Question on New Orleans hotels
 

I've researched the boards and travel reviews for hotels in advance of my first trip to NOLA... would be grateful if anyone here has had recent experience staying at either a) The Sheraton New Orleans or b) either of the W hotels in NOLA, who can provide updated comments on these hotels.<BR><BR>I currently have reserved a Club level room at the Sheraton, on one of the top floors with a river view. I see some negative comments in older posts about The Sheraton, but also know they have recently undertaken renovations. Any recent experiences to suggest I should keep my reservation - or try somewhere else?<BR><BR>I see a lot of negative comments here on the two W Hotels... if you have stayed at the W in NOLA and the Sheraton, and had to choose between the two, which would you choose?<BR><BR>Finally... open to any other suggestions!<BR><BR>The Fodors travel community is the best on the Internet... and I thank you in advance for any suggestions you can provide.<BR><BR>David

Here's my take on hotels in New Orleans. We tend to stay in smaller, more 'funky' places in the French Quarter. I suspect that once you enter the lobby at the Sheraton that you could be in any decent hotel in any number of cities in the country. That's not the feeling that I'm looking for in New Orleans. The W in the French Quarter used to be the De La Poste. We stayed there then, and I'm sure they're spent a bunch of money on it, since the price for a room has about doubled. We tend to stay in cheaper hotels than what you're looking at, but I would ask this board, or do a search here of smaller more 'New Orleans feel' type hotels. Have a great time, it's a fun city.

I can honestly say I've never met anyone who stayed at the Sheraton New Orleans who wasnt part of a convention.<BR>Nothing against Sheraton, but it just isnt a &quot;New Orleans&quot; hotel. I'd have to say the W is way over priced. I like the OMNI Royal Orleans, the Soniat House and Lafittes guest house on Bourbon. If you go by feedback on posts such as this one check out the International House and The Dauphine Orleans, everyone seemed to love those.<BR>To answer you question about Sheraton and W, I'd take W. I typically prefer much older hotels as opposed to modern ones like Sheraton, Windsor Court, Marriott etc

Sheraton is your average run of the mill giant hotel.<BR><BR>I stay at W's all over the country which is my personal preference. The W on Poydras is the &quot;hip&quot; place, with a great bar which is a very popular hangout. It is a great location and is next door to the Windsor Court which is a beautiful hotel just to go into and look at the beautiful artwork and flower arrangements, and also has a nice relaxing bar to have a cocktail and smoke a cigar. <BR><BR>The other W has no bar but is in the middle of the Quarter.<BR><BR>If I were travelling to NO, I would probably stay at the W on Poydras. If you want a more &quot;historic&quot; place, than you could try the Ritz, the Montelion, the St. Louis, OR you can just visit the bars and lobbies of these historic and beautiful hotels.<BR><BR>Bottom line, I'd say nay to Sheraton, and go to the W Poydras.

I'd opt for the Sheraton since I hate the W concept. (Why any hotel is designed to be rude and snooty is well beyond me...) The Sheraton is VERY large but is a really nice hotel.

Thanks to everyone for your advice. <BR><BR>I have gone ahead and changed my reservations from Sheraton New Orleans to W New Orleans. <BR><BR>Sheraton New Orleans: Since the Starwood website only has photos of their guest rooms from before their renovation, a staffer said she would email me a post-renovation photo. She never sent it, so I called again and another staffer promised to email one; that staffer never sent it. <BR><BR>Two people from the hotel promosed to do something and didn't do follow through. I am sure the Sheraton New Orleans is a great place otherwise, but I am not going to stay at the Sheraton New Orleans if their staff doesn't follow through on their promises.<BR><BR>So tonight I made a replacement reservation at W New Orleans, and despite some problems with an inept reservations staff, when I spoke directly with the hotel staff at the hotel, they solved things on the spot to my satisfaction: a great room at the same price I had at the Sheraton New Orleans. (Thank you W New Orleans staff, I am sure you get clippings of these posts.)<BR><BR>I will report back here about the quality of the hotel and room, in-person service, etc.<BR><BR>Hopefully they continue to favorably impress.<BR><BR>&quot;The customer can fire everyone in the company from the Chairman of the Board on down, simply by spending their money elsewhere.&quot; - Sam Walton<BR><BR>David

Which W Poydras or in the Quarter?<BR><BR>The bar is real nice at the Poydras location....the Quarter location actually has no bar.<BR><BR>If you stay there, be sure to drop into the Windsor court 2nd floor bar for a drink just so you can see the hotel. If your a martini drinker you will love it.<BR><BR>Also across the road is perhaps one of the best restaurants in the US. Restaurant August. It was just rated in New Orleans Magazine as restaurant of the year.<BR>

Richard, am staying at W Poydras.<BR><BR>I have heard great things about Windsor Court, and actually they were my #1 choice but were fully booked. So looking forward to seeing that hotel as well.<BR><BR>Thanks for the suggestion on Restaurant August, will check it out.<BR><BR>I should add that the Sheraton New Orleans manager tried to be helpful, he directed me to an updated photo on another website. However, I am still concerned that two employees said they would do something yet didn't... to me, two points make a line, and a line makes a direction...<BR><BR>I have lower quality expectations for Sheraton... but have higher expectations for them making things right with their Sheraton Service Promise. If he had added a few miles to my Starwood Preferred as a gesture of good will, I would have been okay with things. Instead, I canceled my reservation with Sheraton New Orleans entirely.<BR><BR>I am sure the W New Orleans will be much better, we'll see.<BR><BR>David

Update: I called Starwood about the service issues I had with Sheraton New Orleans. The nice folks at Starwood added points to my Starwood Preferred to make up for it, which I appreciated. <BR><BR>I admire their &quot;Service Promise&quot; in which they make things right when things go wrong. <BR><BR>Good for them, all hotels should set such a high standard.<BR><BR>Kudos to the folks at Starwood.<BR><BR>