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Good places to stay in New Orleans

12:28 / 01.05.02

I am planning on having a few days in New Orleans in late September, and know nothing about the place in the way of 'real' knowledge.

I have looked at a few online guides, but they never tell you the info that you need to know - like where is a good area to stay that you are not going to get turned over the second you step out of the hotel?

Any lowdown on where's good and where's not gratefully received.

'Boozler

13:10 / 01.05.02

Bed and breakfasts in the Garden District - close enough to the (more expensive) French Quarter to walk to.
Once I stayed at the Lake (I'm not sure if it's a "district" or an "area" or what), and it's too far away to be fun.

Eat at Mother's on Tchoupitoulas (chop-it-TEWL-ass) for lunch and Petunia's (it ain't far from Bourbon a couple blocks east of Canal, within the Quarter) for breakfast.

Garden District is nice to walk around in if you're into old cemeteries, big houses and fancy gardens.

And don't miss the Voodoo Museum. Not the Chicken Man's House of Voodoo, but the actual Voodoo Museum.

15:22 / 01.05.02

The Youth Hostel there kicks ass. For $50 a night(1997), I had a room with Kitchen and enough room for 8 people in a 19th century building in the Garden District... but watch out, because they have nasty dorm beds as well. Make sure you get a private room in the old building.

Links to it here:
http://hometown.aol.com/hineworlns/myhomepage/index.html

http://63.70.211.212/cfdocs/hostels.cfm?CITY=New%20Orleans

22:41 / 01.05.02

When I first moved to New Orleans I lived here for three months. Though I have heard better things about the Marquette house mentioned above. Unfortunately my buddy who owns the Garden Avenue Hotel is selling it later this month. It's right on St. Charles in the Lower Garden District and a pretty good deal now...but who knows with new owners by September.
In general the Garden District is a good place to stay..beautiful area and a short streetcar ride to the French Quarter.
In the Quarter check out The Funky Butt for good jazz, The Shim Sham Club for a good club and the good bars are on Decateur, Frenchmen and Esplande, not Bourbon.

As for being worried about bad neighborhoods. I'm not sure there are any good ones. In my neighborhood, which is pretty good in the Lower Garden District everyone I know has been held up at one time or another, including myself. Walk for 10 blocks in any given direction and you'll pass both mansions and projects. Just stay aware of what's going on and if you get drunk...take a cab back to where you're staying.

03:41 / 02.05.02

Gotta back Barry on the youth hostels. When I was at school there, my then-boyfriend visited me, and we too got a place with a kitchen for a week at like $30 a night. No phone, no TV, but a bed and a kitchen and a roof.

Ofermod's right, there aren't really any good neighbors in New Orleans. Just keep to well lit streets, and bear in mind that the street cars don't show up as consistantly after midnight, so you may have a loooong wait. Thoughts on Bourbon Street: ever been to an amusement park type place, where they have Main Street USA, and they sell waaay overpriced T-shirts? That. But with alcohol. There's also a nice place way out on the edge of the Quarter called the Dragon's Den/The Siam. They serve quality Thai food and have some pretty neat bands from time to time, if it's still there.