<p>If you were trying to sell a prospective student on the whole Tulane experience and you wanted them to get super excited about the city, the school, the culture....the ENTIRE experience, what hotel would you book? Tulane is one of our daughter's top choices and one of ours as well!</p>
<p>For Top Scholars weekend, we are flying in on Saturday afternoon (March 15) and leaving Tuesday afternoon (March 18.) We are definitely planning on doing the tourist thing with our daughter as time allows. We will have Saturday late afternoon and night and Monday evening till Tuesday noonish (our flight leaves late afternoon...) to show her New Orleans.</p>
<p>My husband booked the JW Marriott because he generally uses Marriott for business travel but we are wondering if it would be better to find a hotel with a more New Orleans personality. Cost is always a factor but not for this trip because we really want her to fall in love with the city. </p>
<p>if you are looking to get a real NOLA tourist experience you should look at staying in the French Quarter. You’ll be able to get out of bed and walk around the quiet morning when everything is being hosed down and waking up, explore the FQ, go to your room for breaks or to leave shopping purchases, be in walking distance to restaurants and clubs etc. We almost always stay in the FQ and take the streetcar uptown to visit Magazine Street, Oak street etc. It’s a quick cab ride to Tulane as well if you need to get there quickly, think it cost us $10?</p>
<p>I am a total no frills gal so we always stay at non-chain hotels, full of NOLA charm My absolute favorite is Place D’armes, but i warn you, its not for everyone. It has one of the most beautiful courtyards in the city, but the rooms are old, have not been renovated maybe ever. This was a school in the 1700’s and it is a stunning group of buildings. However- the rooms are musty (the are brick for the most part), the beds are old and saggy and the rooms tend to be dark. If you do decide to check it out, request a courtyard or balcony room. Interior rooms literally have no windows. They have a crappy continental breakfast. But they are RIGHT on Jackson Square, the best location in the FQ. Nice pool, friendly staff. Their sister hotel the Saint Marie is a bit more up to date, the courtyard isn’t as nice but they have great balcony rooms (request one facing the street, not the courtyard) on Toulouse Street, another great location. The Saint Marie has a restaurant on the first floor with amazing Bloody Marys as well. Rooms at these hotels can be found for literally dirt cheap sometimes. (although I just looked at your dates and they are a bit high, wonder what’s going on that week?) What they lack in amenities they make up for in Old School NOLA charm. </p>
<p>Also in the quarter, more upscale and better amenities we like the Monteleone and the Omni Royal Orleans. The Hotel Provincial is the most haunted building in New Orleans, it served as a Civil War hospital. Another classic property. Bourbon Orleans is beautiful and I know some friends that have got fantastic rates there. It will cost more to stay in the FQ but it’s worth it IMO.</p>
<p>The JW Marriott is actually a good location. Right on Canal Street. Cross the street and you are in the FQ. Really easy access for both the Red and Green streetcars. We stayed in many of the chain hotels in the Central Business District, usually during Mardi Gras because their rates are better and we like to be close to the parade route. Never stayed uptown closer to Tulane.</p>
<p>I am no expert by any means. During our visit last year we booked a bungalow in the marigny district. Very authentic Nola. It was close to Frenchman street which has great music and atmosphere. We are doing the same for honor’s weekend. We will also be within 4 blocks of the qtr. The experience definitely helped sell Tulane (not that it need much selling!). I guess it depends on the kid. Our D is eclectic in her tastes.</p>
<p>If on the other hand, you are looking to stay at a beautiful upscale hotel (but with decent prices if you ask for the “Tulane Rate” - I think that we paid $189 per night last time), we have stayed at the Roosevelt, which is a Waldorf Astoria. It is not quite “in” the French Quarter, but rather just across Canal Street. (note that some of the hotels in the middle of the FQ can be quite noisy). The Roosevelt is a quick walk to the FQ and very close to the streetcar lines. It has a beautiful pool and a good Italian restaurant.
If you choose to stay uptown, closer to school, we like the Hampton Inn.
For our first visit, we did a lot of the touristy things too. A half day bus trip around the city is a good way to see a little bit of everything. It even stops and does a bit of the cemetery tour. Your hotel can arrange this trip for you. What we did not like was the boat trip down the river (boring, kind of a waste of time). Of course, exploring the FQ is a must, and binets at Cafe Dumond must not be missed. If you have time, or on your next trip, the WWII museum is actually great and worth a few hours. I am not exactly a history buff, but I really enjoyed the 3d movie.
Have fun!</p>
<p>Everyone I know thinks the WWII museum is great, as do I. A lot of parents like to take that in while their student is busy with Honors Weekend stuff.</p>
<p>And yes, everyone of course has to have beignets at the Cafe du Monde after a scrumptious meal and walking around the city. Good that you pointed that out, jozuko. Not trying to be an ass correcting your spelling, but because they are such a MUST I wanted to make sure the OP knew the right place. It is right off Jackson Square across from the iconic St. Louis Cathedral.</p>
<p>For a hotel, I like the Columns on St. Charles. Great little bar, an old New Orleans feel, and easy access to everywhere. S2 and his friends like it there as well. Many of the wait staff are Tulane students, and can offer great tips and comments.</p>
<p>Personally, I like staying uptown or garden district which are beautiful neighborhoods that are closer to campus. From there it is a shorter streetcar ride (assuming the tracks are open) down to the FQ or up to campus. Hotel Indigo is new and boutique-ey cool. </p>
<p>Taking a walk down Frenchman Street on a Saturday night sealed the deal for my kid. In the warm weather the clubs have their doors and windows open bar so all the different kinds of music spill out onto the street. Very Nola.</p>
<p>We stayed at the JW that exact same weekend last year. Bourbon Street on the Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day was, um, interesting. The French Quarter will be extremely busy that weekend, due to the holiday festivities! It was some great people watching. JW Marriott was a great hotel. We’ve also stayed at the Marriott French Quarter & The Ritz. All great hotels with good locations.</p>
<p>On our first trip (Honors weekend) we stayed at the Hotel Indigo. There were lots of other Honors families there, too. It is easier to get a feel for the Tulane environment if you stay uptown.</p>
<p>However, you can stay in the FQ and enjoy all it has to offer, and then spend a lot of time “hanging out” in the Garden District. The street car and inexpensive cabs make going to back and forth so easy.</p>
<p>Because of streetcar construction, i found it better to rent a car when staying uptown/Garden District. Cabs can get really pricey and we’ve had some dodgy experiences with them (even using United), and having to constantly transfer between the bus and streetcar was a pain. Also it’s quite a hike over to Magazine Street so again… my advice if staying Uptown is to rent a car (Hotwire has some amazing rates).</p>
<p>I’ve booked my flights to bring my son home in May but still haven’t booked my hotel…these threads are always helpful, even for us semi-veterans!!</p>
<p>I guess it will depends. I don’t find the streetcar/bus situation to be an annoyance. The buses are lined up and ready to go so it’s not much of an interruption. IMO it’s more of a hassle trying to find parking, especially in the French Quarter! Also most hotels charge for parking a car, sometimes up to $28/day. Also if you decide to use parking lots int eh quarter they can really add up too. I guess I’d rather spend my money on food than having a car,lol. It’s all personal preference. We do a lot of walking when we are in NOLA, often walking from uptown to the quarter. St. Charles to Magazine is not far at all (about 10 blocks) and walking you get to take in so much more of the beautiful Uptown area, the beautiful homes and the friendly neighborhood residents. We’ve stopped to admire homes and gardens and a few times have had the owners bring us in to see their homes or beautiful yards!</p>
<p>“The street car and inexpensive cabs make going to back and forth so easy.” I guess I should expand on this. Hubby and I LOVE the street car, and we walk to Magazine from St. Charles. Also, I meant the cabs are less expensive in comparison to many other cities. (:</p>
<p>haha… I like to walk as well, but not so much when it’s 95 degrees out. So I think “time of year” makes a difference as to whether you want to hoof it or drive around with the AC on… ;)</p>
<p>I’ve booked my hotel for May… went with the Indigo! I think it will be nice to be a little closer to downtown while not that far from school. I liked having a car when I stayed at the Park View because it is so far Uptown, but won’t rent one this time.</p>
<p>I guess it pretty much depends on what you like/want in a hotel. Personally, I don’t stay at corporate chains. I’m going to second recommendations for both The Columns and Place d’Armes. I’ve stayed at them both and thoroughly enjoyed them. BTW…our room at Place d’Armes was lovely. In the end, though, I think you would be better off staying in the Garden District. The street car will take you right to Tulane and you can easily walk to Magazine St.</p>