NOLA Hotels

[maplo]

I have family going on a cruise in January out of NOLA. Could someone suggest a hotel? They want something closer to the pier (or would it be better to stay around the airport?) and a hotel that would have restaurants nearby. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks in advance.

[World Gallery]

You can search here -http://www.hotels.com/de1636523/hotels-near-cruise-line-terminal-new-orleans-united-states/

Hotels are listed with the distance to the terminal.

In regards to where to stay, that just depends on how much time you have and your plans. If you plan to sightsee in New Orleans (the French Quarter), then definitly stay in New Orleans close to the terminal. If you plan to come in and out without any time sightseeing, then it really doesn't matter.

There really isn't anything to do or see close to the airport. The airport is basically in a suburb of New Orleans.

In regards to eating at good restaurant, of course an hotel in New Orleans! Restaurants are everything.

Around the airport, there are mostly chain restaurants and fast food.

The area around the airport and the area around the cruise terminal are two completely different worlds.

[mitsugirly]

We booked with Drury Inn (and we will be there in a few days) because people on here suggested it. We got a really good deal and used a coupon code, but I hear it depends on when you are going on the prices.

 

The main reason we booked here was because they offer a hot breakfast (not a cereal and donuts breakfast) for free and also soda and popcorn during the day for free and then they have a "kickers" menu which is free as well (with hotdogs, wings and such). I figured this alone would save us $$ in food while we are there. Hey, more to spend on the cruise. :D

[themnms]

We just got back from the Hilton Riverwalk.You can walk just 1 or 2 blocks to the port. It is directly across the street from Harrahs Casino and two/three blocks to canal street which is the begining of the French Quarter. I thought it was the perfect location and cant wait to stay there again!

[World Gallery]

Just a note about the Drury. We like it and recommend it (we are locals and have stayed there for a dance recital in the city). We also stayed at the Drury in Texas and loved the service and price there too. I do have to comment on the food and this is just our personal opinion. In our opinion, the food is of the absolute lowest quality and literally made my husband feel sick all day after eating it. He tried again the next morning and got sick again. I couldn't eat the evening "snacks" either. It was really that bad.

Just want people to be aware of this. I have always written it in on the comment cards. I am hoping there will make some changes, even little changes.

[mitsugirly]

While we are not picky eaters, we don't like crappy food either. LOL But, I'm wondering just how hard it is to screw up a hot dog or baked potato. Hoping that the breakfast is kinda decent (it's my favorite meal of the day) :)

[Normal 1]

While I have not yet stayed here, I booked the Hilton Riverwalk hotel using a site called lastminutetravel (dot) com . I'll be there in December.

Not sure when you are going but I checked the night of 1/14 and it was available through this site for $63/night. It is shown on the travel site as:

 

4.5-star hotel in Warehouse District/New Orleans and if you click on the photos, there is a photo of Churchills (the restaurant/bar at Hilton). The bad news is parking is expensive ($34/night) but I plan to park at Fulton St. Parking which is only a few blocks away (and secure) and use their shuttle service back to the hotel for $12/day.

 

During peak times (beginning of mardi gras, saints FB weekends, etc.) hotels can get very pricey! If you find one with a price you're comfortable with, grab it.

[World Gallery]

I am trying not to laugh as I ask my family what they remember about the food there. They remember it well. My 10 year old said, "I remember it being "plasticy", like eating plastic and the eggs weren't real". My husband remembers that there was no chili or relish, just ketchup we think. Also, they keep the hotdogs in water in those silver trays and they were soggy. They never ever had the chicken wings they advertise. The nachos chips were stale. The chicken tenders were the most processed, cheapest strips you could buy. Avoid the white biscuit gravy. I remember very processes, cheap stuff, very crappy. Just take some Rolaids with you just in case. We like the Drury overall but they either need to stop advertising these "hot" meals as a bonus or upgrade it.

[mitsugirly]

I am trying not to laugh as I ask my family what they remember about the food there. They remember it well. My 10 year old said, "I remember it being "plasticy", like eating plastic and the eggs weren't real". My husband remembers that there was no chili or relish, just ketchup we think. Also, they keep the hotdogs in water in those silver trays and they were soggy. They never ever had the chicken wings they advertise. The nachos chips were stale. The chicken tenders were the most processed, cheapest strips you could buy. Avoid the white biscuit gravy. I remember very processes, cheap stuff, very crappy. Just take some Rolaids with you just in case. We like the Drury overall but they either need to stop advertising these "hot" meals as a bonus or upgrade it.

 

Oh great :rolleyes: I'm disappointed now. :( At least we have the Café Du Monde to look forward to. :D

[hlb76]

We are staying the the Drury too. Will be our first time! Mitsugirly make sure to come back and let us know what you think.

[mitsugirly]

We are staying the the Drury too. Will be our first time! Mitsugirly make sure to come back and let us know what you think.

 

 

Will do. :)

[LadyShiva]

Oh great :rolleyes: I'm disappointed now. :( At least we have the Café Du Monde to look forward to. :D

 

Mitsugirly, if you're renting a car, drop by the Cafe du Monde in Metairie on the way to/from the airport. It's just a more laid back experience (not to mention cleaner/less aggressive/no birds), and they have more choice of souvenirs. It isn't much out of the way to go to that one, versus the hike along the Riverwalk to those Cafe du Monde's.

 

You can even slide into Zea's for corn grits if you have a car...

[mitsugirly]

Mitsugirly, if you're renting a car, drop by the Cafe du Monde in Metairie on the way to/from the airport. It's just a more laid back experience (not to mention cleaner/less aggressive/no birds), and they have more choice of souvenirs. It isn't much out of the way to go to that one, versus the hike along the Riverwalk to those Cafe du Monde's.

 

You can even slide into Zea's for corn grits if you have a car...

 

Nope, we won't be renting a car. Too much of a hassle. We are just going to grab a cab from the airport and hike it and use the trolley while we are in town before the cruise. :)

[russianmom]

The food at Drury was definitely not gourmet by any stretch of the imagination

 

They did have a tossed salad and a baked potato that after traveling since 3:30am was enough to fill my stomach so I could fall asleep.

 

My son also deemed the hot dog "just ok"

 

For breakfast I had some fruit and one of the make your own waffles- again not 5-star but it held me over until we walked to Starbucks for coffees before boarding the ship

[peachpeeps]

We stayed at the Drury last year and the place was real nice.

[World Gallery]

Nope, we won't be renting a car. Too much of a hassle. We are just going to grab a cab from the airport and hike it and use the trolley while we are in town before the cruise. :)

 

Definitely think this is the right decision! You will pay a lot to park it, even at the hotel they charge guest to park.

[carrim]

We are staying at the Place d'Armes in November, it's not close to either the pier or airport (that I know of, at least) but it IS in the French Quarter, has great reviews on Trip Adviser and got a great price booking direct through them at the Value Rate, I think just over $70 for a Sunday night. Good luck!!

[World Gallery]

We are staying at the Place d'Armes in November, it's not close to either the pier or airport (that I know of, at least) but it IS in the French Quarter, has great reviews on Trip Adviser and got a great price booking direct through them at the Value Rate, I think just over $70 for a Sunday night. Good luck!!

 

The Place d' Armes is probably the absolute best location possible! Yes, it is in the French Quarter. You will come out the door and see the St. Louis Catheral and Jackson Square right in front of you. You are about a 3 minute walk to Cafe du Monde.

[World Gallery]

One more thing. You are not far at all from the pier. It is best to get a taxi regardless of how close you are to the pier and you may have a bout 3 to 5 minutes longer in the taxi than you would had you stay on Canal St or Poydras (two main streets with lots of hotels). You are about 30 to 40 minutes for the airport but it is very worth it. Staying in the area around the airport (Kenner, a suburb of New Orleans) is a completely different world. In the French Quarter, you will feel like you are in Europe. Around the airport, you will feel like you are in a suburb "Anywhere USA".

[KBSUE]

We stayed at Drury and were very pleased with it. Location good. On the St. Charles streetcar line. True, the food is not gourmet but is doable. Mothers Restaurant is just down the street and fantastic. The employees at Drury were exceptionally nice. We had to stay extra 2 days due to Storm Lee keeping our ship at sea and felt very at home there.

[CincyLucy]

Stayed at the JW Marriott last year for a vacation to NOLA. Its on Canal, right across from Bourbon St. Planning on staying there again pre cruise in December. You can walk anywhere in the Quarter, take the street car to the Garden District, and is only a 2 minute cab ride to the pier. I CAN'T WAIT!!

[Briarhill]

We are booked at the Maison St. Charles. If you are driving in to NOLA, they offer a park and cruise package, where you can park your vehicle at the hotel for the duration of your cruise for no extra cost. It costs $80.00 for 5 days to park at the pier.

[mitsugirly]

We just stayed at the Drury last weekend. VERY nice hotel. Done up in marble, chandeliers and looks very elegant. The food was not bad. The hot dogs were not in water when we were there. They were in a warmer, but no water. The food wasn't bad at all. But, we are not picky eaters too much. I definitely thought the food was doable and filled our bellies and saved us money.

 

The free drinks however...whoa, they put me on my arse! They were STRONG! It was an interesting night for sure. LOL

 

I do have 1 issue to report however...we found that we were bitten at night and I had a hard time sleeping. When we got up in the morning...the room was infested with tiny little ants! They had lines going across the threshold from the bathroom to the dressing room, then also up the nightstand and too the bed. We immediately went down to let the front desk know about it and they were so apologetic and offered to let us wash all of our clothes to make sure that they did not get in there (which we did not have enough time to do this before leaving for the port), they offered to get us a ride to the port...and they REFUNDED OUR ENTIRE AMOUNT PAID!! They told us we could stay as long as we needed (versus the normal check out time, but of course we wanted out of the room ASAP) and were roping off the room and calling the exterminator. We did run into the couple in the room right next to ours...they did not have this problem and no one else complained of this issue. So, I do believe it was an isolated incidence.

 

I would still highly recommend them to anyone. :)

[hlb76]

Thanks so much for coming back and posting! I have been hoping you would!

 

Bummer about the ants but it sounds like the hotel was willing to make it right and fix the issues!

 

Hope you had a great cruise.

[mitsugirly]

Thanks so much for coming back and posting! I have been hoping you would!

 

Bummer about the ants but it sounds like the hotel was willing to make it right and fix the issues!

 

Hope you had a great cruise.

 

You are welcome. I loved the Drury and if it wasn't for the ants...it would have been perfect. They more than made it right and I would highly recommend them to anyone. :)