Bywater Suite Hotel

The building is lovely, and the pool and hot tub were beautiful. It was clean, a great value for the price, and I’d happily come back. One thing to check before you arrive is parking: we got a free spot in the lot, but our friends arrived later and were going to be charged, so they left their car on the street.

We’ve stayed at Bywater for a January weekend two years running with a group of adults, and it’s been a fun place both times. It’s peaceful, quiet, and clean, with very friendly front desk staff and a gated lot that felt safe. We enjoy walking around the neighborhood, and the French Quarter is an easy rideshare away. I still haven’t been here in warm weather, but I’d love to try the pool then.

There’s a full kitchen, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and even a washer and dryer, so this is where I’ll stay when I return to New Orleans. The place is nice, private, and gated, with onsite gated parking for a reasonable rate. We did have a toilet problem when we arrived, and there wasn’t a handyman on site. My husband went to the store and fixed it himself. They were under construction during our stay.

The friendly staff were kind throughout our stay, but I wish I’d understood before booking that this works more like a short term rental than a full service hotel. There’s no room service or daily housekeeping. You have to go to the front desk for trash bags, toilet paper, or towels, and when we asked for more towels, none were available. We took out our own trash, and if you want clean towels each day, bring detergent and do laundry. I’m from New Orleans, so I’m not blaming the hotel for city crime, but my father’s truck window was smashed during the stay. Staff and other guests said similar incidents had happened before, including on New Year’s Eve. Paid parking was about $200 for four nights, and the lot was never full. That cost and the gap between what I expected and what we got would keep me from returning. I would have adjusted my expectations or chosen an Airbnb if I’d known. The room itself had problems too. The mattress felt hollow and was the most uncomfortable hotel mattress I’ve slept on. The plywood bed platform had sharp corners, and I hit my shin on it more than once. Our rooms were small, and one had a layout that didn’t make much sense. The TVs could use swivel mounts. Around ten bright recessed lights were all on one switch, which felt overstimulating, while the living room had only one floor lamp. There was also an uncovered TV outlet, a safety concern with a child around. The air conditioning wasn’t working when we arrived, though we didn’t notice until overnight. The windows open but have no screens, something to keep in mind with small children. Water pressure was weak, though the shower got warm enough. If you expect daily fresh towels and the usual hotel services, this may not be the stay you have in mind. I hope this helps someone choose what works for their trip.