New Orleans

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CHAPTER 3 . WHERE TO STAY
D. H. Holmes, and other Canal Street shopping landmarks. But for
the city’s sake, we are pleased to have the Ritz-Carlton take its place,
preserving the classic, glazed terra-cotta building and bringing a
high-end luxury hotel to the Quarter. Service is sterling, and there
may be some surprises along the way that will tickle you. Room
color scheme varies according to the size (double rooms are light
blue, queen purple, and so on), and rooms have lovely beds. King
rooms are nicer than doubles, while rooms on the 12th, 14th, and
15th floors are the largest (some ridiculously large). Consider ponying
up for the Club Level over at the Maison Orleans (see above).
The spa is by far the nicest and largest in town, and though undeniably
expensive, it’s gorgeous, and the treatments are utter perfection.
Look for fun site-specific events in the courtyard, such as
crawfish boils and voodoo ceremonies.
921 Canal St., New Orleans, LA 70112. & 800/241-3333 or 504/524-1331. Fax 504/
524-7675. www.ritzcarlton.com. 452 units. $169–$419 double; from $569 and way,
way up for suites. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Valet parking $32. Pets welcome. Amenities:
2 restaurants; 2 bars; top-of-the-line spa (w/brand-new treatment rooms) and health
club (w/resistance pool, Jacuzzi, and personal trainers); concierge; shops; room service;
babysitting; laundry/dry cleaning; Wi-Fi in public areas. In room: A/C, TV, highspeed
Internet ($9.95/day), minibar, coffeemaker, hair dryer, iron, safe, Nintendo,
newspaper delivery, robes and slippers.
Royal Sonesta The Royal Sonesta brags that it never closed,
providing refuge during and after Katrina, bless its heart. (Anderson
Cooper stayed here!) As one of the classiest hotels in the Quarter, the
contrast between the boisterous hurly-burly of Bourbon Street and
the Sonesta’s marbled and chandeliered lobby couldn’t be greater.
Inside, all is quiet and gracious, and if your room faces the courtyard
(complete with a large pool), you are in another world altogether. Big
and bustling (a favorite of business travelers, so it always seems busy),
this is considered the only acceptable, top-flight Bourbon Street
hotel, though noise is still a problem in rooms that face Bourbon (or
even the side streets). But because the Sonesta is so large, reaching
nearly to Royal Street, unless you do have one of those rooms, you
won’t believe you are so close to such craziness. Rooms underwent a
major renovation a couple of years ago, adding posher bedspreads
and the like, but the designers miscalculated by including an enormous
combo armoire/TV cabinet—leaving scant few inches between
it and the end of the king-size beds. The bathrooms gleam with marble
and tile, but don’t bring a cat inside if you want to swing it.
300 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70130. & 800/766-3782 or 504/586-0300. Fax
504/586-0335. www.sonesta.com/royalneworleans. 500 units. $249–$389 double;