Royal St. Charles Hotel

You’re right in the French quarter for the price, with plenty of bars and things to do nearby. The Marriott across the street is often where local tour companies pick people up. Staff were really friendly and let me check in early, and they’ll hold your luggage so you can keep exploring. The rooms are clean and pretty standard, though the pillows felt a bit flat. There’s a coffee shop downstairs, and you get two complimentary beers with your stay. I really enjoyed it here.

Parking is expensive around New Orleans, so you’ll need to pay for parking or valet. The valet staff were kind and helped with our luggage. Everyone was friendly and accommodating with our two and a half year old. We had a spacious corner room with a city view, and they provided a crib that worked great for him. The lobby is really pretty, and they offered us free drinks and king cake samples. The hotel is on the smaller side but right in the middle of everything. One thing to know, valet parks your car two blocks away, so it takes a few minutes to get it when you’re heading out. The Nest brand shampoo and conditioner smelled good!

The room was clean, and the bed was super comfortable. Staff were always smiling and really polite. We stayed from 8/6/18 to 8/7/18, and each of us got a drink ticket for a free daquiri or a beer on tap. The only problems were a lamp that didn’t work on one side of the bed and an outlet that was dead on the other, so I couldn’t charge my phone beside the bed. Still a wonderful hotel in a great spot, and we’d consider staying again.

Bourbon Street is an easy walk away, and the trolley stops right at the front door. The location is great, with fantastic restaurants close by, but far enough from the foot traffic and noise that it still feels calm. The building apparently has a lot of history, though inside it feels modern and new. In the lobby there’s a popular coffee shop, a colorful, funky lounge, and mixed drinks on tap at check-in. They kept refreshing the free king cake samples, and eventually I had to stop myself from having more. Our room felt new and clean, and the staff were friendly and attentive. Everything about the hotel was great. I’ll be back.