TownePlace Suites New Orleans Downtown/Canal Street

We really liked staying here. The rooftop lounge has an amazing view, and breakfast is included and pretty good. The rooms are modern and clean, and the staff were friendly and accommodating. It's about a 15-minute walk to the French Quarter, which worked well for us: close enough to get to the action, but far enough away from the touristy area's madness. Would definitely recommend this place!

The breakfast was one of my favorite parts. It was delicious, with a different mix on different mornings, including frittatas, egg muffins, sometimes potatoes, and vegan choices. There were also muffins, cereal, yogurt, fruit, bagels, breads, peanut butter, and oatmeal with lots of toppings. Hours were convenient, and everything was still stocked whenever I went down. We were there during Jazz Fest, and everyone was gracious even while things were busy. LaTonya at the front desk was especially wonderful. I spoke with her the week before we arrived, and she answered my questions knowledgeably and pleasantly. She even told me Jazz Fest was happening that weekend, which we hadn't known. She checked us in too, with the same cheerful smile I'd heard in her voice, and let us in early without an extra fee. Our room was clean and comfortable, with a lovely top-floor view, which we hadn't even requested. There were dishes and pans already there, so we could warm leftover seafood boil on the stove instead of using the microwave. I also went up to the roof for laundry and saw the indoor-outdoor seating area, where people were having breakfast with a view. There's a bar in the lobby for a quick drink before heading out, and the location made it easy to walk downtown, to the Riverfront, French Quarter, Bourbon St, and the casino. The streetcar also runs right along Cnal St. This stay really helped make our short New Orleans vacation amazing.

For what we paid, this didn't feel like good value. The beds were the one thing I liked. The shower pressure was very low, there were no cups in the room, and the chair was worn and stained. Breakfast was meager, and the 14th-floor outdoor furniture was also worn, dirty, and uncomfortable. The room had a kitchen, but the utensils, glasses, and cups were a poor assortment. I usually don't leave reviews, but this was disappointing. No more Marriott's for me.

The staff were all great, and this wasn't the employees' fault, but the stay had some real problems. We were on the 10th floor, and the street was crazy loud with music, loud cars, motorcycles, and sirens. The power went out on our last night, leaving the room at 77 with no air. They refunded half of what we paid, which you can decide is fair or not. Breakfast was very sparse: no bacon or sausage, no sweet options like rolls, and no waffle maker. There were potatoes only one morning, no bagels on another, and most of the muffins were bran. I did manage to get a banana nut muffin one morning. We usually love our Marriott stays.