where to stay on vacation in New Orleans (to rent, hotel)

[frustrated!!]

My husband and I want to go to New Orleans for a long weekend vacation in March. Neither of us have ever been there and don't know many who have visited. I hate making all my vacation plans not knowing anything about where to stay. We are not big partyers we just want a relaxing vacation somewhere we haven't been before. Where would you suggest we stay that would be close to restaurants and other things to do? What places do you think we should check out while we are there? Do we need to rent a car? Any other suggestions or things we should think about before making our final plans?

[rburnett]

Originally Posted by frustrated!!

My husband and I want to go to New Orleans for a long weekend vacation in March. Neither of us have ever been there and don't know many who have visited. I hate making all my vacation plans not knowing anything about where to stay. We are not big partyers we just want a relaxing vacation somewhere we haven't been before. Where would you suggest we stay that would be close to restaurants and other things to do? What places do you think we should check out while we are there? Do we need to rent a car? Any other suggestions or things we should think about before making our final plans?

The hard partyers are generally contained to the first few blocks of Bourbon St, so that atmosphere is easilly avoidable. The rest of the French Quarter and downtown area are much more chill. You really don't need a car. Everything you would want to see on your first trip here is within walking distance or accessable by streetcar/bus.

See:
//www.city-data.com/forum/new-o...s-feb-1-a.html

See:
//www.city-data.com/forum/new-o...1-feb-4-a.html

I would also reccommend a bike tour of the downtown neighborhoods as it is a lot of ground to cover on foot. These guys do a great job. New Orleans Bike Tours « Confederacy of Cruisers

[moiraesfate]

I suggest something in the CBD, on St Charles, or maybe in the Garden District.

While the French Quarter is an option, it really depends what time period of March you're coming in. The beginning of March is dominated by the HIMSS conference this year, and rates will be very high. My hotel, which is on St Charles, is selling for around $209 a night and up during the HIMSS conference and we only have 26 rooms. The Quarter and the CBD are going to cost much more than that if they have anything left (I was told by a lady a couple days ago that she had spent 4 hours calling every hotel in the Quarter and the CBD and couldn't find anything. She thanked me profusely for having rooms).

If you are thinking of coming at that time, start calling asap. The later part of March is good, but you're looking at rates of $119 and up.

It's the busy season of the year. These rates will continue until around the second week of July.

[frustrated!!]

Thanks for the help. Our trip is booked. Now I just have to narrow down my list of restaurants.