The Riverfront Hotel New Orleans

We were able to walk easily to the River Walk, French Quarter, and more, so the location worked really well for us. The hotel was clean and well cared for, and our room smelled nice and felt comfortable. Everyone we spoke with was friendly, professional, and accommodating. Valet was easy to deal with, too.

The hotel’s location was the best part for me. There’s a mall right across the street, and lots of good restaurants and bars within a 10-minute walk. The stay itself was decent, but the fees and communication left me frustrated. Valet costs $50 a night, and there was also a $25 nightly “destination fee” I hadn’t been told about upfront. I later found out it covered two complimentary cocktails and beignets, but nobody explained that while I was there, so I couldn’t use those perks. When I asked the front desk twice about an unexpected $200 charge, I still didn’t get a clear answer or hear about the destination fee. Seven days later, I’m also still waiting for my $150 deposit back. Staff didn’t tell me about basic amenities like the fitness center, either. For the price, the experience felt short on thoughtfulness and clear information. One practical thing to know: the hallways wind around and have stairs the bell hop cart can’t manage, so you’ll need to make several trips with lots of luggage. I’d probably look at other hotels next time.

We booked this hotel so we could walk across the street to the convention center tournament each day. The front desk staff and valet were good, and our room was clean. It could use updates, but the bed was made and fresh towels were there each day. We cut the trip short by a day and weren’t refunded for the night we didn’t use, which was disappointing. The bartender on Friday night 5/22 was great. On Sunday 5/24, though, the bartender was awful. He seemed annoyed when we asked what drinks the free vouchers covered, then pointed at the icebox when we asked what beers they had. After we picked one, he tossed the opener onto the bar and left the beers several seats away until I called him rude. He then moved them over. While we drank, he was smacking on chips, burping, and licking his fingers. I never saw him wash his hands afterward. Maybe he was having a bad day, but we also saw him treat other customers that way. I left without tipping him, which I’ve almost never done. All in all, not a great stay.

I paid for the Executive Loft Suite, the second most expensive room category, expecting something premium. Instead, the place felt unfinished and poorly kept, with flickering lights and unfinished fixtures that made it seem cheap rather than luxurious. The first room had serious air conditioning trouble, so I had to move on the first day. In the second room, the fire alarm went off continuously for about an hour on day two. After a long wait with little help, management said they couldn’t upgrade or relocate us. We stayed once the alarm finally stopped. Then, on the second day, I was charged another $150 “deposit” without a clear explanation. I understand the usual incidental deposit at check-in, but I’ve never had a second one added midway through a stay. They advertise this as a 4-star hotel, but my experience was nowhere near that standard.