Maison Dupuy

It was my first visit to New Orleans, and I’d book this place again if I return. You can walk to Bourbon Street and Jackson Square, and explore the French Quarter without being so close that nighttime noise gets in the way. I stayed a couple of nights last October, I think, and the location was perfect.

The French Quarter location is fantastic, and the lobby coffee and water were appreciated. The attached restaurant also served good food, though breakfast was outrageously priced at $40 or more for a standard meal. I’d look elsewhere to eat. This was one of the cheaper Mardi Gras options, so I tried not to expect too much, but I left disappointed and am unsure I’d return. I booked through a third party and emailed twice to confirm. Neither email got a response. I eventually called and got verbal confirmation, but they wouldn’t confirm the dates or put it in writing. That lack of communication was frustrating. The hotel is very old, and basic things kept going wrong. The key cards failed several times and the elevator acted strangely. My room felt dirty, with stains on the curtains and bed, grime on the floor and other surfaces, and unflushed feces in the toilet when I arrived. The bathroom light had no cover, leaving ceiling wiring visible, which didn’t feel safe. Staff were somewhat pleasant, though less friendly than at other hotels. They seemed stressed by Mardi Gras, so I don’t blame them for that. I was still annoyed by the $30 wristband requirement for guests visiting my room during Mardi Gras week. I understand why they enforced it, but it was frustrating not to be able to have friends stop by the room I’d paid so much for. After I got home, I noticed a cluster of itchy bites on my arm. I can’t say they came from bed bugs, but I’m not sure what else caused them. Be careful with luggage in the room. I really hope I didn’t bring any bugs home.

The team always greeted me with a smile, and manager Keyiana went out of her way to fix a payment problem. My company's card payment had an issue and the charge landed on my personal card; she helped resolve it quickly. I was on a business trip and felt very safe walking alone. The location is in the French quarter, but far enough from the party noise. The rooms are old in a way that feels like part of the city’s magic, but they’re clean and spacious, and the beds are very comfortable. The pool and common areas are beautiful. My one suggestion is to replace the keycard system, since I had to get my cards fixed three times.

The only real plus was being close to the main evening attractions. Upkeep was awful: the pool was green, and staff seemed to think that was funny. The elevators were partly broken, and even staff warned us to be careful because one could rip your hand off. All four rooms we had smelled stale and were hot with no air conditioning. In New Orleans, no A/C is a big deal. The showers only had mildly warm water. I can’t recommend this place.