New Orleans suite hotels for a family???
 

I could have sworn I posted this thread a few months ago, but I absolutely cannot find it! Looking for recommendations for hotels that have suites (separate bedroom/living area) for a family of four - preferably in the French Quarter. Dh and I have visited New Orleans many times but this will be the first trip with the kids. I would love a place w/local character versus an Embassy Suites type hotel. Thanks!!

I'll probably go nuts trying to think of the name of this place, but we stayed in a timeshare in the French Quarter several years ago with our son and his wife and it was great. A very old complex with high ceilings and brick walls...a fully equipped kitchen and a washing machine and dryer. I'm pulling a total blank right now. Wait...the Quarter House! quarterhouse.com

We stayed in the penhouse suite - pricey but perfectly charming.

Thanks - that looks like a good options!

Some of my family stayed at the Rue Dumaine Guesthouse for my wedding ten years ago. They have suites and a pool, and a good location near the French Market. The furnishings ten years ago were a bit shabby but on the websight it looks like everything has been updated. www.ruedumaine.com

Also consider renting a condo through VRBO. We've had good luck doing that to get more space and room to relax.

VRBO rentals are illegal in New Orleans, for the most part. Unless it's a hotel/B&B/timeshare, it's not a legal rental for less than 60 days in the FQ, 30 days elsewhere in the city.

Just an FYI.

On February 27th, my wife, two sons (ages 3 and 1 year), grandparents, and I will be in NOLA for a long weekend visit over 3 nights. What do you see as the pros/cons of the following suite hotels for families with kids?

1. Quarter House (FQ)
2. Homewood Suites - Hilton (CBD)
3. Staybridge Suites (CBD)
4. Hotel Monteleone (FQ)
5. Clairborne Mansion (F-M)

I have a 2BR suite reservation for the Homewood Suites, which seems very kid-friendly, but the location appears to be very far from the FQ. We will not have a car during our visit.

We'd like to be within a reasonable walking distance to the Riverwalk, Aquarium, and Jackson Square so we can go back and forth to the hotel for mid-day naps, feeding, etc... Thanks for your suggestions!

You'll want to stay in the FQ. That being said, the Monteleone is one of my favorite hotels in Nola, but I can't speak to their suites.

I agree...you absolutely want to be in the French Quarter.

Believe it or not, I've stayed in NOLA hotels about 300 nights in the past 2.5 years, usually at the W in the French Quarter and the one on Poydras, the Sheraton on Canal and the Renaissance Arts on Tchopitoulas.

The W in the FQ is the most suite deficient (only one, I believe with separate BR and LR), though they do have a very nice one at the end of the hallway on the second floor that I recommend highly if you can get it. A bonus is that the courtyard here is one of the most inviting places in the city to hang out...beautiful with cool NOLA character!

The W on Poydras seems to have maybe 20 suites. These are all nice with a couple of different floor plans that would suit your purposes. These are my favorite. Some have 1.5 baths, others 1 bathroom, but with a large jacuzzi tub and little flat screen TV mounted at the lavatory. This hotel is about three blocks from the FQ, but it would be a couple more into the quarter to get to anything interesting. Being a Platinum Starwood member, I was able to upgrade for free 4 out of five times.

The suites at the Sheraton are nice with great views and large floor to ceiling windows...and they probably have the most. Most of these have flat screen LCD TVs, maybe all by now. If you are a Gold or Platimun Starwood member, its relatively easy to get a free upgrade and there is a nice food spread in the Club Lounge for breakfast and dinner (can fill you at dinner, but splurge and eat out). The Sheraton is just across Canal from the FQ and you can be on Bourbon with a five minute (or less) walk.

The Rennaisance Arts only has a handful of suites, but they are nice also...again, free food in the morning and evening in Club Lounge for Elite members (Marriott).

Thanks for the feedback to stay in the FQ. Any parents out there who can comment on the hotels based on experiences travelling with young children?

I've stayed at the Hotel Monteleone on business (without kids). While the location is great, the standard room might be cramped for 2 boys (ages 3 and 1).

gilber20, I've stayed at the Homewood Suites and liked it. We were there last year (July, 07))with our then 1 year old son and had a 1 bedroom. The pros: nice & big suite; bedroom separated by "real" doors from living/kitchen area; clean room,refrigerator and microwave plus stove and dishwasher (only stayed for one night so we didn't need all of that); easy check-in and check out process; friendly and helpful staff; nice lobby/breakfast area.

Cons: it's not in the French Quarter; there are not many places to eat around there in the evenings; and the parking situation is not so great.

Since we were only there for 1 night, the cons weren't much of an issue for us. Plus, it was July so we didn't have a problem driving our car over to the FQ and finding parking was easy. We also didn't try the free breakfast b/c we had a place we wanted to go to that morning instead.

Thank, Lee4, for sharing your experience. Would any parents recommend the following 3 hotels if you were travelling with a 3 yr. old son and 1 yr. old son? Each seems closer to the FQ (Jackson Sq) and Aquarium than the Homewood Suites/Hilton.

1. Loews Hotel (CBD)
2. Westin Hotel (CBD/FQ border)
3. Hilton Riverside (CBD)

Many, many years ago we stayed at the Hilton (more than once) with our small children. I thought it was a great option - close enough to the FQ that you could walk, but out of the hustle of night time activities there.

The aquarium and IMax theater are just next door and if they're still doing this, you can take a boat ride to Audobon Zoo, which would be a real treat for the children. There are also restaurants in the hotel and of course room service, which can come in hand with little ones, too.

There is a Residence Inn, which has two bedroom suites, at the Convention Center in the Arts district. I know it is a chain but may be worth a look

gilber20-glad I could offer some info on the Homewood Suites. If you end up picking one of the other places you've mentioned, please report back on it. I am always interested in places that accommodate little kids well and I hope we get down to NO again in a few years, if not sooner. I'd love a suite hotel a bit more centrally located than the HS but also want it to be affordable and comfortable.