meFIRST

Anyone else going to this? I haven't been to NOLA since before Katrina. I'm curious to see what's changed.

I just so happened to going in conjunction with the labor day festivities at the french quarter.

JonathanIT

I'm thinking about it... hotels and airfare are cheap. I wish I could say that for other trips I'm trying to book...

thepointsguy

Thinking about it too- I've never been to New Orleans and flights are $229 ai on DL from LGA. Which Starwood/Hyatt property is most convenient to the festivities?

jamesteroh

I go to NOLA every year for it. Only years I have missed since 2000 were 05 when katrine hit and when Gus hit in 08. New Orleans is still fun but some of the businesses have shut down to katrina and some that were open 24/7 have reduced their hours. Poppys has closed though I am a non smoker and one thing I hate is that smoking is allowed everywhere even in restaraunts. There is a small bar called napoleons itch in the Bouroun orleans that is smoke free.

For a starwood property your best bet is probably the Sheraton on Canal. Very convenient to harrahs and the quarter. I stayed there in 07 and it was nice. The closest hyatt I know of is at the superdome and I wouldn't want to walk it at night.

I would recomend staying right in the quarter unless you really want the starwood points.

MegatopLover

For Starwood properties, don't forget the W French Quarter on Chartres Street (IIRC). It's a few blocks inside the Quarter, though a block or two farther south than the Sheraton on Canal. The W French Quarter has the real old city feel, with low-slung buildings and courtyards on intimate colonial-era streets, a very short walk to Jackson Square and popular Quarter restaurants, not to mention the bars. There's also a W New Orleans, which is on Peters (IIRC, or Tchoupitoulas) at Poydras, basically two long blocks outside the Quarter at the far end of the Harrah's casino. That's a more of a modern high-rise building, like what you'd find in most any other city.

I've been to New Orleans a half dozen times or so since Katrina. The city was still reeling at Halloween 2006 but working hard to come back and deserving of our patronage. The next trip I made after that, it felt fairly well back to normal. Since 2008, it has certainly seemed back to its old self.

peteropny

No Hyatt right now in MSY - the one near the Superdome has been closed since Katrina and is expected to reopen next year.

FWIW, we were there in May for my partner's conference and we stayed at the Ritz Carlton (booked through Virtuoso and upgraded to Club Level - which is actually more like a hotel within a hotel with its own entrance etc).

We did this since at the time of booking the Starwood properties weren't available and when they became available, the rate was about the same as the RC and I knew that we had been pre-upgraded to Club already so it wasn't a really hard decision even though I'm also SPG Plat.

Karter

I'll be there. I also went last year and the year before Katrina. I noticed no difference in terms of business and the amount of festivities.

meFIRST

None of the hotels I initially wanted to stay at are available. The Hyatt won't open until 2011, the W French Quarter is sold out, so is the Westin and Intercontinental (sold out)

The rates are quite low at the other SPG & Marriott properties ^
The sheraton by canal seems like the next best thing.

The other traditional places, seems too much like I'm staying at grandma's house - not my style. (Le Pavillion & the RC)

I'm only there for a quick weekend so I don't really care. My main agenda is to see what's changed, the southern decadence is the sideshow.

jamesteroh

I have stayed at both the sheraton and marriott for decadence. The rooms are nicer at the sheraton but I like the pool better during decadence at the marriott. The marriott can be fun if you can get a room facing the other tower and you are looking out the right time when other guys are putting on a show in their windows on the opposite tower

Of all the hotels I stayed at in NOLA the hotel montelone is my favorite. I got a great rate there in 06, the first year after katrina but rates since have been too high. The Bourbon orleans can't be beat for location and has a gay bar in the ground level (even though there are a few gay bars within shouting distance) but has gone downhill a little since they aren't affiliated with Wyndham anymore. Two hotels I would avoid are the Royal Orleans and the Barone.

TravisMT81

I will be there for the third year in a row!

jakeflynwa

I'm arriving on Thursday the 2nd and departing Monday the 6th. I love New Orleans always attracts a fun crowd.

COFlyerCLE

It is a great time there. We have been to Decadence four times now... always staying at the Green House Inn that is located in the Garden District. It is a decent walk to the Quarter - but plenty of fun at the B&B

We aren't going down this year though... Last time we went (in 2008) CO had to evacuate us out of there... but they were kind enough to send empty planes from IAH for all of us, so it happened very smoothly.

Enjoy your time there. Lots of decadent sights - that's for sure!

meFIRST

There must be a fare war going on, or there must be some kind of Bobby Jindal gay subsidy. DL ex NYC to MSY available for $159 all in, routings non-stop or via MEM, ATL or CVG possible (at the time of writing, valid for the festival dates), from LGA.

I bought a similar fare on CO, via IAH.

samonyc

I had to cancel a trip to Europe around Labor Day because of work, but NOLA might be possible. I tried going to Southern Decadence in 2008 but backed out because of the hurricane threat, which is still a risk of course.

I'm on the SD mailing list and it looks like there is plenty of availability at smaller hotels in the French Quarter. See a listing at:

http://www.southerndecadence.net/

MIAguy22

This will also be my 3rd year here. I'll be going with 5 friends from Miami. See everyone there!