My wife and I want to go to New Orleans real soon (worst time to go, hot as hell, hurricane season, but not much choice lest we wait til December, and THAT's reserved for visiting my family in the Midwest because my wife's Brazilian [well, she was] and has never seen snow). I haven't been to N.O. since I was a kid and my wife has never been there. Too many choices on hotels when I Google for information. Any recommendations for hotels within walking distance of the French Quarter, maybe not grossly expensive, hopefully no roaches, air conditioning works?
What do you mean by walking distance? Do you mind walking like 3/4 of a mile to get to Jackson Square or Bourbon? Do you even like Bourbon St (the most disgustingly dirty place in the world)? If you just have to stay on or super close to Bourbon St. my recommendation would be Hotel Le Marais http://www.hotellemarais.com/ Its very nice, about as expensive as any decent hotel down there, and its right smack dab in the middle of Bourbon st. I for one... really think the best of New Orleans is off of Bourbon street. If you are ok with walking a bit to that part of town I really like staying over in the warehouse district. A very good deal is the Renaissance Arts Marriott. There is plenty of good restaurants and bars literally across the street, its quiet, clean, and Harrahs, Canal, Bourbon, WWII museum, Aquarium, Riverside, etc. are really just blocks away. http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/msydt-renaissance-new-orleans-arts-hotel/ Trust me. Walk a few blocks to stay a hell of alot cheaper, and feel cleaners. Plus that hotel is one of the few in NOLA with an outdoor pool for the hot Summers.
I'd strongly recommend the Lafayette Hotel. Its by Lafayette Square on St Charles Avenue south of Poydras Street. Its walking distance to the French Quarter. I got an absolute deal on a room with a king sized bed. They'd hosted a wedding the night before and had left over bottles from the wedding, so they gave me a bottle of scotch when I checked in, I had an excellent stay, and they told me they'd overcharged me for the room and refunded me $21.00 the next morning (and I thought I'd already gotten a steal on the rate before the refund).
The good thing about NOLA is its actually a pretty small city downtown wise. You are walking distance from anywhere all the time. Plus the cabs are pretty cheap, and there are petty cabs. As long as you are staying downtown, you will be close enough to everything unless your health is an issue walking wise (which I totally understand. Just went with my wife who has a walking disability, and she still did fine).
Keep in mind that St Charles Ave has the trolley ride to downtown. So that opens up more hotels for you, strung along that street. The Garden District has a lot to offer, anyhow.
Cabs are not that cheap IMO. I've stayed at the Clarion and its nice and not too expensive and in walking distance of Bourbon, the French Quarter, and Harrah's Casino. Also for food suggest Copelands and Brothers Chicken(brothers is just a convenience store but the chicken is some of the best I have ever had)
Hotel? I stayed at a bad ass place in New Orleans a few months ago via AirBNB. Just be sure to filter by "entire place" so you have the entire place to yourself
The last few times I went were impromptu so I didn't do much research, but the locations that we ended up in were perfect. The Country Inn and Suites on Magazine near Canal was in a great location and the hotel itself is pretty unique. They repurposed several of the old buildings on Magazine and combined them to make the hotel. Our room was on the first floor with floor to ceiling windows looking out on the street. Privacy was not existent with the curtains open, but the view was really cool. The other hotel that comes to mind is the Westin @ Canal Place. Connected to a really nice mall and right across the street from the casino with views of the river. I've stayed there several times.
I appreciate the advice and information. Walking isn't an issue health-wise except for how hot it's going to be. No, I wouldn't stay on or near Bourbon Street, as it would be too loud, touristy and, well, potentially dangerous. I'll look into some of these hotels. Trying to find something that maybe doesn't sock it to me, not that I'm cheap, but I'm also trying not to be stoo-pid. This is turning out to be some good advice, along with mentions of Clarion and Lafayette Hotels. Cha-ching! $$$ But if I want to spend a little extra, it does look nice.
There's another cool hotel I've stayed at called the St. James on Magazine Street - probably a little cheaper than Monteleone. It's a couple of blocks from Harrah's and Mother's is right around the corner if you want some southern food.
Willie Mae's is in the ghetto and there is a long wait to get a table in a small restaurant. The chicken is cook to order with it's crispy skin and slightly salted but a great balance when you use ketchup but is worth the wait.
I have a condo on St Peters about a block from Harrah's. Depending in your dates, I could let you stay there
