My husband and I are visiting New Orleans for the first time at the beginning of November. I've called many of the "best" hotels i.e. House on Bayou Road, Maison Orleans, International House and Loft 523 and none of them have windows that open! I love fresh air. I'm very familiar with heat and humidity having lived in Florida for many years, but I can stay in Manhattan and open my windows! I can stay at the Four Seasons in Las Vegas on the 30th floor and have a floor vent to the outside (very hot)
air. Is the crime rate that high or what 's the story? Anyone know?

For most hotels it's simply a liability issue, nothing more.
Hotels bear a certain responsibility for incidents in which a guest might throw something (including himself/herself) out the window.
Fear of litigation practically rules this country.
Thank the attorneys for your non-opening windows.

Henry hit the nail on the head.

Plus, no offense, but there's a certain amount of stupid people who leave windows OPEN when the air conditioning is on, when it rains, etc. I work in a large hotel downtown. Our windows are capable of opening but we have them bolted shut because of this reason. (Also, there's the occasion suicide artist!)

If you are still looking for a hotel, you could try to Omni Royal Orleans and get a room with a balcony. The hotel is very nice and in a great location.

I understand the liability issues but there are many ways to set a window to open just so far. I can't remember the last time I didn't have an opening window in a hotel! Thanks for the suggestion Bennie!

Barbara, are you kidding? MOST upscale hotels in the U.S. have non-opening windows these days. Especially if they are new.

The suggestion to get a balcony room is a good one.

Try the Fairmont. I was there in May and the windows in our 9th floor room opened about 8-10 inches, not enough to jump but enough for fresh air!

It's not upscale but we really liked Le Richelieu Hotel in the French Quarter, and the windows do open. I agree, I need "real" air, not just the manufactured kind. I'd bet many of the older b&b type places would have windows that open too.

I've noticed that hotels are now "advertising" the fact that the windows open in the rooms. Ritz in Pasadena, Four Seasons Beverley Hills, Four Seasons NY, City Club NY, Windsor Arms Toronto etc etc all have windows that open (or balconys in the case of Beverly Hills). I work in the travel industry and ask this questio constantly and New Orleans is the ONLY city I've found to be this problematic!!

Try the Hotel Monaco..they might have windows that open

Barbara you would love the Palace in San Francisco, not only do they open they are the BIGGEST windows I have ever seen!

Maybe we've found the problem. I live in the SF Bay area and no one here has air conditioning and we all leave our windows open (not to make a really broad statements!!). I just want the sameoption in New Orleans- and folks, I have it in NYC where I've never stayed in a hotel with out windows that open (good new hotels, too).