Post-Katrina N.O. Tourism Suggestions

July 18, 2006 6:22 PM

It was asked pre-Katrina but now I think it's worth asking again: where should a tourist stay in New Orleans nowadays?

If at all possible, a hotel near City Park would be ideal, but it's not crucial. I'm also entirely open to any suggestions of ways I can help with the continuing efforts toward revitalization (beyond dropping mad cash, which is already planned) though I'm only going to be there for a short duration stay.

posted by Dreama to travel & transportation (12 comments total)

I was just there and I stayed three places all of which were varying levels of good.

Doubletree Hotel -- when I was there they were still fixing up the lobby and staff seemed a bit stressed out. All services except the pool were up and running. Lobby wifi was free, room wired internet was $9.95 a day, CityofNewOrleans wifi was free if you could sit near enough to the window.

Monteleone -- wired internet, hard to get to the free wifi, nice rooms and a pretty fixed up lobby, nice staff, excellent place to stay

Lions Inn -- a bit out of the downtown area and a walk from ther French Quarter. Queer friendly with pool and hot tub and free wifi and neat little rooms and a super nice guy running the place. It seemed like more of the B&Bs were up and running than some of the hotels.

I was there for a library conference at the end of last month which was the first conference the city had after Katrina. There were a lot of work parties organized, so I didn't get much of a feel for what the other helping opportunities were. A few other things to know:

- once you're out of downtown, availability of services like drugstores and gas stations drops off dramatically
- everyone I met was very very nice and happy to see people from out of town, this may have been the function of the conference, but it was good anyhow
- all the public transportation (trolley/streetcar, buses) are free
- pars of the city are ghost towns at night. There are cops seemingly everyplace, but it's still worth paying attention to where you are at night, same as it ever was
- the whole place is under construction meaning LOUD in the downtown areas, most of the day. This can also mean dust which can play hell on asthma
- there is a garbage problem, nothign you need to know about this, but just maybe be ready for it.

if I can give you any more firsthand info, please let me know, I was there for four nights last month.
posted by jessamyn at 6:39 PM on July 18, 2006 [1 favorite]

Renaissance Arts Hotel or the W (French Quarter or CBD)
posted by The Jesse Helms at 7:28 PM on July 18, 2006

if you're looking for hotels near City Park, I would look for bed and breakfasts on or near Esplanade Avenue, which connects the park to the French Quarter. Beautiful area, and one of the only places in the vicinity of the Park that wasn't flooded, as it's on a Ridge. a quick google finds this one and this one.

Also, any of the hotels/b&bs in the French Quarter or on Canal Street downtown (where all the major hotels are) are a fairly quick cab or bus ride to City Park.

as for things to see while you're here, there's really only the one necessity: see the damage. if you're going to be near City Park, that won't be difficult, it's all around. you have to see it to understand. If you need a local tour guide for that - or have any other questions, for that matter - feel free to get in touch!

oh, and thanks for coming down here and dropping mad cash. i wish more people would.
posted by ab3 at 7:56 PM on July 18, 2006

ab3 - my cousin has asked me to try to see her apartment building (if it's still standing) and take some photos so that she knows what's happened (she hasn't been back or heard anything) and I'll do that for her. Beyond that, I feel like driving around town just gawking on the wreckage of people's homes and lives, knowing that I'll leave and go back to my intact home and family just feels like the height of disrespect.

Do the residents who are still in the city (or back in the city) appreciate people (who aren't going to spend any time swinging a hammer) just touring the damage? Haven't they had enough of that from vapid celebrities?
posted by Dreama at 8:29 PM on July 18, 2006

oh! found another place on Esplanade, too!
posted by ab3 at 8:32 PM on July 18, 2006

yes, i think for the most part, they do appreciate a certain amount of 'disaster tourism', because, as I said, it's something that can only be understood>>explained>>transmitted to others - by those who have experienced it first hand.

i'd be glad to give you a map/driving itinerary that would give you a decent survey of some of the neighborhoods, if that would be helpful - drop me a line through my weblog (it's in the profile.)
posted by ab3 at 8:40 PM on July 18, 2006

oh, and thanks for coming down here and dropping mad cash. i wish more people would.

ditto


Do the residents appreciate people just touring the damage?

I live Uptown which for the most part wasn't overwhelmingly damaged, so maybe someone from Lakeview or the 9th Ward would answer differently, but I have no problem with out-of-towners coming to see the damage for themselves. In fact I think it's important. And you seeing it first-hand means you will go home and shar your stories friends, family, etc which will help keep NO in the front of everyone's brains.
posted by radioamy at 9:22 PM on July 18, 2006

We just stayed at the Bourbon Orleans dead in the center of the French Quarter, we had a two level suite with a balcony forl ike $250 a night.

Reg
posted by legotech at 9:58 PM on July 18, 2006

When we were in New Orleans recently, a friend stayed at the Country Inn and Suites by Carlson and it was really nice (I wished I was staying there!). The building itself was architecturally interesting, it was conveniently located, had free wireless, and so on. The outdoor pool is tiny, which is the only misleading thing on the website.
posted by leesh at 3:24 AM on July 19, 2006

Oh yeah and there is free wifi in the downtown area - I'm on it right now!
posted by radioamy at 8:40 AM on July 19, 2006

...I have no problem with out-of-towners coming to see the damage for themselves. In fact I think it's important. And you seeing it first-hand means you will go home and shar your stories friends, family, etc which will help keep NO in the front of everyone's brains.

I agree. It's impossible to understand the magnitude of the damage unless you see it firsthand. Absolutely impossible. Come, see, and share with the world.
posted by markcholden at 8:47 AM on July 19, 2006

I was in NO for the Am. Library Assoc. mtg too and second Jessamyn's comments. I had a great time while I was there.

I stayed at the Omni Royal Orleans.
posted by poissonrouge at 10:15 AM on July 19, 2006