New Orleans

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CHAPTER 3 . WHERE TO STAY
St. Louis Right in the heart of the Quarter, the St. Louis is a
small hotel that surrounds a lush courtyard with a fountain. But it’s
somewhat disappointingly dull for what ought to be a charming
boutique hotel. Some third-floor rooms have private balconies overlooking
Bienville Street, and all open onto the central courtyard.
The exterior is looking a little battered, but the standard quality of
the rooms seems better than ever thanks to the precipitous drop in
price. Rooms got a pre-Katrina redo with new carpet, drapes, and
furniture to help freshen up a slightly stodgy (and even shabby)
decor. King rooms are smaller than doubles, though many of those
are being converted to doubles as well (leaving queen-sizes for the
single rooms). An additional wing with pricey units featuring parlors
and kitchenettes is being added. The otherwise uninteresting
bathrooms do have bidets.
730 Bienville St., New Orleans, LA 70130. & 800/535-9111 or 504/581-7300. Fax
504/679-5013. www.stlouishotel.com. 98 units. $69–$179 double. Children under
18 stay free in parent’s room. AE, DC, MC, V. Valet parking $19. Amenities: Restaurant;
laundry; limited Wi-Fi service. In room: A/C, TV.
Westin New Orleans at Canal Place At the foot of Canal
Street, the Westin is technically in the French Quarter—but not
quite of it. It is literally above the Quarter: The grand-scale lobby is
on the 11th floor of the Canal Place tower. At press time, the hotel
was undergoing a shift from a Wyndham hotel to a Westin property.
The guest rooms were in the process of total renovation to Westin
standards, which will include all new furniture, new decor, and best
of all, the Westin’s trademarked Heavenly beds and Heavenly showers.
This upgrade should be completed by spring 2008. This transition
can only be a good thing, as the accommodations long hadn’t
lived up to the setting. The hotel provides some of the city’s most
expansive views of the river and the French Quarter; those rooms are
clearly the most desirable.
100 Iberville St., New Orleans, LA 70130. & 504/566-7006. Fax 504/553-5120.
www.starwood.com/westin. 438 units. $159–$309 double. Ask about packages and
specials. AE, DISC, MC, V. Self-parking $20. Amenities: Restaurant; bar; heated
pool; privileges at a nearby 18-hole golf course; concierge; tour desk; room service;
laundry; dry cleaning; direct elevator access to Canal Place shopping center, where
guests can use the health center free of charge, or visit the barbershop, salon, and
stores. In room: A/C, TV, Wi-Fi, dataport, minibar, coffeemaker, hair dryer, iron, safe.
MODERATE
Bienville House A nice little Quarter hotel, better than most
(thanks to a combo of location, price, and room quality) though not
as good as some (owing to a lack of specific personality). It’s generally