I'm wondering if anybody has stayed at the Radisson on Canal St. before? I got what I think is a good price for $79 /night in late September including a full breakfast for two. I hear the hotel was done over and I'm wondering if it is in a good location / safe / close to the good stuff. I'm hoping not to rent a car. Also, I have booked a 5 day cruise on Commodore Cruises. Anybody know anything on that? How long would it take to get from the Airport to the Cruise Ship? Thanks!!!

I live a few hours outside of N. O. I don't know if I've ever stayed at the Radisson, but I'm sure it's fine. I've never stayed at a bad place on Canal. Canal is a good location - it borders the French Quarter. There are a lot (A LOT) of good restaurants within walking distance. If you want a fancy meal, try Emeril's (in the warehouse district - cross Canal and then cross Poydras and head a few blocks toward the river) or NOLA's (on St. Louis, I think, in the Quarter) - reservations needed for both. If you want to head uptown, try Commander's Palace for Sunday brunch - reservation needed. One of my must eat places is Mother's on the corner of Poydras and Tchoupitoulas - delicious roast beef debris po boys and shrimp po boys. Their breakfast is also good - espcially if you like grits, ham and biscuits! Another good spot on the far side of the Quarter is Port O'Call with wonderful hamburgers (it's in the 800 block of Esplanade). While in the Quarter, you should have a drink at the Napoleon House (a Pimm's Cup is the specialty) and have some beignets at the Cafe du Monde. Lucky Cheng's on St. Louis has Asian Creole cuisine served by tranvestites if you are in the mood for something different (reservations needed). Kaldi's on Decatur has good coffee - it's nice place to sit and read the paper in the morning. The Gothic crowd hangs out there very late at night - it's interesting. Enjoy your trip.

I live and work in New Orleans and have been to the Radission many times! It is a great hotel (especially the suites)
But the one problem is parking! There is a parking lot next door but it is pricy!
Call the hotel and see what they say!

What about the Queen & Crescent three blocks from the Qtr? Their web site makes it look pretty appealing, especially for the price.

Also, is it safe to walk the three blocks from this locale into the French Quarter?

I stayed at this hotel in March. The hotel is nice but some of the rooms are very small. The older part of the hotel has larger rooms. The breakfast buffet is WONDERFUL!!! The "free shuttle" to the French Quarter is a rip-off!! The shuttle is always full, only runs on the hour-- no matter how many people were waiting. The walk to the French Quarter was not bad and we ended up walking back and forth every time but one. We paid the same price as you. There is only valet parking- no self-parking. The car can be retreived as many times as you want w/o additional charge except tips!!

I made a trip to N.O. about 2 years ago. It was my first trip there, and I made the mistake of renting a car. I only used it twice, and each time, I ended up lost!! Lots of one way streets, and no easy turn-arounds. Canal Street is in an excellent location--walking distance from the Quarter, with all of the usual tourist spots nearby. You can take short, inexpensive taxi rides anywhere you need to go. Even with a car, I ended up taking taxis everywhere.

Have fun!!