New Orleans

[disneydom]

HAS ANYONE TRADED TO THE FRENCH QUARTER HOTEL IN NEW ORLEANS, ANY THOUGHTS ON WHERE TO STAY-BEST TIMES OF THE YEAR. WE WANT TO STAY IN THE HEART OF THE ACTION



THANKS

 

[Sue's Mum]

Glad you asked this, as I am interested too.

 

[lsutigger2]

Don't know which hotels/properties are "tradeable", but anything in the French Quarter will be pretty much in the heart of the action. What time of year are you planning to going? New Orleans is one of those "never sleep" kind of places. Might want to go on a diet before you go so you can part-take of all the great food available.
Hope you have a good time!

 

[Doc and Family]

New Orleans is a unique place, to say the least.
When to visit depends on what you want to experience, and on how crowded you want the French Quarter to be. I believe, though I could be wrong, that it is the Windsor Court hotel, that is part of the concierge collection. A very nice hotel with an OUTSTANDING restaurant. Then again, just about any place you eat in New Orleans is excellent.
Mardi Gras is my favorite thing to miss. We try to go to WDW every Mardi Gras. I think it is something everyone should get to experience, but I've had enough. It truly is an event like no other in the US, and maybe the world. I can look up the dates for 2004 for you, if you like.
New Year's Eve is also quite festive.
Then there is Jazz Fest, French Quarter Fest, etc.
I don't know next years dates for these things yet, but if you would like to know them, let me know and I will look them up for you.

 

[PamOKW]

The Windsor Court Hotel that is on our Concierge Collection list is one of the finest hotels in the U.S., if not the world. I haven't stayed there myself but it comes highly recommended by top executives who stay there for an annual conference held in New Orleans. (They race to get reservations there.)

 

[disneydom]

I was thinkink of the spring sometime,has any one heard of the Quarer house hotel--- yes it looks like a diet before the trip may be a thing

 

[Nink]

If you want to stay in the heart of things, and are not worried about using points, I would recommend the Place de Armes. It is 1/2 block off of Jackson Square on St. Ann St. There is a Le Madeline restaurant close and you are in walking distance of Cafe du Monde and the City Market, which has great Muffalattas [sp]. You can then walk to the French Market and on to Margarittaville (Jimmy Buffet's place).

We stay here often when we go to NO.

Walking is the ONLY way to get around in NO. If you don't you miss a lot of interesting things.

 

[Dreamfinder2]

We're not local, like Doc and Family, above, but we do make frequent day trips, since we're only a couple of hours away.

Windsor Court is simply spectacular. As part of the Orient Express family of hotels, it has a cosmopolitan, international feel - you know, that sort of British veneer that we just don't get much of in the states. (I might mention, too, that we stayed at Charleston Place - another Orient property - for our anniversary in July on points, and it was the stuff of legends, too.)

Windsor Court isn't actually in the Quarter, rather on the fringes, but a pleasant walk to wherever you want to go. If you want a full dose of debauchery, then Mardi Gras is the ticket, but there's stuff going on all the time. But, during the heat of the summer, the humidity in NO is so thick you feel like you're swimming - you almost need an oxygen tank to get around! Nink's right about walking - it's the way to go. Like any large city, though, ask your hotel staff where it's best to avoid late at night.

I peeked in on the Quarter House on one visit, and wasn't too impressed. Windsor Court sets the bar way on up there.

Re: Food. Yeah, throw diet and health concerns out the window for your stay. Try Emeril's - some locals say it's become too touristy, but it IS his flagship restaurant, and worth doing. If I had to choose one eatery for a last meal in NO, I'd have to go with Commander's Palace. Culinary heaven.

I could go on. I'm about to salivate all over the keyboard even as I type.

 

[spike@okw]

COME ON DOWN!

Mardi Gras Dates are:
Feb. 16th 2004
Feb. 21st 2005
Feb. 20th 2006

 

[yesdisneyfool]

Originally posted by spike@okw
COME ON DOWN!

Mardi Gras Dates are:
Feb. 16th 2004
Feb. 21st 2005
Feb. 20th 2006

2/16/2004 is Presidents day.

Mardi Gras 2004 is Tuesday 2/24/2004. The Big festivies begin on Friday 2/20/2004.

As spike@okw says, "come on down" it is something that every "adult" should experience. For me I generally go to disney as DOC and Family says, but I have to skip disney 2004 do to planning a big family thanksgiving at OKW.

 

[lulu71]

Another New Orleanian weighing in here---

The Windsor Court is a fabulous location. You're a stone's throw away from the French Quarter and also right across the street from Harrah's Casino (if that's your thing) and the Riverwalk. You have access to both the FQ and the Warehouse District, where there are many great restaurants. You can hop on a streetcar and be Uptown, so you really wouldn't need a car unless you're going to venture out into the 'burbs or the lakefront area.

Doc and Family---we are Mardi Gras escapees to WDW as well. I haven't been to a parade Mardi Gras day in probably 10 years. Now with DVC I will always plan around it.

Good luck and hope you have fun in our city!

 

[maureenmac]

We stayed at the Quarter House with our friends in a 2 bedroom. We were very happy there. We walked to almost everywhere. We had just come back from a cruise and wanted the spaciousness of a 2bd suite. We loved New Orleans. I had been there before but it was a first for my DH and our good friends. I would go back again and again if I could.

 

[disneydom]

Thanks everyone for all the info ,looks like a good place to stay right in the french quarter

 

[Villain Dude]

Another local here.....

I personally would visit here in the fall (indian summer) or early spring. Low humidity and low heat. N.O. can be a very unpleasent place in the heat of the summer. I've never got used to the heat & humidity .... I just learned to deal w/ it.

I haven't done a Mardi Gras in years... I let all the out of towners spend their money and regret their behaviors.

Come on down and enjoy the people, food & atmosphere!!


Dude