The Open Road Travel

When looking at the best areas to stay in New Orleans, the first thing you need to do is really think about what you are hoping to get out of your trip.

With a range of vibrant cultural and historical attractions, as well as a world-famous party scene, this is a city where the best area to stay can be dramatically different from one person to the next.

So, if you are planning a trip to NOLA and want to make sure it is everything you imagined, I highly recommend reading on.

New Orleans is the largest city in Louisiana, located in the very south of the state, sandwiched between Lake Pontchartrain, the Gulf Of Mexico, and the Mississippi River.

Founded in 1718, it sits on marsh lands beneath sea level. As a result, it is notorious for being heavily hit by hurricanes since its founding, most notably Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

One of the most popular tourist destinations in the southern United States, and perhaps even the country as a whole, it is synonymous with a unique history and culture that you are unlikely to find anywhere else.

Among its most popular draws are the cultures of the Cajun and Creole people, a rich history relating to African Americans, its unique architecture, the evolution of the voodoo religion, and the iconic bayous and above ground cemeteries.

You also have the world-famous Mardi Gras celebrations that take place each spring, which can compete with any other street festival anywhere on Earth.

Choosing the best time to visit New Orleans is a little more difficult than with most cities.

While June through September are the warmest months, this is also right in the middle of hurricane season. As most people know, hurricanes can devastate New Orleans in the blink of an eye, so this is a time that is best avoided.

For most people, April and May will be the best months to visit New Orleans. This is because they are both the warmest and driest months outside of hurricane season, meaning you will be able to enjoy all of the attractions you hope to see, with as little fuss as possible.

However, for those coming to see the Mardi Gras festivities, these run between the Christian celebrations of Epiphany and Ash Wednesday.

While the exact date varies from year to year, it is always in either February or early March, meaning this is the timeframe you want to be looking at.

As we move on to our list of the best areas to stay in New Orleans, I am now going to suggest a few options. Each will be ideal for some of the most common needs people have when travelling.

The French Quarter is found in south central New Orleans, on the north bank of the Mississippi River, and is undoubtedly the most famous part of the city.

One of the oldest neighbourhoods in New Orleans, as well as an area that survived Hurricane Katrina relatively unscathed, it is where you will find many of the most historic buildings in the city.

The entire French Quarter is listed as a National Historic Landmark, with various buildings listed themselves for a variety of reasons.

This includes a number of iconic hotels, as well as music venues that have played host to some of the world’s greatest jazz musicians through the years.

Among the most iconic buildings on display is the St. Louis Cathedral. Originally erected when the city was settled in 1718, it was rebuilt and expanded a number of times until the 1850’s.

Featuring iconic spires and designed in French Neo Gothic, Renaissance, and Spanish Colonial styles, it is a fabulous place to learn about the evolving architectural and religious histories of the city.

In front of the cathedral, you then have Jackson Square. A beautiful city park, it is filled with statues and historic buildings with exposed, red brick walls.

Elsewhere throughout the French Quarter you then have historic attractions like the Lalaurie Mansion, Tennessee Williams House, and the French Market.

The Lalaurie Mansion was built in the 1800s in the Neoclassical style. With a famously gory past, it is a common stop on many of the city’s ghost walking tours, as well as a magnet for fans of architecture.

The Tennessee Williams House is the former home of the fabled playwright, where he wrote and set many of his most famous pieces. While it is a private residence that isn’t open to the public, there is a plaque telling you a little more about its history.

The French Market is a long running market located in a historic, early 1800s hotel, filled with paved courtyards and an outdoor pool. It is a fabulous place to purchase some of the foods and delicacies New Orleans is best known for.

You also have more modern attractions, which are designed to play on the culture and history that New Orleans is renowned for. This includes destinations like Marie Laveau’s House Of Voodoo, the New Orleans Jazz Museum, and the New Orleans Museum Of Death.

All of this is without even mentioning the legendary Bourbon Street, which runs through the heart of the district. The most visited part of New Orleans, it draws in over 17 million people each year and is responsible for roughly a third of the city’s economy.

It is unquestionably the hub of the city’s nightlife and is the best place to stay in New Orleans for a bachelor party.

Bars, clubs, and restaurants are located every few yards, serving everything from beer and cocktails to traditional, Cajun style, New Orleans cuisine, while dancers and live musicians entertain the patrons as they eat and drink.

You also have the most famous music venue in the city, the New Orleans Musical Legends Park. An outdoor venue filled with sculptures and tributes to New Orleans musical royalty, it regularly hosts free live performances of the traditional New Orleans style of jazz.

For anyone travelling to the city in early February, Bourbon Street is also the best place to stay in New Orleans for Mardi Gras. A city more synonymous with the festival than perhaps anywhere else in the world, the streets come to life with floats and parades.

Bourbon Street is at the heart of these celebrations, with the local bars all holding events and promotions around the clock.

No matter how you hope to celebrate “Fat Tuesday”, doing it on Bourbon Street will make for an experience you never forget, provided you don’t drink too much.

Stay In The French Quarter If:

• You want many of the city’s top attractions and buildings within walking distance
• You are coming to New Orleans for Mardi Gras or a bachelor party
• You want to stay in one of the most iconic hotels in New Orleans
• Nightlife is a priority during your stay
• You love live music
• You want to sample traditional Cajun cuisine
• You want to learn about the musical legends of New Orleans
  

The Royal Sonesta Hotel New Orleans is a beautiful, 4-star hotel, in a historic building on Bourbon Street that features the balconies synonymous with New Orleans architecture.

Each of the rooms is stylishly decorated and features amenities like air conditioning, Wi-Fi, a flat screen TV, refrigerator, and safe, as well as plush bathrobes and luxury toiletries. Some rooms even have a private balcony overlooking Bourbon Street.

The property itself is decorated with unique works of art in the traditional New Orleans style. Numerous bars, cafes, and restaurants are found throughout the hotel, serving Cajun, Creole, and international cuisines, as well as a wide range of cocktails.

There is even an on-site Jazz Club, where you can enjoy the city’s iconic music in historic surroundings. Other facilities at the Royal Sonesta include an outdoor pool, a spa, fitness and business centres, a car rental desk, and concierge, laundry, and ironing services.

Downtown New Orleans is located immediately to the south of the French Quarter and is made up of both the Central Business and Warehouse Districts.

The Central Business District is the part of the city that is filled with the headquarters and offices of numerous large corporations and businesses.

These buildings are then surrounded by a selection of bars, hotels, restaurants, and shops, aimed to cater to the workers who commute in from out of town.

There are also a significantly larger number of parking lots than in the surrounding areas, making it ideal for anyone travelling with a car.

That said, its proximity to the French Quarter makes this part of Downtown New Orleans the best area to stay in New Orleans without a car, as you have all the attractions of both districts within walking distance.

Those that would prefer not to walk also have the Charles Avenue Streetcar line, which travels through Downtown New Orleans, along the banks of the Mississippi River, and into the French Quarter.

First opened in 1835, it is the world’s oldest continually operating streetcar line. It gives you the chance to sit back and relax, as you take in some incredible views and history along the way.

The Warehouse District was traditionally centred around the manufacturing and warehousing industries.

Located in the south of Downtown New Orleans, the neighbourhood began to decline as the shipping industry evolved, until the 1984 Louisiana World Exposition world’s fair breathed new life into it.

Fresh eyes on the area led to increased investment and extensive redevelopment and revitalisation.

As a result, the Warehouse District has been transformed into a hub of art galleries, bars, condominiums, hotels, restaurants, and shops, many of which are among the best in the city.

The incredible selection means there are plenty of affordable choices, as there is a healthy amount of competition.

This makes Downtown New Orleans the best place to stay on a budget, as you can stay near many of the most popular attractions, without breaking the bank.

This section of Downtown New Orleans is also where you will find the Caesars Superdome, formally the Mercedes Benz Superdome and Louisiana Superdome.

An outdoor stadium with a capacity of more than 78,000 people, it holds many of the biggest concerts and events in New Orleans.

It is also the home of the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. This makes the area a perfect choice for anyone visiting to watch a game or show, who doesn’t want to get stuck in the event day traffic.

Stay In Downtown New Orleans If:

• You are travelling on a budget
• You are visiting the city on business
• You want to be near the French Quarter but not in it
• You want an area where you won’t need a car
• You are attending a game or event at the Superdome
• You are a fan of art galleries
• You want a great selection of bars, hotels, restaurants, and shops
• You want to ride the oldest continually operating streetcar line on Earth
  

The Holiday Inn New Orleans-Downtown Superdome is a 4-star hotel that is conveniently located to provide easy access to the Superdome, as well as all areas of Downtown New Orleans and the southern section of the French Quarter.

Guest rooms feature a coffee maker, flat screen TV, microwave, refrigerator, safety deposit box, Wi-Fi, and air conditioning, while all being designed in a simple yet stylish fashion.

Amenities at the property include a restaurant and lounge, as well as business and fitness centres.

The Lakeview district is located in the north-western corner of the city, on the shore of Lake Pontchartrain.

It offers some of the best waterfront vistas in the city, as well as a stunning view of the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, the longest continuous bridge over water anywhere on Earth.

Home to some of the largest sections of bayou within the city limits, as well as offering relatively easy access to the heart of New Orleans, Lakeview is the best area to stay in New Orleans for a vacation that incorporates a little bit of everything that New Orleans and Louisiana are known for.

The most popular reason people choose to stay in Lakeview though, is for its subdistrict, City Park.

Around twice the size of New York City’s Central Park, it is filled with nature, attractions, and wide open green spaces, which have made it one of the most visited urban parks in America.

The endless list of opportunities in City Park includes boat rentals, dog parks, fair grounds, fishing spots, gondola rides, historic structures, horse stables, and museums, as well as a sculpture garden, water park, welcome centre, and gift shop.

Among the more popular attractions are the New Orleans Botanical Gardens and the New Orleans Museum Of Art.

Originally opened in 1911, the New Orleans Museum Of Art is one of the oldest museums in the city.

Its personal collection features over 40,000 pieces, including paintings and sculptures, with some dating back over 5,000 years, while it also hosts events and collaborations with other museums on occasion.

The New Orleans Botanical Gardens also features some of their own art, the majority of which is in the form of sculptures.

However, it is the more natural features that are the selling point here, such as the selection of gardens that are home to countless species of plants from around the world.

There is also a beautiful conservatory filled with fossils and a recreation of a rainforest, while the Butterfly Walk is a wonderful place to take a short walk through some of the local wildlife.

Another of the most popular attractions is the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park. An amusement park with a collection of 16 rides, including the iconic, antique wooden horse carousel the park is named after, it provides fun for visitors of all ages.

With so many things to do, as well as plenty of space to be free, this makes Lakeview the best area to stay in New Orleans with family, especially if travelling with children.

You will always be able to find something to keep them entertained or let them run around and burn off some energy.

Stay In Lakeview If:

• You are travelling with family or small children
• You plan to spend a great deal of time exploring City Park
• You want beautiful waterfront views or to drive across the Lake Pontchartrain      Causeway
• You want to visit the New Orleans Botanical Gardens or New Orleans Museum Of Art
• You want to explore the bayou or see a little bit of everything New Orleans has to      offer

The Rose Manor Bed & Breakfast is a 4-star hotel located in a beautiful, traditional New Orleans style mansion, situated right on the shore of Lake Pontchartrain.

Both the rooms and the communal areas boast traditional décor and furnishings, as does the patio and shared lounge.

All guest rooms boast a work desk, flat screen cable TV, ironing facilities, and a private bathroom, while some also feature luxuries like an antique, four-poster bed.

A traditional style breakfast is served each morning, while guests also receive free on-site parking and access to fax and photocopying facilities. Wi-Fi is also present throughout the property.

Faubourg Treme is the official French name for the district commonly known as Treme/Lafitte or simply Treme.

Situated immediately northwest of the French Quarter, Faubourg Treme is an extremely historically significant area, as one of the oldest parts of the city.

Settled in 1810, at the height of slavery in the United States, it was the primary residence for most free people of colour in the region during that era.

Although it has been home to a diverse range of people from all ethnicities through the years, it is most closely linked with the Creole people. The vast majority of Creole people are black Americans who are descended from ancestors in French or Spanish colonies.

Through the years, they have developed their own distinctive, iconic style, from their food, language, and music to the infamous Voodoo religion that many Creole people practice.

Many of the establishments located in Faubourg Treme now focus on this culture, allowing it to offer a truly unique and historical experience.

The New Orleans African American Museum is built on former plantation lands and houses exhibits dedicated to the history and art of black Louisiana residents, within historic brick walls that were erected in 1828.

The St. Augustine Church is the oldest African American Catholic church in America. Founded in 1841, it is an iconic building that was at the heart of the historical War Of The Pews, making it a great place to learn about the religious history of the city.

You also have 2 of the 3 cemeteries of the legendary Saint Louis Cemetery.

Both listed on the National Register Of Historic Places, they feature endless rows of the iconic, above ground tombs and vaults the city’s cemeteries are known for, as well as the final resting places of many of New Orleans most famous historical people.

St Louis Cemetery also hosts events such as Ghost Tours, taking visitors to some of the most haunted areas in the city.

When combined with the strong presence of locations dedicated to the Voodoo culture, it makes Faubourg Treme the best area to stay in New Orleans at Halloween for a truly spooky time.

All of these locations are also found along the Louisiana African American Heritage Trail. Running from New Orleans to Shreveport, it features 26 sites dedicated to the art, culture, and history of African Americans.

You then also have restaurants noted for their unique cuisine and distinctive southern charm, where you can sample cuisines you are unlikely to find anywhere else, in a friendly environment.

This helps makes Faubourg Treme the best area to stay in New Orleans for couples, as you can experience new tastes and cultures together for the first time, in intimate, picturesque settings.

Stay In Faubourg Treme If:

• You are following the African American Heritage Trail
• You are visiting New Orleans for Halloween
• You want to stay in one of the oldest, most historic parts of the city
• You are interested in Creole cuisine and culture
• You want to visit the Saint Louis Cemetery
• You want to learn more about voodoo
  

The Edgar Degas House Historic Home & Museum is a 4-star hotel that perfectly represents everything Faubourg Treme is about.

Once the home of French Artist Edgar Degas, both the rooms and communal areas are decorated with unique artwork, while the rooms are also named after members of his family.

Each room features Wi-Fi, a flat screen TV, and a private bathroom, while some even boast a fully furnished private balcony and spa tub. All guests also receive free on-site parking and a guided tour of the property.

There is even a restaurant serving a full, Creole style breakfast each morning, to really help you get into the spirit of the neighbourhood.

New Orleans is a fabulous city that is among the most unique on the planet.

That means all that’s left is to start getting everything booked, so you can look forward to having a stress-free trip to “The Big Easy” and experience it all for yourself.