My husband and I are travelling with another couple for a trip to the New Orleans French Quarter and all in our 30s. Our current choices are Windsor Court, Ritz, Iberville Suites or Soniat House. Is there anywhere upscale and quaint that has a good mix of people? Have seen reviews of Windsor Court, saying it is a bit "stodgy" with an older crowd. Any recommendations in this area would be helpful. (Not interested in the W since we are from L.A. and don't want to travel all that way just to stay somewhere that looks like where we left).

Our favorite is the Royal Sonesta. It is right on Bourbon but if you get an interior courtyard room you don't hear any noise from the street. It is a lovely hotel w/a rooftop pool and classic New Orleans courtyard w/fountain. Obviously the location can't be beat. I'm not sure if there is more than one Ritz in New Orleans, but the one I've seen is closer to Canal St than the FQ and this isn't the part of town I would choose, regardless of the quality of the hotel.

The New Orleans Ritz is not quite up to the standards of others I've stayed at. Look into the Omni Royal. We've really enjoyed our stays there.

To be in the heart of the nightlife of the FQ, then my vote goes to the Royal Sonesta. To be nearer the River, but still in the FQ, then I'd vote Omni Royal. You will have fun in any of the great N.O. hotels in the FQ--those on Canal don't really qualify as being "in the Quarter."

We love the Windsor-great hotel and great location.

The Ritz, Iberville Suites, and Soniat House, though all nice, don't quite measure up (in my opinion) to the following "big four."
-Omni Royal Orleans
-Royal Sonesta
-Bourbon Orleans
-Windsor Court

Bourbon Orleans doesn't belong in that last group at all. It's a mid-range property at very best even after a multimillion dollar renovation! The Ritz is far nicer, even if not to the level of others in the chain.

I wouldn't care if the Ritz were the nicest Ritz there is and all rooms were being offered at half price - I think the location sucks (pardon the foul language) compared to the other hotels mentioned.

I would recommend looking into "Maison Orleans"- it is part of the Ritz Carlton hotel, but is like a smaller boutique hotel within the hotel. Seperate check in, etc...but still R.C

I thought the location was fine- it is maybe a few blocks away from bourbon street, but that is what I was looking for.

The Ritz is on Canal St, which as one previous poster mentioned, isn't even really in the French Quarter (which is what the original poster wanted). You are also have to consider safety issues at night when you choose to stay outside the FQ and away from the hubub. If you are planning on driving or taking a cab to and from your evening attractions I don't suppose it would make much difference; but I love being able to step out of the hotel and have loads of great restaurants, music and entertainment right there. This is also nice if you need a little break during the day.

I love the Windsor Court. Rooms are beautiful and service is impeccable. It is a nice place to wash away your dirt from the day.

Just to keep the facts straight, the Ritz Carlton IS in the French Quarter, though not deep within it. The FQ is more than Bourbon and Royal Streets. The RC is on Canal Street at the corner of Dauphine. Canal Street is one of the boundaries of the FQ, and Dauphine is one street over from Bourbon.

Having stayed there, we had no problem exiting the hotel on Canal Street and walking the one block over to Bourbon. I got a kick out of staying there since I lived in N.O. for 4 years and did a lot of shopping at the Maison Blanche department store -- which has been converted into the RC hotel.

As for as pure New Orleans flavor, I like the Royal Sonesta (courtyard room, not facing Bourbon), but I'm happy to stay at the RC any day.

The Ritz is definitely in the French Quarter, which has as its borders Canal, Esplanade, the river and Rampart.

Just FYI.

It's the Windsor that's not in the F.C.

I live here and I would NOT walk from the Windsor Court to the F.Q. at night. I have walked it from the Ritz Carlton in a group but would not do it alone. That area of Canal to Bourbon is not the best.

Okay, so technically the Ritz may be right on the outer border of the French Quarter. I grew up in NO and though this may be the true definition, that part of town doesn't feel like the French Quarter to me. Last time we stayed at Royal Sonesta and walked to Canal to pick up a rental car in the middle of the day - I wouldn't want to be there at night. I think the point is just that if you are picking the Ritz because you consider Ritz to be the best of the best, there are definitely some great hotels full of class and charm with much better locations in New Orleans.

Of the choices that you listed in your original post, I would choose the Soniat House. I think it offers the best combination of luxury/upscale hotel with New Orleans flavor. I love its location in the lower Quarter. From what I've heard about the Ritz and the Windsor Court, they could be nice hotels in any city. I think the location of the Omni Royal Orleans is fabulous, but many of their rooms are extremely small. We stayed at the Iberville Suites two years ago and really liked it at the time, but I have read a lot of mixed reviews of it in the last few months.