Bienville House

The balcony overlooking the street gave us the extra bit of luxury I was hoping for, and the room itself was spacious and clean. Staff were pleasant and knew the area well. This was my first trip to New Orleans, and Bienville House Hotel made it a lovely getaway. It was so convenient, with attractions only minutes away in either direction. Thanks again, Bienville House. See you soon. Lynne and Bill

The bright side was the rest of the team. Melani, the other front desk associates, and the bell staff were warm, friendly, professional, and a pleasure to talk with. Cynthia’s treatment, though, overshadowed all of that. After this stay I won’t return to Bienville House or recommend it. Management should take this seriously, because guests shouldn’t feel unwelcome or singled out on a trip that’s meant to be enjoyable. My guest and I arrived for a long weekend in New Orleans and were met by Cynthia at the front desk. She demanded my last name and then my “credit card,” without a welcome, greeting, or smile. Once we had our room keys, she pointed to the elevator. It was one of the worst check-ins I’ve had, and I travel often, both around the country and internationally. She seemed bothered that paying guests were there. That coldness continued throughout our stay. Cynthia repeatedly ignored us coming into and leaving the hotel, while I saw her greet other guests warmly, with smiles and enthusiasm. The difference was hard to miss. By the second day, my guest and I were avoiding her because every interaction felt unpleasant and uncomfortable. No one should feel unwelcome at a hotel they paid for. On checkout day, around 10:00 a.m., I called to ask if a late checkout was possible. I understood they might say no, but most hotels at least check. Before I could give my room number, Cynthia cut in: “I cannot accommodate that, and I’m not saying it again. I cannot accommodate that.” I was stunned. It was a routine question, and there was no reason to answer so rudely or aggressively. After the weekend of treatment we’d already had, that call made it feel like a pattern, not a misunderstanding. I found her conduct disgraceful for someone in hospitality. Her attitude and lack of professionalism have no place in a hotel presenting itself as a welcoming New Orleans experience. One employee shouldn’t be able to sour an entire trip, but that’s what happened here.

The tiki bar downstairs helped make up for the room’s shortcomings, and the location really was perfect. Most things were within a 15-minute walk, with a bunch of great restaurants just 1-3 minutes away. It has old-world charm at an affordable price. A few things could be better. The room could use updating and got stuffy at night. We paid extra for a patio, but its chairs had no cushions, even though they clearly seemed meant to have them. Staff friendliness was hit or miss.

Everyone was friendly, and the hotel is a lovely boutique place right in the French Quarter. Our room was nice and had a balcony. But there were a lot of little frustrations, and the team didn’t seem as on top of things as I expected. Housekeeping was good when it happened, but it’s by request. I requested it three days in a row and finally had to ask how to get it done. The answer was to call the front desk early in the morning. It shouldn’t be that hard. I also asked for extra washcloths, and although the desk said someone would bring them, they never arrived. The shower temperature was miserable over the weekend. There’s no bar or restaurant service apart from 4-10 PM at the next-door Beachbum Berry's Latitude 29. It’s fun, but there’s no breakfast or lunch now. I’d seen other reviews mentioning breakfast being provided, but that’s no longer the case. The lobby also said they could get us a taxi, but couldn’t arrange one, so we used Ubers except for the airport return. Instead, they called a very talkative but nice former employee with a van. We didn’t know he was an ex-employee until he showed up. I understand wanting to help a friend, but it wasn’t the taxi I’d asked for, and felt a little unprofessional.