the areas where they are located, and are just looking for some kind of comfort level from others. If you MUST choose between the two, take Drury. If you really don't have to choose one or the other, I'd suggest you keep looking for another place that meets your undefined requirements. Good luck.

Some hotels offer a shuttle to the FQ. You might check into this. Sounds like the hotels may be too budget to offer a shuttle, but you won't know if you don't ask.

I don't know when you're going to be in New Orleans, but I was just looking at rates today and found some excellent deals. These are the rates I found for mid-May, however, I don't think that there will be any change if you're planning on going in the next couple of months.

I would recommend you not staying at Amerihost for the same reason mentioned by a previous poster. You really have to be careful in your hotel selection in New Orleans.

Some great hotels that are in excellent locations, with the rates I found on www.hotels.com today:

-JW Marriott ($129/night).
-Le Pavillion ($129/night).
-Windsor Court (I was astounded at this rate that I found on their website as this is the premier hotel in NO: $170/night).

Looking at the rates at Drury and Amerihost (about $70/night for the same period as above), I would at least recommend you staying at a couple different hotels that are better quality:

-Cotton Exchange ($75/night)
-Pelham Hotel ($75/night)
-St. Louis Hotel ($96/night)

thanks for the info, budget is a big part & I have checked out almost every hotel in NO. There are 3 of us so need 3 beds or a king & sofa.