Hilton Garden Inn New Orleans French Quarter/CBD

I’ve stayed at a lot of hotels, and this was possibly the worst customer service I’ve had. A message landed in my spam saying there was a problem with my payment card and I needed to contact the hotel right away or risk losing my room. When I called as I was about to board my flight to New Orleans, I was kept on hold for seven minutes. Then I was told not to worry, they only wanted to make sure I was coming. Nobody mentioned a problem with the room I’d already paid for. At breakfast, I tried to use my $10 daily perk as a good member toward my wife’s meal, since I had a breakfast voucher for mine. The woman in the breakfast room said we could, but was outright rude. The cook left our food on the counter without calling us or bringing it to the table. At checkout, the bill was wrong. The bartender charged $43 for a double vodka straight, then said it seemed high and took $10 off, which felt like a made-up price. I filled out the departure survey and got an automated apology, but no follow-up from the manager. His email had caused the panic in the first place. We paid $1k a night because it was jazz fest, and the poor service from the top down was deeply disappointing. I’d never stay there again. Domonique Holloway is the manager who needs to answer for his crimes! Ha.

For around $150 a night during convention time, the location seemed reasonably priced, and the staff were friendly and helpful. As a diamond member, I’ve stayed at different Hilton hotels, so I know quality costs. This was my first visit to New Orleans, though, and the room needed maintenance. The tub was rusting, the shower handle was broken, the drain was clogged, and the AC was quite noisy.

The front desk staff and cooks were friendly and helpful, and I enjoyed my stay, especially the breakfast included in my package. Everything is within walking distance, and the city has a whole different vibe at night. Parking is the catch: valet costs $46, though you can find cheaper parking down the street.

The rooms were clean and okay, but I wasn’t keen on the shared soap setup. There are three bottles fixed to the shower wall for everyone who uses the room, instead of individual soap and shampoo. I brought my own. I guess I don’t trust humanity that much. The location is the best part, with pretty much all of downtown and the French quarter within walking distance.