The Eleanor New Orleans

The condo was exactly what we wanted: comfortable, beautiful, roomy, and stocked with a delightful charcuterie board in the fridge when we arrived. The blackout-style rooms had no windows, which we actually liked for sleeping. The small pool and hot tub were just what we needed after a long, hot day, and the rooftop amenities were gorgeous. Although there are no staff on site, the team was very helpful and responsive by text. The Eleanor is within walking distance of nearly everything, with trams for the rest. Separate codes for the door, elevator, rooms, and other access points made us feel safer given the atmosphere outside. We even loved the building's adorable trash chute. The garage was the serious problem, and we would happily stay again if those issues were addressed. The condo is reached only through that garage, though it isn't affiliated with The Eleanor. Management chose that setup despite another street-facing door that's currently unavailable to guests. The elevators in the garage were disabled, and cars stayed parked in the tiny loading area for our whole two-night, three-day visit. The place was filthy and felt terribly dangerous. Used condoms were scattered around the garage and stairwells. Homeless people camped on every floor, people openly used and sold drugs, and prostitutes solicited at all hours. Many gathered in front of The Eleanor's entrance and blocked it, while other people parked to socialize and blocked access to both the garage and condos. Parking was also very expensive. Finding The Eleanor was difficult because there wasn't enough signage, and we circled the block several times. The guest portal hadn't been clearly explained, which made check-in frustrating, though staff sorted it out quickly. Given all this, having no on-site security seemed like a serious management oversight. Management could look at safer or cheaper parking, perhaps through a shuttle if the garage owner won't agree to better rates. On-site security, maybe in the lobby to escort guests and call NOPD as needed to keep out riffraff, and using the street-facing door as the main entrance could help. Security might also stop permanent users from taking the loading zone. I suspect The Eleanor brings in most of the garage's revenue, so moving business elsewhere could improve negotiations, but either way changes like these would greatly improve the guest experience.