5 affordable, memorable New Orleans hotels
In a time of increasing homogeneity, New Orleans remains defiantly unique; no other city in America is remotely like it. One of the best things about New Orleans is that you don’t have to break the bank to experience the best it has to offer.
Great hotels don’t have to be expensive. The TripExpert Score - which is calculated by an algorithm that looks at the reviews of the hotel in leading travel media - allows you to find the best hotels in a city at any price. In this series of posts, we’ll be taking a city-by-city look at hotels that are affordable and memorable.
In a time of increasing homogeneity, New Orleans remains defiantly unique. No other city in America is remotely like it. Nor is any other city in the world, which is reason enough to plan a visit. But when you also consider that New Orleans is a downright fun place filled with some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet, romantic architecture, and one of the best food-and-drink cultures around, visiting New Orleans becomes a necessity.
One of the best things about New Orleans is that you don’t have to break the bank to experience the best the city has to offer. There are plenty of high-end luxurious accommodations for those who want to live large, but some of the best hotels are shockingly accessible.
Here are five expert recommended New Orleans hotels that are affordable and memorable.
International House is one of the best hotels in New Orleans, regardless of price. And when you consider the price – starting at $99/night – it’s clear that International House is one of the best hotels at that price in the country.
The modern, pop-art inflected design is sophisticated and minimalist but the accommodations themselves are warm and comfortable. Rooms aren’t huge but they are thoughtfully decorated. Fodor’s says that the lobby wows with “23-foot-high ceilings, ornate pilasters, and marble floors.”
The hotel bar, Loa – is an attraction in itself. New Orleans vies with New York City as the home of the cocktail (the Sazerac was invented a short walk away from the International House) and Loa is as good as any bar in this, or any other, city. With skillfully executed modern takes on classic cocktails in an inviting and comfortable space, Loa is reason enough to stay at the International House.
Formerly the W, Le Meridian is a former office building that’s been utterly transformed into a sophisticated and stylish destination (a $29 million renovation wrapped up in late 2014). Across the street from Harrah’s Casino and a few short blocks from the French Quarter, Le Meridian puts you close to the heart of New Orleans without leaving you in noise that accompanies it. It’s uncommon that a Le Meridian property would be this affordable, making this an especially notable deal.
Location is a major asset for the Dauphine Orleans Hotel. Located within the French Quarter but away from the noise, this 111-room boutique hotel is confidently casual, endearing without being ostentatious. Many rooms have exposed brick or balconies. The pool is located in a beautiful inner courtyard that drips atmosphere and personality, and the hotel’s bar was once a brothel. Lonely Planet recommends requesting one of the “14 bright yellow Creole cottage-style exterior access rooms” that were once part of a carriage house.
We know what comes to mind when you think “Holiday Inn” — rest assured, the Holiday Inn New Orleans Chateau Lemoyne has little in common with the rest of this chain. For starters, check out the image above. There is nary a kitschy mid-century neon sign in sight. Instead you have a wonderful example of the beautiful 19th century traditional New Orleans architecture that fills the French Quarter. The large pool -— Gayot calls it “Hollywood-glamorous” — is located in a beautiful brick lined courtyard. Many rooms also feature rustic exposed brick and multiple reviewers highlighted the comfortable beds and accommodations. The Holiday Inn New Orleans Chateau Lemoyne is a block from Bourbon Street – which can be a positive or negative, depending on the type of trip you’re looking for. This hotel is surprisingly versatile, with plenty of amenities for business travelers but also eight cottage suites located off the main courtyard, for those looking for some more intimate accommodations.
New Orleans is a city where it pays to get off the beaten track. The French Quarter is beautiful and worth a visit, but the unique culture that defines New Orleans is most pervasive in neighborhoods like Treme, where you can find Degas House. The name of this 1850s Italianate beauty originates from an extended stay in the house by famed painter Edward Degas. In tribute, top floor rooms provide easels and pastels for guests painting. From the antique claw foot tubs in some bathrooms, to the 14’ ceilings with chandeliers in second floor rooms, to the private rear courtyard, the Degas House possesses casual elegance in spades
