tuono07

Oh and try thr Ferdi Po Boy at Mothers for a casual lunch!!

CK82

^

Cochon is one of my favorite restaurants EVER! Very close to the Ren Arts. Also try Green Goddess in the quarter and any of the John Besh restaurants. Mmmmm

delraybusinesstraveler

First you need to decide if you want to be closer to the quarter or the convention center.
I only stay near the quarter as I love to wonder around and people watch on Bourban at night.
In agree that the JW is really nice. Concierge lounge is great as well. Next choice is the Renaissance Pere Marquette as it is really close to the action. It's a cool historic hotel nicely remodeled.

AATrout

+1 The Ren Pere Marquette is a first-rate property; the CL is well-done, and the main level has a comfortable bar as well.

flyerwife

Just stayed at the JW and liked it as well. The location can't be beat if you are looking to be close to the French Quarter. Everything there is in easy walking distance. Hotel staff was extremely pleasant and helpful (though, as always, my BOGO cert was not credited properly and I had to go down and straighten it out before leaving).

Concierge Lounge was one of the better ones I've seen in awhile; nice view and good food offerings at dinnertime.

With gold status I was given a nice corner king room.

I've stayed at the Renaissance Pere Marquette too and, while I liked it, the rooms were smaller and I think the JW location is a bit better.

Just FYI, the Courtyard on St. Charles is immediately next door to the JW so that location would be well-suited to the French Quarter as well.

Hope this helps.

keeton

The Pere Marquette was originally an office building, not a hotel. As a result, some of the rooms can have some very strange floorplans.

bk3day

Has the (regular FS) Marriott on Canal really gone that far downhill?

I've stayed there in the past (maybe 4 years ago?) and while I have no specific memories of it, good or bad, recent negative comments give me pause.

Right now, I need to make a decision to either stay at the Marriott on Canal & the Ren Arts which is only slightly more expensive (@$8 more).

btw, for all you folks who love the JW, just curious how much more you'd spend to stay there over over whichever is your 2nd fave NOLA property?

uspcommuter

To answer some questions i saw:

I am staying (for conference): 12/2 to 12/9 and extend the wkend for fun. I think my biggest preference would be a nice lounge with a good breakfast, last year the wait at sbux/(or anything else) was 40 mins easily. Yes there are that many people for this conference.

Next is I prefer to be close to the convention center or one close to more restaurants, since I might take some prospective recruits for dinner.

No dont have to stay at a Marriott...can stay at a hilton ^_^

RobertS975

The JW is the old Meridien... it is a good hotel. It has a Shula's Steakhouse in the lobby. At the end of the day, they are all OK... I don't know what the OP is searching for. He doesn't mention any elite status with MR, so upgrades don't sound like they are part of the discussion, and probably not the concierge lounges either. So the OP should sort out the prices and look at a map and decide where he wants to base himeself.

SkiAdcock

For those who have stayed recently at the various properties, is this still accurate? If not, please post in the exec lounge sticky an update. Thx.

* New Orleans / JW Marriott / CLOSED / free wifi in lounge; 10/30/10 update
* New Orleans / Marriott Canal Place / CLOSED; 3/4/11 update
* New Orleans / Marriott Pere Marquette / CLOSED; 1/29/11 update
* New Orleans / Renaissance Arts / CLOSED (BREAKFAST)
* New Orleans / Lakeshore Marriott / CLOSED; Coupons upon request; 07/11 update

Please note there is no date next to the Ren Arts, which means I've had no updates since '09 on that property. And another is almost a year old.


Cheers.

keeton

No one has mentioned the Marriott at the Convention Center. This would undoubtably be the most convenient to the center. I've only walked by it so I can't comment regarding its accomodations. You'll need to taxi to most anything else.

This changes things a bit.

The Riverfront Hilton would be by far the best location for access to both the convention center and the restaurant/tourist attractions in the CBD/Quarter. The views are stunning from the upper floors. If you are a Hilton elite and can get lounge access, you can have breakfast there (view aside, it is not as good as the Marriott lounges, IMO).

uspcommuter

Haha...sorry for the ADD...I do have gold @ Marriott and hilton.

I guess the new question is ...any restaurant recs? I looked at the Cochon Website and Dec cant come fast enough :-) Thanks.

Cargojon

This.

I actually didn't care for this hotel all that much, not that it was bad per se, I just didn't care for it.

SkiAdcock

Anyone have an update on the Ren Arts lounge open on weekends status?

bokeyes23

Recently had a stay at the JW New Orleans in June. Lounge was decent, a few hot plates I remember scrambled eggs and bacon and some fruit/bagels. The pool is awful if you want sun, sun lasted all of 10 min in the pool, not the best sun pool if thats what you are looking for. Had 5 rooms between all of us for a bachelor party, all the rooms were basically the same, nice rooms, comfy beds, standard for a nice ren or decent JW, not comparable to the Grand Rapids JW or Indianapolis JW though, they are the best JW's I have been in personally, I would rank this JW just behind the Chicago JW. The Shula's is amazing, room service Shula's steak for breakfast?!? Can't beat it! The lounge was closed on weekend, no special amenities in rooms that I noticed, in the room I felt like I was in a Full service Marriott or even a really nice courtyard. When I stay at Grand Rapids I feel like I am in a upscale, first class, modern hotel, so its just a different vibe. The location is ideal for Bourbon Street and Casino/convention center. I am going to try a different property next time though, just to try a different place.