Recommendations of where to stay in New Orleans before cruise.

We're cruising out of NOLA on April 8th. I've heard there is a festival in the French Quarter from the 7th-10th.

I'm hoping to arrive on the 5th or 6th and spend a couple of days wandering before the cruise. Where would you recommend staying in New Orleans before the cruise and since this is my first time going what are the MUST DO and where are the MUST EAT places?

I like the Hampton Inn 1201 Convention Center Blvd. I get the Gov. rate that makes it a good price. But Like all hotel in N.O if something is going on it will cost a lot. I also stay at the Holiday Inn in Slidel . I have been to N.O. so many times I don't care where I stay. Its the cost. But for people who haven't been it would be best to stay in N.O

View from the New Orleans Hilton Riverside. Walking distance or a trolley ride to everything.

Intercontinental can be had for a very reasonable price on secret hotel sites. Seems like it was recently remodeled-3 blocks from French Quarter.

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View from the New Orleans Hilton Riverside. Walking distance or a trolley ride to everything.

I stayed here and it is lovely. Get a room facing the river to see the cruise ships arrive in the morning.

They are famous for their oysters served in the restaurant off the lobby.

I just love New Orleans!

Sue

We stayed at 2 different hotels last month. Our night before the cruise was spent at the Hampton Inn on Carondolet St. I loved the hotel and their free breakfast.

After the cruise we stayed a couple of nights at the JW Marriott on Canal St. It was ok, but nothing special.

We did the cemetery tour and some of the others did the VooDoo tour. Both were enjoyed. We wanted to get Italian food, yes, I know it's NOLA and it shouldn't be Italian food we were looking for, but I have allergies to shellfish and so does my son. We went to a tiny restaurant named Vincent's and it had some of the best Italian food I have ever had. We went on a Sunday night which I didn't expect to be busy, but it was packed.

On Monday we wanted fried chicken and were heading in a cab to one place and the driver told us about another place. He said if we didn't like it, he'd refund our cab fare and take us back to the hotel free. We loved it! The place is call Neow's. It's really busy but worth the short wait we had. I'd go there again in a heartbeat.

Sounds like you will be there for the French Quarter Festival. It runs down bourbon, all around the French market near Esplanade and especially along the River in front of Decatur. There really are no bad location hotels in the quarter. Considering your going on a cruise you may not feel the need to wake up being able to look at them. If you want a nice hotel in the Quarter I recommend Chateau Leymone and Place des Arms. Place des Armes is a very classic NOLA style place next to Jackson Square park.

Bourbon Orleans

We stayed at the Four Points Sheraton at the corner of Toulouse and Bourbon. Can't get any closer than the center of the FQ. Try and get a balcony overlooking Bourbon St. Pricey but great for people watching [emoji3]

My sister just cruised on Elation with two friends. The friends wanted to spend some time in New Orleans before sailing. I found Place d'Armes for them. They loved it. Definitely not a chain but awesome service and a lovely room.

We like Prytania Park Hotel. Parking is free and the hotel has a boutique feel to it and every room is unique. It's about 1/2 mile from port.

Loved Four Points Sheraton on Bourbon Street! It was awesome! We stayed with the Courtyard/Pool View and it was nice. I did read that some people got a parking view and weren't happy!!

The drury! Is a great hotel and offers free breakfast and snacks. It's fairly close to the action as well but not too close in order to be bothered by night time craziness, lol

My sister just cruised on Elation with two friends. The friends wanted to spend some time in New Orleans before sailing. I found Place d'Armes for them. They loved it. Definitely not a chain but awesome service and a lovely room.

We stayed at the Place d'Armes in January. Great hotel, but be sure to request a courtyard room. The ones on the street side have windows, so you get quite a bit of noise from people in the street most of the night. Then the trucks start early in the morning.

If you don't mind a cab ride to downtown and want an economical rate you might try the Super 8 on Chef Menteur Hwy/off i10 w and US90. It is over the bridge into New Orleans but not quite downtown and the rates are great. The hotel is not fancy but is very clean and we have used it multiple times. They used to do a park n cruise but not sure now as we haven't been out of that port recently.

We stayed at the Westin. It was within walking distance of the French Quarter, and a short drive to the port. Very nice hotel.

Drury hotels are the way to go. Free breakfast that is really good. Any free snacks that are really a meal in itself I. The evenings. As well as 2 free drinks :-)

Just saw on hotel.com that The Whitney Hotel has a special during that time - about $169/night which is a really good price for where it is located on the border of the CBD and The Warehouse district. It is only 6 blocks from the river so it is close to Harrah's Casino. The French Quarter is on the other side of the CBD which is about 5-6 blocks towards Canal Street. Food suggestions depends on your taste. For charbroiled Oysters - I suggest Drago's (in the Hilton Riverside) or Crescent City Brewhouse (on Decatur) - they alos have great raw oysters and wonderful different types of beer. I usually get the oyster sandwich there. My favorite place for red beans is Maspero's (also on Decatur). I like Oceana grill which is in the quarter. Have to try a Hurricane beverage at Pat O's. but be careful - they sneak up on ya! :) Do try the beignets at Café Du Monde and also Mother's on Poydras has great big biscuits. Ambience is a bit lacking (more of a hole in the wall but the food is good - the lines speak volumes). Have fun and be careful!! Try to be out of the French Quarter after midnight - all the problems tend to be in the middle of the night when there are problems.

Hotel Monteleone or Omni Royal Orleans are two of the best locations for hotels. If you want to stay somewhere really incredible stay at Hotel Maison De Ville and Audobon Cottages.

Where to eat:

At least one of the Brennan family restaurants:

Brennans (btw, Omni Royal Orleans is just across the street)

Brennans Steak house

Commander's Palace (in the garden district)

John Besh's restaurant: August

Classic NOLA restaurants:

Galatoires

Murial's Jackson Square

Court of Two sisters

Arnauds (have cafe Diablo and Oysters Rockefeller - they were invented here.)

High end:

Iris

Bayonna

Stella!

Take a wander down Decatur street. This is where the original Cafe du Monde is. Stop in for beignets and chicory coffee. In front of the cathedral you can pick up a horse and buggy and take a tour of NOLA - very fun! When you get back, saunter along Decatur street and choose a place to have a mufaletta (New Orleans famous sandwich) for lunch. Let me warn you, the average mufaletta feeds 4 generously, so you probably only want 1/4 mufaletta a person or share it. They are the size of a cake.

I feel like if you are going to go all the way to NOLA, you may as well rent a car and drive an easy 1 hour out to the River Road Plantations and take some plantation tours. You might start at Oak Alley and go over to San Francisco. You might be able to see as many as 4 or 5 in a day if you can avoid the tour buses.

http://www.louisianatravel.com/articles/river-road-plantations

Oak Alley has a great Cajun restaurant for lunch.

Hotel Monteleone or Omni Royal Orleans are two of the best locations for hotels. If you want to stay somewhere really incredible stay at Hotel Maison De Ville and Audobon Cottages.

 

 

 

Where to eat:

 

At least one of the Brennan family restaurants:

 

Brennans (btw, Omni Royal Orleans is just across the street)

 

Brennans Steak house

 

Commander's Palace (in the garden district)

 

 

 

John Besh's restaurant: August

 

 

 

Classic NOLA restaurants:

 

Galatoires

 

Murial's Jackson Square

 

Court of Two sisters

 

Arnauds (have cafe Diablo and Oysters Rockefeller - they were invented here.)

 

 

 

High end:

 

Iris

 

Bayonna

 

Stella!.

When we stayed at the Four Points, the Court of the Two Sisters was only a block and a half away. Get a table in courtyard if possible. Great food...

I just booked the Wyndham Garden Baronne Plaza . I got a groupon today and got it for 98 with tax and fees. It couldn't of come at a better time

I just booked the Wyndham Garden Baronne Plaza . I got a groupon today and got it for 98 with tax and fees. It couldn't of come at a better time

Thanks for a new place to check. Too bad they don't have dates as far out as I need yet. I did sign up for Groupon though.

I also found amazon local has hotel deals.

I didn't even think of Groupon or Amazon local. Thanks!

We stayed at the New Orleans Marriott on Canal Street last weekend and it was very nice and very convenient. We could walk to the French Quarter and Bourbon Street easily, and even walked from the National WW2 museum back to the hotel.

I would highly recommend Tastebud Tours Food Tour in the French Quarter and Free by Foot tours of the Garden District. We had a fantastic dinner at Muriel's and The Old Coffeepot, and the best breakfast at the Ruby Slipper. All were walking distance to the hotel. The port is also easily walked to, although I'm not sure you'd want to do it with luggage.

I just booked the Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery . They offer a discount for cruisers. Have to call the hotel direct to get it. The hotel is in the warehouse district. Best rates that I could find and good reviews. Woman on phone said hotel is about 1 mile from cruise port.