As a recent college graduate just starting to make decisions on my own as an adult, I can safely say that I am still learning skills while traveling. I have started many trips with friends and family, but I have never had to worry about booking my own flights, accommodation or activities.
However, that has all changed now as the world is returning to normal following the coronavirus pandemic. And, of course, I started my career at TPG, where we work and travel. Seeing how often all my colleagues were out on the streets, I was eager to travel alone for the first time.
So early this fall, I decided to take a risk and book a trip next October New Orleansa city that I have always wanted to visit for its exceptional food, rich culture and fun atmosphere.
I went through the flight booking process — read more about it this – but now it’s time to figure out where I’ll stay. With my flights locked, I’ll have about 36 hours to spend on Big Easy. With that set, it was time to figure out the next big part of my trip: which hotel to book. This is how it went.
Choose a place
Not sure which part of New Orleans is most ideal for travelers, my hotel search really started with some research. Where do I want to be? The two best neighborhoods for first-time visitors to New Orleans seem to be the French Quarter and the Central Business District, so I’ve been keeping an eye on these.
Safety is another important factor in choosing a place to stay, especially when women are traveling alone. After all, I wanted to be somewhere that was both centrally located for sightseeing and safe for solo female travelers.
As far as I can tell, the French Quarter offers a more traditional New Orleans experience thanks to its vibrant, historic Creole buildings and buzzing nightlife. It’s also home to popular tourist attractions like Bourbon Street and Cafe Du Monde, so it seems like a convenient area to stay in.
On the other hand, the central business district seems to have a lot of towering buildings, giving it a more traditional city feel. However, that area is also home to a number of popular tourist attractions, such as the Sazerac House, a museum, bar and distillery dedicated to New Orleans’ cocktail of the same name.
Choosing an area to stay in is difficult. Cute cafes, jazz clubs and eccentric bars line neighborhoods that look like they’ll be fun to stay in. However, in the end, I could only choose one hotel.
I decided to narrow my search to hotels in the French Quarter because it offered the traditional New Orleans experience I was looking for as a first-time traveler. Many of the most popular spots are there. In addition, its distinct architecture, of a quirky yet haunting quality, intrigued me, as it is something I have become intimately attached to the city.
Solve the budget
Once I figured out which neighborhood to stay in, it was time to budget. Since it’s not the peak festival season yet — popular events like Mardi Gras and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival take place in the spring — I expect hotels to be relatively cheap.
With the help of Google Hotels, I checked my options. In the French Quarter, hotel prices range from $50 for the most basic budget rooms to $533 – a huge spread to choose from.
Stayed one night, I didn’t want anything too high end. All I needed was a convenient place to sleep — preferably within walking distance of most of the city’s attractions. Since New Orleans has so many inexpensive options, I decided to spend no more than $200 on a hotel.
Hotel selection
With the key parameters decided, I began my search for the right hotel.
At first, choosing an asset is overwhelming. As I scoured Google Hotels for potential options, I found myself struggling to choose between properties that looked similar. Many of the hotel buildings share the same charming French-Creole architecture and have a bit old-fashioned, but age-appropriate, classical decor.
Since I was only staying for one night — and hoping to spend as little time in the room as possible — I focused more on location and overall aesthetics than on amenities, which I appreciate more on a longer stay. than.
After an extensive search, I picked out four hotels – all in the French Quarter. I mostly stick with the big hotel chains, thinking this trip could help me start earning points for future stays elsewhere. However, I also like the charm of a few boutique hotels, so I decided to look into them as well.
Related: A classic getaway: Travel to New Orleans to find the real Big Easy
Voco Hotel, St.James
During my search, the company affiliated with IHG Voco Hotel, St.James on Magazine Street, quickly rose to prominence. The online photos give it a premium feel, but at a price I can afford. The building features a beautiful red-brick colonial exterior, giving it a distinctly New Orleans feel. However, the rooms look a bit plain in design, with slick wooden bed frames and limited lighting making the space appear dark.
However, with a standard room with a queen bed costing only $132 a night (tax not included), I could skip the plain rooms. After all, I don’t plan on spending a lot of time in my room. Location is more important to me, and the St. James seems to offer a convenient location right in the heart of the French Quarter, close to the National World War II Museum and Bourbon Street.
Although the service and atmosphere were completely foreign to me, the prime location and price made the St. James became the leading candidate.
Bourbon Orléans Hotel
Also a few blocks from Cafe Du Monde, Bourbon Orléans Hotel is a boutique hotel that does not have any ties to a major hotel chain. It’s home to an outdoor pool (an amenity I don’t necessarily value as I don’t have time to use it) and Bourbon ‘O’ Bar, which the hotel website describes as having live music. and brilliant murals scattered everywhere. walls.
Rooms look good — I’m not a fan of the gray bedroom walls depicted on the website, as they make the rooms look dull. However, a queen room costs $144 a night, which is very affordable and still within my budget, so I left it on the list.
La Galerie French Quarter Hotel
Another store option, La Galerie French Quarter Hotel located on Decatur Street near many small cafes and oyster bars. Unlike Bourbon Orleans or Voco hotels, St. James, La Galerie’s exterior doesn’t have the French-Creole character I like. Instead, the building appears to have a simple façade with barn windows, which at least gives it a bit of personality.
Perhaps the limited lighting in the photos on the hotel website is the cause, but the rooms and the entire hotel look sterile. I feel the bright white walls in the rooms make them appear cold and unattractive.
Then there’s the price. La Galerie was the most expensive of the four I considered, totaling $189 a night. The $189 price tag is a bit too close to the top of my $200 budget. However, I decided to keep running it, even though I was hoping to find something suitable for a cheaper price.
Moxy New Orleans Downtown/French Quarter
Located on the boundary between the city center and the French Quarter, New Orleans’ Moxy Outpost A six-minute walk from Bourbon Street, it is a convenient option for sightseeing.
Of my top four picks, this member of Marriott family seems to have the coolest vibe – the hotel is in a glass building with alternating blue windows. Associated with the bright, vibrant colors of the chain stores, bright red doors greet visitors upon arrival.
Admittedly, I thought the hotel bedroom decor looked a bit sloppy and dated, as its decorative pillows had the words “I woke up like this” emblazoned on them. However, I’ve heard good things about the Moxy hotel, so I’m curious about the brand. Not to mention, it seems like a convenient, no-frills option for just $144 a night. The 24-hour pick-up and drop-off location is also a welcome hit, so it’s still a contender.
Related: 10 TPG-approved hotels for your next stay in New Orleans
Make the final decision
Since I only used information from hotel websites and internet reviews, choosing a hotel was not easy. It’s hard to judge a hotel’s atmosphere and service through online photos – lighting and angles can make things look better (or worse).
However, I only had time to stay at one hotel during my short visit, so I decided to choose Moxy. It was a close call between Moxy and Voco, the St. James. In the end, however, Moxy’s proximity to two downtowns and rave reviews convinced me.
Sure, the decor might not be to my taste – there’s no quintessential New Orleans character on display at the Moxy – but I was only in town for one night, so the look of the hotel wasn’t. must be a deal breaker.
This is how it went
To my surprise, upon arrival at the Moxy Hotel in New Orleans, I found that the hotel doesn’t have an actual entrance like what you’ll find at more upscale partners like the nearby InterContinental and JW Marriott. The bright red doors just slid open – no driveway or doorman at the door to greet guests. It also doesn’t help that there is pavement construction right near the property, almost obstructing the entrance.
However, considering the interest in being somewhere simple, I got exactly what I was looking for.
The hotel’s lobby features modern décor, occasional splashes of pink and magenta on the signage and accent pillows. In addition, the front desk is doubled into a bar, and signs like “Save water, drink beer” and “Work hard, play nice” hang on the walls. It has the feel of a bar rather than a hotel, which seems to suit the area well, given the city’s vibrant nightlife scene.
One of the best parts of my stay was the service. The check-in process was quick, the friendly front desk staff gave me the room key immediately even though I arrived 4 hours before the official check-in time. The quick service helped make up for the dim, cramped room I’ve seen in New York City and the lack of natural light thanks to the blue windows.
However, I don’t stay at the Ritz, so don’t expect white glove service and deluxe rooms. The hotel seemed ideal for a short solo trip — and it suited my purposes. I would probably not recommend the hotel if you are visiting New Orleans with family or friends for an extended period of time. However, if you’re ever in my situation, the hotel is an option definitely worth considering for a quick, no-frills visit.
bottom line
In the end, Moxy lived up to my expectations — but it underscored how much consideration should be given when booking a hotel. In the end, I felt satisfied enough with this stay, but I learned a little more about what to look for when booking a hotel, as well as how to get rid of all the misinformation in the photos and articles. online reviews. Next time, I might focus more on aesthetics and in-room amenities as my hotel rooms are pretty straightforward when it comes to things like storage and natural light.
However, I consider it a successful endeavor. I got a clean, comfortable room, checked most of my boxes. Now, I am looking forward to my next trip and I am better prepared to tackle choosing a hotel when the time comes.
