Author: Vera
Date: 06/09/2003, 11:49 am
Message: Hi:
I posted this question, but it seemed to disappear. Could someone tell me if the Soniat House operates the place across the street that used to be called French Quarter Masionettes? When I looked at Soniat House web site I could not find any reference to "annex" mentioned in some older posts here.
Thanks,
Vera

When I stayed at the Soniat House years ago, I stayed at the Maisonettes across the street from the main hotel because everyone recommended them and they were all suites. I don't see any mention of them on the Soniat website now, but I would call the hotel and ask.

I think the Maisonettes closed. I might be wrong though. Call ahead. *(JAMIE)*

Does anyone know what has become of the French Quarter Masionettes? Did the old lady who owned it die? My husband & I stayed there about 15 years ago and although it was spartan (B&W TV and no phone or pool), the suites were spacious, decorated in 50's era (but in good shape) furniture and all the rooms (maybe 6 of the them total?) opened out into a beautiful courtyard where the owner's cats would come down their own private cat-sized spiral staircase from her upstairs apartment and visit with us every morning. We enjoyed the simplicity and charm of it. Besides, it was only about $45 dollars a night.

Hi:
I'm the person who first posted this subject. I did not follow through with the advice to call Soniat and see if they could tell me what happened to Masionettes. I'll be in N.O. later this month, and maybe I'll find time to check it out. The old lady was a hoot! She invited guests up to sit at her dining room table while she "interviewed" them before they checked in. When I asked about restaurant recommendations, etc., she showed me some xeroxed brochures, but said it was too expensive to hand them out, so I could only look at them.

Vera

Soniat House was the old Felton House - we stayed there in 1970 on our honeymoon - and again in 1972. Much later it was completely redone by new owners and named Soniat House. I don't know about the Masionettes - never stayed there.

My husband and I had the pleasure of staying at the old Maisonettes and loved feeling like we were living like one of the "locals". This was in the 90's and at that time the woman who owned them was ill. One of her family members took over the interviewing process and we loved her. I had to leave for a day on a quick business trip to Tampa FL and asked about a cab to the airport. She set me up with a beautiful stretch limo for the same price as a cab and that driver was waiting at the airport when I returned at 10pm that night. The courtyard was simply gorgeous! I think about those two ladies with great fondness.

We stayed at the "French Quarter Maisonettes" a few times back in the '70's. The "old lady's" name as a few of you dubbed her was Mrs Junius Underwood and the gentleman who was the butler 's name was Jesse, who is still there, the last time I enquired about rooms, two years ago . By the way, that was bourbon in her teacup. Soniat house did buy the Maisonettes and if you call for rates tell them you want to stay in the Maisonettes, they don't list it as an annex. Warm memories of our stays there.

wanderer3--sure hope you're right. Last time we were in NOLA we tried to find the Maisonettes (where we stayed in the early 70s on our first trip there) and it looked like it had been converted into an antique store.