I must agree, I don't care for NOLA during MardiGras or JazzFest [aka DrunkFest]. In fact I think the city is best explored in the off-season. All the music and the restaurants are still there.

Here's a great hotel, http://www.dauphineorleans.com/index.html Not a real business-type hotel, but a great place to take a spouse or a date.

Z