New Orleans, LA: Hotel & Motel Planning Guide

When to Visit New Orleans, Louisiana

Without question, the most popular time to visit New Orleans is February and March when the city's infamous Mardi Gras festivities are in full swing. The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival follows fast on its heels in April and May. It's no coincidence that these are some of the most comfortable months in the city. February's highs only reach the mid-60s, but in March and April you may see temperatures near the 80s. By May you're enjoying average highs in the low to mid 80s and an average low of just 70 degrees.

If you want to visit during this prime season, make sure you book your stay well in advance. The best rooms in New Orleans can fill up as much as a year ahead of time during the festival season. Those who show up at the last minute won't have many options when it comes to finding a comfortable place to collapse after the revelries.

The New Orleans summer is hot and humid, driving many visitors away. While there are still some moderate holiday crowds, you can find great hotel deals during these months if you don't mind toting an umbrella everywhere you go. The Louisiana Cajun-Zydeco Festival takes place in June, and Satchmo Summerfest offers added fun in July and August if you need some added incentives for a summer visit.

Visitors who can't handle the heat will get a bit of a reprieve between September and November. Autumn is another popular season for New Orleans events. Foodies will find the city particularly beguiling during these months. You can visit the Louisiana Seafood Festival in September, the Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival in October, or the Oak Street Po-Boy Festival in November.

Winter is an ideal time for bargain hunters, particularly those who want to see New Orleans put on its holiday garb. You won't get a white Christmas, with highs in the 60s and lows nearing 50. What you will find, however, are moderate crowds and affordable hotel prices.

Best Discounts in New Orleans, Louisiana

For discounted hotel deals, your best choice is often sticking with a favorite brand. If you're collecting points with any hotel chain, there's an excellent chance that you'll find a place to use them in New Orleans.

Looking to get a great deal on a luxury stay? Double your Hyatt loyalty points with a stay at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans. Book a room at the Loews New Orleans Hotel for three nights or more and cash in on savings of 20 percent. If you're looking for creative packages, Lowes has several options for you, including the National World War II Experience Package and Spirited Stay Cocktail Lovers Package.

New Orleans has several Best Western locations throughout the city including the Best Western Plus French Quarter Landmark Hotel, St. Christopher Hotel, and St. Charles Inn. You can earn and redeem points at these locations. Select sites also offer special discounts and packages for stays of two or three nights.

Best Value Options in New Orleans, Louisiana

The value-packed hotels in New Orleans offer mid-range prices and a wealth of distinctive amenities. If you're looking for a standout stay with perks that depart from the ordinary, you have several options in this city.

The Loft 523 New Orleans replaces your standard hotel room with spacious loft-style spaces. Tall windows, concrete floors, and contemporary decor come together to create distinctive spaces in each studio loft. Upgrade to a patio loft for high ceilings and access to one of the hotel's soothing outdoor patios. Amenities promote wellness and include yoga mats, Aveda toiletries, and access to the 24-hour fitness center.

Hotel Royal is an 1827 Creole townhouse in the French Quarter. The boutique accommodations feature distinctive architectural elements like original hardwood floors, exposed brick walls, and balconies in select rooms. High-speed Internet access, iHome docking stations, and 32” LCD televisions bring modern amenities to a historic space. You'll get added value during your stay with a complimentary continental breakfast and welcome gifts at check-in.

If you have children in your party, the Omni Royal Orleans Hotel will offer extreme value for your money. The Omni Sensational Kids program provides young visitors with an activity book, crayons, memory card game, and twisty straw on check-in. Cookies and milk will arrive at your door on your first night to help little ones get settled in for their stay. The heated saltwater pool offers a year-round escape everyone will love. Adults will enjoy the convenience of on-site dining and a fully equipped fitness center.

New Orleans, Louisiana Neighborhoods

New Orleans has several distinctive neighborhoods, and the one you stay in can set the tone for your whole visit. If you're experiencing New Orleans for the first time, the French Quarter is a classic choice that embodies all the historic charm you expect from the city. The Garden District is a favorite of couples who prefer the romantic gardens and slight removal from the bustle of downtown.

The Central Business District, or CBD, is a hipster haven in the city center. Aim for Mid-City neighborhoods if you're looking for a bed and breakfast, great live jazz music, and ample opportunities for biking around the area.

Wherever you finally settle, you're sure to find New Orleans a beguiling place to stay. With everything from luxurious historic hotels to affordable accommodations with national chains, you can find what you're after in New Orleans.

A visit to New Orleans Recapped

It's not difficult to loose yourself within the relaxed vibe of the Big Easy. New Orleans depicts Southern hospitality to a tee with the welcoming bars in Bourbon Street and the infectious energy during the annual Mardi Gras celebration. New Orleans offers a fun array of leisure options if you're willing and able! High on anyone's list is the French Quarter, crammed with restaurants, nightclubs, antique shops, historic buildings and trendy boutiques. Hotels near the area are often packed due to the popularity of famed street. Nearby, Jackson Square answers the need for cultural excitement, as one can find from art galleries, specialty stores and upscale shops. If you want a more Bohemian atmosphere, Faubourg Marigny is the place, plus it has quaint 19th century Creole cottages. Brazil's Carnaval is no doubt big, but the New Orleans Mardi Gras is just as sensational. Here's one Fat Tuesday bash you wouldn't want to miss.

'America has only three cities: New York, San Francisco, and New Orleans.
Everywhere else is Cleveland.,
Tennessee Williams, one of the greatest playwrights of the 20th century (and a proud New Orleans citizen), had this to say about cities in America. Well, people would be forgiven to point at the tremendous bias this statement inherently carries, but the fact remains that it is not at all a thing far from the reality.

New Orleans, Louisiana is one of the finest cities in America. Very few cities can claim to have an impact that's as telling and as pervasive as the Big Easy is known to have on the fabric of American culture. It is everywhere “ from music to diversity, from politics to tourism, from food to family values and from literature to social activism. 

To put it very concisely, New Orleans is all about passion. People who live here are warm to the core. They still cherish the American values of family first and still gather round at the toll of 9 in the nearest church on Sundays. They still enjoy backyard barbecues and they still fry their catfish in a lot of unprocessed oil. They still love the Mardi Gras just as much as they did in 1960s and they still get thrilled at every lick of guitar that has ever left B.B. King's Lucille. 

In short, if you are planning on visiting New Orleans, you should start looking forward to your trip already. There are tons of places to visit and loads of fun to be had. All you need is a good deal of time, and of course, a place to crash at night. That's what this article is all about. 

Budget Stay in New Orleans 

Tourists who want to make the most of all the things that New Orleans really has to offer will have to cut down on some tour costs in order to enjoy to the fullest. And of course, there's no better way of achieving this than finding some cheap hotels to stay while you are touring. 

New Orleans is a city that doesn't know what snobbery is. Of course, there are relics of bitter bygone years, but still, it is a city that loves to include anyone and everyone “ irrespective of how much they can spend. 

That's why, it is not such an ordeal to find some really convenient, cosy and comfortably warm hotels in New Orleans that do not make huge dents in your pocket. It's a given that you will have to trade some excessive amenities like private car with chauffeur, but otherwise you should really be okay with such hotel and motel establishments while you are staying in New Orleans. 

Prince Conit and Place D'Armes are two crowd favorites in this segment. Located in the heart of the city, these two options will allow tourists to squeeze some extra bucks in their tour budget. Hotel Villa Convento is a great alternative to these, if you like spacious (albeit under-furnished) condos/hotel rooms. 

Taking The High-Way in Big Easy 

Who doesn't like spending their weekends in a big, vibrant, joyful city such as New Orleans, all the while staying in their lavish, well-decorated luxury suites with all the services ready just at a call's notice?

Well, nobody would mind that, for sure. 

If that struck your fancy, welcome to the world of New Orleans hotels that defy pricing logic and comfort levels to create a surreal hotel segment. 

The Roosevelt Court (a Waldorf Astoria Hotel) is probably the most popular and most significant in this category. Known for its longstanding association with the local culture, it is a famous landmark in the area. Furnished with stately materials and equipped with pretty much every luxury from in-house spas to a great front yard swimming pool, it is one-stop shop for those who wish to buy luxury. 

Among other luxury hotels in New Orleans, Hotel Montelone is especially notable for its exquisitely designed menus. Windsor Court, virtually the heart of the city, is also a great luxury alternative. 

Alternative Lodging Options in New Orleans 

Among other options that tourists can think of exploring while staying in New Orleans, homestays, holiday rentals and short term studio rentals take the top place. 

Homestays are comfortable, cheap and extremely enjoyable, unlike most hotel stays. Similarly, short term studio apartment rentals ensure that you get what you paid for “ nothing more, nothing less! 

Sightseeing in New Orleans 

The best known sight in New Orleans is definitely the National World War II Museum. Filled to the edge with some poignant and great memorabilia from the war that changed the world, this museum is definitely a top pick for those who care for our history. 

Among many other attraction in New Orleans, Frenchmen Street, French Quarter, Garden District, St Louis Cathedral make regular appearances on itineraries of millions of visitors who visit New Orleans each year. 

When Should You Visit New Orleans? 

The straightforward and easiest answer is “ whenever you feel like! 

New Orleans lies in a temperate weather zone and is pretty much warm throughout the year. There are, however, torrid rains that can cause some flutter in your plans, but that's always to be taken in one's stride. 

If you happen to be in New Orleans just around the holiday season, make it a point to stretch your trip just a little bit so that it allows you to take part in the world famous Mardi Gras festival (remember Jack Nicholson in 'Easy Rider'?). Known for flashy clothes and surreally beautiful parades, it is the best time of the year to be in this city. Most New Orleans hotels provide special amenities, including special rebates on room tariff, lucky draws, fun games for kids and complimentary Mardi Gras guides. 

Even if you are staying at cheap hotels, December and January are two months that will always make you feel at home in this city of music, great food, enjoyment and sincerely warm hospitality!