Taking advantage of Southwest fare sale, have booked a long weekend in New Orleans in October. Looking at hotel posts here on Fodors, nothing much recently. Would like to be in French Quarter, SAFE AREA, maybe a block off the noisy area. Would like to stay $200-$225/night, but prices look much higher. LOVE Monteleone, but too much $$

What do you suggest

Bonus: airfare covered by FF miles! Love Southwest!!!

My favorite is the Dauphine Orleans. It sound like it's exactly what you are looking for.

We stayed at the Place d'Armes, a block from Jackson Square.

We did the Omni Royal Orleans. Great location, and we got a great rate check all the usual sites for the best deal.

LOVE Southwest! We haven't paid for a flight in over 2 years - all with points and Companion Pass and we have flown almost every month during that time.

We stayed at the Monteleone last month. Totally over rated.

Well then stay OFF of Bourbon Street if you want to be away from the noise, Cheryl. The biggest danger when I lived in New Orleans was being hit over the head with a beer bottle by some drunk who made it out of one of the bars without filling a go-cup.

I hated New Orleans until I realized I didn't have to step foot on Bourbon Street. I used to have to go for business and take VIPs out to dinner and they all wanted to walk down Bourbon St. I HATED it.

After a few years, I realized I didn't have to do it. So I haven't. I love NOLA now. It's the most European city I've been to in the US. You can pretend you're walking down the street of a European city. One of my favorite VIPs loved antique stores and we'd always spend part of the days of the conference shopping.

Avoid Bourbon Street completely and have a completely different NOLA experience.

We went to Irvin Mayfield whose lounge is on Bourbon in the Royal Sonesta Hotel. Not only did he and his musicians have great craft and creativity, but a tremendous sense of fun, all in the service of the music.

So yes, Bourbon can be awful, but not if you chose carefully.

We have stayed in two different properties in the French Quarter Guesthouses group on our last two trips, last Oct. at the Inn on Ursuline, which we loved, and two months ago in March at the Inn on St. Peter, which we liked also, but not as much as Inn on Ursuline. Loved the locations, in the Quarter but quieter areas. The French Quarter Guesthouses has very good special deals on their website. We got stay 3 nights get the 4th night free on both trips. Ended up paying like $150 w tax a night, and Oct and March are prime times in NOLA.

Thanks, everyone. Especially like the Inn on Ursline and St. Peter. Will keep watch on Kayak.

We stayed at the Dauphine last year and liked it a lot. We had a room with a balcony and that was really nice to have. We went in July, so it was hot! AC in the room was adequate. We enjoyed the pool after walking in the heat all day and before going out for dinner. In October, you probably won't use it, but the pool area would still be nice to enjoy with a cocktail from the adjacent bar. They serve breakfast too - average, but adequate to get you started for the day. It's well-located, just a block or so away from Bourbon St without all the crowds and noise.

We also like Le Richelieu, at the opposite end of the French Quarter from Bourbon Street. Old and funky but fun and moderately priced.