Courtyard by Marriott New Orleans Metairie

The rooms were in excellent shape, and the remodeling was clear. They were an upgrade from our last stay, and we slept well. The night auditor, evening maintenance staff, and the morning person at checkout all provided outstanding service. We were in town in early October, on the outskirts of my native city, for my twin cousins' retirement party across town. As we pulled up to the car port, a group of teens in what looked like sports gear was getting off a charter bus. I worried that check-in might take a while when I saw them, but it went smoothly. Renee at the front desk set a great tone with a friendly greeting, a down-to-earth manner, and professional, reassuring help. If we don’t choose an Airbnb or stay in the French Quarter next time, we plan to come back.

The woman at the restaurant downstairs, I think her name is Tonya, is the sweetest person I’ve met. She’s the reason I gave the restaurant five stars. Little things make a difference, and Tonya makes a difference here. The gym has dumbbells and kettle bells, and the WiFi is strong. The location also works great for reps working the New Orleans territory.

Everyone else was impeccable, which makes me even more disappointed about how the night audit was handled. During a cold front, I paid over $200 a night and had no heater. I called the night audit lady most of the night, and she had the nastiest attitude. She watched the phone ring after I complained, then said she was doing her nightly audit while I was stuck in a room that was 45 degrees. No engineer came until 9 a.m., and then I was told the problem hadn’t been put in until 6:30 a.m. I’ve stayed here multiple times over the years, and Marriott is usually my preferred stay, but after this incident it won’t be. I’m especially disappointed that she showed no remorse when it was so cold outside.

I come back to this place whenever I’m in NOLA. It’s quiet, always clean, and the staff are friendly and knowledgeable. It’s close to the places I need to visit, and if I arrive before eating, I can get a couple of vegetarian options from the cafe. This isn’t the spot for downtown NOLA, but it’s a good choice if you want somewhere quiet.