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Sheraton New Orleans [Master Thread]

Sheraton New Orleans [Master Thread]

Old May 6, 2006, 8:12 pm
  #31  
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Your SPG Amex says "Platinum" on it and more than one reception desk employee has been known to confuse that with Starwood Platinum level.
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Old Dec 29, 2006, 11:19 am
  #32  
 
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Sheraton New Orleans -- What a bizarre stay at Christmas!

My wife and I got home 3 days ago from a cash & points stay at the Sheraton N.O. from the 22nd to the 25th. What was hoped to be a relaxing, family visit was marred each time we attempted to make use of what one would normally asssume to be standard services at such an establishment.

The start should have been a tip off-- at 5:30 PM Fri/22nd we sat in our car on Canal, 10 feet from the driveway entrance, waiting to turn in and drop our car, so we could check in. We sat there for 15 minutes... waiting. When we finally got to drive in, the valet took our info and when told it was a 15 minute wait, he said "that's not bad at all." I should have been forwarned by that.

Check-in was great (turned out to be the only "great thing") -- an inquiry for club level access got us on an SPG floor with club level access and a nice room view of the river form the 39th floor -- near the end of the hallway too, as the doors in this place are paper thin.

Thank goodness we cabbed it that night, because the next day, the fun started. At 11am we phoned the valet, as per procedure, to have our car brought around. After many rings, we got a canned reply, saying things were busy and we needed to present our ticket at the valet booth for our car. When we got downstairs, the was a lineup of about 30 people in front of us, and it was not moving. There were people like us, heading out for the day. Ther were also people checking out. No info, just wait.

My wife walked up to see what it was all about. There, in the valet office, was one person, on a single hotel PC, checking everyone's ticekt/room number to see if they had been charged for the last night(s) parking. If you were checking out and weren't charged on your bill, they spent the time to add it. If you were only getting your car for the day, they stil checked. And, when we we were finally within 5 people of the front of the line -- after 40 minutes of standing in line -- they started pulling people with bills that had correctly charged parking out and getting them their cars ahead of the rest of us!

We hit the window at 45 minutes total, and our car took another 5 minutes to appear after that. Why they have valet auditing parking charges, and causing this massive inconvenience, could not be answered. The line at that time stretched what I would say was at least 45 minutes behind us, too. Needless to say we were late for our lunch gig, when we had planned to be early!

That night, I sat at the Lagniappe bar on the 2nd floor for a nightcap about 9pm -- the Pelican lobby bar was closed for some reason and was draped shut. The bar was empty, save for me, two tables of couples, a bartender and a table server. Ten minutes later, what appears to be a homeless person is dirty, dishevelled, clothing, a 4 day growth of beard, and carry a stuffed plastic Wal-Mart bag of belongings, sits at the couch and starts to watch a college footbll game on the widescreen. He asks for a glass of water and gets one. He gets a bowl of snack mix from the server, who obviously seems to know him because I can overhear her explaining to the bartender what the guy is "all about." The guy proceeds to chain smoke, each time blowing out his match and throwing it across the table in front of him and onto the floor. He reaches into his bag and proceeds to place match books all around the table. He carefully places his bag in the chair across from him (so nobody could sit there?). He takes snack mix and tosses it across the table, as if he is bowling. He sits back and then rocks forward, all the time. He talks to himself and gestures wildly at times, flinging his cigarette arm outwards as if scolding someone to make a point.

He collects his snacks and matches from all over the table into a pile and then tosses them about the table again. He has what appears to be an aftershave bottle in his other hand, but I do not see him drinking it -- maybe it's in the water?. Rinse-repeat-rinse-repeat for over 1/2 hour. He then asks for another bowl of snack mix, because he ate the rest of the first one, and gets one. he still has a 3/4 full glass of water. He stares wildy at me when he sees my eying him from the side. I finished my drink, shook my head at the bartender, and left. ...?

The next morning the valet was accepting calls for cars, but it took us 10 minutes to get the car out of the driveway, as we were jammed in by people checking in.

The last night we got into bed to discover that the non-fitted bottom sheet was untucked and riding 2 feet up from the foot of the mattress, with the padding below it also folded up and over.

I am putting this in a letter to the GM there and hopefully William here will grab hold of it. I never had the time to talk to the GM directly because there were always lots of people waiting for service at the front on the few occasions we had any time to actually stop in the lobby.

I fully realize that the city is in full-blown recovery mode and that good help is at a premium there. But this is a huge, well-known SPG property that gets tons of convention business all the time. I gotta tell you, it was the most bizarre Sheraton stay I have ever encountered anywhere and we will never stay there again -- and we go back to visit family a lot each year!
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Old Dec 29, 2006, 3:22 pm
  #33  
 
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Pre-Katrina, we stayed at that Sheraton in late December and had absolutely outstanding service. It used to be a great time to visit New Orleans because it was the slowest time of the year for tourism, so hotel rates were super low and everything was uncrowded. I remember one year we were told only 20 rooms were occupied at the Sheraton during the week between Xmas and New Year's Eve. The staff really hustled for the few guests staying there. The bar was always closed, though, and the restaurant had limited hours. I guess the hotel management just couldn't justify opening them with so few guests.

Unfortunately post-Katrina the service at virtually all hotels and restaurants in New Orleans tends to suck badly. They can't get anyone (at least anyone competent) to do low-level jobs -- in particular valet parking. When NOLA Burger Kings are paying a $6000 signing bonus for flipping burgers, why would anyone want to be a parking attendant?

We had similar valet woes at another hotel in the CBD earlier this year. It's a fact of life there. Stinks, but what can anyone do?

No idea what the homeless guy was all about. He was probably a staffer's family member or something. That's the Big Easy for you. Things have always been a bit "loose" in that city and they're even looser now. (All my husband's relatives live there, so I know whereof I speak!)
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Old Dec 29, 2006, 3:34 pm
  #34  
 
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Not to be argumentative, but just returned from NOLA and service at our hotel was outstanding. We were not at a large chain, rather at the Hotel St. Marie in the French Quarter. I could not have see friendlier nor more helpful people. Additionally, the restaurants we patronized, Muriel's and can't remember the others, all offered very friendly and efficient service. I happen to think that SOME businesses are trying even harder to bring back the tourists, while others may not be as adept at doing so.
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Old Dec 29, 2006, 5:55 pm
  #35  
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Since Katrina, cash and points stay. Given river view suite as platinum with club access. Room service took a long time to deliver platinum amenity, but it was late.
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Old Dec 30, 2006, 11:02 am
  #36  
 
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N.O. parking

I was also at the Sheraton at that time and witnessed the daily "scene" at valet parking. I, however, bypassed it...having had no problems finding free parking on the street around the corner! Look for metered spots (only in effect M-F days). Parking enforcement doesn't seem to be a big priority right now.

As for the hotel, staffing is, understandably, not up to standards. Hopefully that will gradually change as the city comes back!
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Old Dec 30, 2006, 11:23 am
  #37  
 
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I stayed at the hotel from Dec. 18 to 23 and found everything good except the valet. Keep in mind that was the official hotel for the Troy Trojans at the New Orleans Bowl and the team and most of the parents were there during the week. The game was the 22nd, so I am sure that many people were checking in then. Plus, we had our buses out front getting ready to load about that time.

My problem with the valet on Sat. morning the 23rd resulted in a 35-minute wait, with many others getting cars sooner. Turns out the first person sent to get the car... COULDN'T DRIVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION.

I know workers are at a premium, but isn't that like hiring a chef who can't cook?!!!!!
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Old Dec 30, 2006, 2:02 pm
  #38  
 
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I have stayed at all the downtown/quarter NOLA hotels post-Katrina. The Sheraton is a good hotel but they simply haven't been able to staff the valet parking.

The W French Quarter's parking situation has recovered much more nicely.
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Old Dec 30, 2006, 3:25 pm
  #39  
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Originally Posted by PersonalFlotationDevice
I have stayed at all the downtown/quarter NOLA hotels post-Katrina. The Sheraton is a good hotel but they simply haven't been able to staff the valet parking.

The W French Quarter's parking situation has recovered much more nicely.
We stayed at the W French Quarter in June and had a wonderful stay. No problems at all, including none with valet parking.
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Old Dec 30, 2006, 5:38 pm
  #40  
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Originally Posted by Potreroflyr
I was also at the Sheraton at that time and witnessed the daily "scene" at valet parking. I, however, bypassed it...having had no problems finding free parking on the street around the corner! Look for metered spots (only in effect M-F days). Parking enforcement doesn't seem to be a big priority right now.
I'll dispute that enforcement is not high priority. I've seen lots of ticketed cars on my several post-K visits to the city (and even gotten one myself).

That said, most N.O. parking tickets are only $20 if paid promptly. Not sure what a night of valet parking is at the Sheraton these days, but I'd guess over $30? Even if you do get ticketed, that freight zone is a money-saver, there's no 45 minute wait for a badly managed valet service, and your money is going directly to the city which needs it so badly. You can pay online with your credit card and get miles, too.

Just don't get towed.
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Old Dec 31, 2006, 1:23 pm
  #41  
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Originally Posted by swag
That said, most N.O. parking tickets are only $20 if paid promptly. Not sure what a night of valet parking is at the Sheraton these days, but I'd guess over $30? Even if you do get ticketed, that freight zone is a money-saver, there's no 45 minute wait for a badly managed valet service, and your money is going directly to the city which needs it so badly. You can pay online with your credit card and get miles, too.

Just don't get towed.
my reasoning as well
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Old Jan 2, 2007, 7:17 pm
  #42  
 
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Interesting thoughts, all... thanks!

It simply made us all the more aware of why we stay at a B&B in Uptown on the 3-4 trips we do there for family each year. Car out front, 1 block to Magazine for coffee and free wifi, hospitable owners on the other side of the shotgun.

At least we were able to walk to Fiorella's instead of drive this time - -and they are open on Sundays post-storm now.

Let's hope they get the valet sorted out -- the chef analogy upthread was superb... ^

FWIW... it's a sad, sad, sad state of affairs east-end/Gentilly/Baywater/Lakeview still and I 'spose a valet fiasco is still minor in the grand scheme of things.

(Swag... thanks for the tip... I had forgot about all that! The Sheraton is 24.95+tax)
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Old Apr 23, 2007, 9:32 am
  #43  
 
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Thumbs down Sheraton New Orleans - Master Thread

Just Terrible

We were there for a show, $229 convention rate to guarantee a club floor ($199 for a regular floor).

The room, 2 double beds was a shoe box. You could not turn around unless you walked to the end of the room. Don't ask me how I found a place to iron.

The electronic safe did not work, said low battery, 5 phone calls, 3 techs and a $25 dollar credit later, the safe still didn't work. The end result was them bringing up their old lock and key safe to the room, and plopping it on the floor, not bolted down to anything. My passport felt safer on me .

To end the trip, we go out to the Bell Hop and get him to hail us a cab. He yells at a car jockey to do it, then disappears for a smoke. He must have called the wrong cab, they ended up fighting over who should take the fare.

A $1200 room bill...(4 nights)

The pool was nice though.

I would not stay here again. Try the W, I hear it is an 'older' W, but a nicer hotel...and closer to the casino.
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Old Apr 23, 2007, 10:18 am
  #44  
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I've not stayed at this property (and have no desire to), and my only New Orleans hotel experiences have been the two Ws there. I'm not sure how old the W Poydras (near the casino) actually is, but it got renovated pretty thoroughly after hurrican Katrina. My stays there have always netted (as a Plat, and even some as a Gold), massive corner suites with bedroom, separate living room, 1.5 bath, and two huge Phillips plasma TVs.

The W French Quarter is nice as well, if you snag one of their two carriage-house rooms with outdoor jacuzzis in a private patio/garden area. The actual rooms at the W French Quarter are not quite as nice as the ones at the W Poydras, but I would take the jacuzzi carriage house over the suite at the W Poydras any day. However, upgrade odds at the W Poydras are much better, as the Poydras W has tons of suites, and W FQ has but two jacuzzi carriage house rooms (and two upstairs carriage house rooms with balconies, but no private garden/jacuzzi access)

I'll be sampling the new Sheraton Metairie in about three weeks, and will provide a trip-report once I've done so, as there don't seem to be any reviews of it here on FT yet. From the looks of the website, it looks like some of the rooms there have jacuzzi tubs in the bathroom.
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Old Sep 26, 2007, 4:52 pm
  #45  
 
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Sheraton New Orleans special offer

This past weekend I stayed one night at the Sheraton in New Orleans on Canal Street. I thought I got a steal @ $109 for the club floor. Today I received an e mail with rates from $74 on weekend stays November 25th - December 29th. It's hard to beat this hotel. Across the street from the French Quarter and much nicer than most hotels in New Orleans. There's also a double Starpoints offer, but I don't know if it's good with the $74 rate.

http://specialoffers.starwoodhotels....ALE_Sept07_ATL
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