The Iris Motel

The motel was in a good spot, and the French Quarter, Bourbon St, and the markets were a short drive away. Our room, number 7, was small but tidy, though it didn’t have a parking space. There was ample parking, and only a couple of cars used the lot on our last two nights, but we still had to leave our car on the street. On arrival, everything was locked up like Fort Knox, so we had to phone the person in charge to get the codes for the gates and room. We stayed three nights.

The pool is gorgeous, the place is clean and nice, and the few staff members are fantastic and gracious. The rooms are small but efficient. There isn’t much nearby, so having a car or rental helps. If you don’t mind staying in the hood, this place is awesome.

The customer service was very efficient. The woman who helped us check in early deserves a special thank you. She gave us a chance to change and get dressed for the graduation before the usual check-in time.

For around $80 a night, this was a great deal. The room was clean and had decent furniture, better than what I’ve seen at some big chains charging over $200. It came with the usual basics: a mini fridge, coffee, bottled water, a desk and chair, TV, iron and board, toiletries, and AC I could actually set to 72. I liked the low-key setup too. They gave me the gate and room codes after booking, there was no daily cleaning by default, and I didn’t need to talk to anyone. One night, around 12:30, I woke up to what sounded like furniture being thrown around in a nearby part of the building. It didn’t seem to be coming from a guest room. The toilet valve also needed a manual lift inside the tank to shut fully, which wasn’t a big deal. I’d stay here again if I need a motel in New Orleans.