I
recently visited New Orleans for the first time, and I had some
trepidation because of its rowdy reputation. On top of that, my friends and I were staying in a hotel right on Bourbon St,
yikes!
But
I have to say I was pleasantly surprised.
When I walked into the Royal Sonesta Resort, it was like entering an
oasis. The lobby is impressive with
large floral arrangements, interesting artwork, and traditional French Quarter
architectural features. On site there is
a coffee shop, a jazz bar, a
well-known restaurant, an oyster bar, and a pretty outdoor terrace with
fountain. An outdoor pool with a bar and spa cabanas is sequestered in the center of the hotel, a nice amenity year-round.
There
were four of us celebrating a friend’s birthday, so we booked a split level
suite, which turned out to be the perfect set up. It had a spacious living room on the first
level, with both a double and single sofa bed, and a spiral staircase led
upstairs to a bedroom with a queen bed and bathroom. There are only eight of these suites, some of which are located poolside, so they can book up early.
Royal Sonesta Split Level Suite - Living Room |
Royal Sonesta Split Level Suite - Bedroom |
Our
suite opened to a shared patio area with covered tables, and despite having lively Bourbon St
just on the other side of the wall, it was amazingly quiet. Service was very good, everything we asked
for was delivered promptly: extra
towels, extra blow dryer, even middle of the night pizza. The hotel also has an exclusive Club Level on
the 7th floor which serves breakfast, cocktails, and hors d'oeuvres.
Patio outside our suite |
The
location was excellent, with Canal St. only 2 blocks away, and Jackson Square
and the waterfront an easy 10 minute walk.
For
those who want to be close, but not right on, Bourbon St, Canal Street is
lined with many hotel options, including the regal Ritz Carlton New Orleans, which I also toured.
Like
many hotels in the French Quarter, the hotel is quite large, taking up almost a
whole block with its 527 rooms and suites.
The first three 3 floors used to be a department store, and a beautiful
fountain outside the spa on the ground floor is a leftover from that era.
Fountain outside the spa |
There
are several public spaces, including a former “smoking lounge" with sofas
and game tables, a pretty outdoor
courtyard with wrought iron furniture, and gaslight lamps, and the
Davenport Lounge, named in honor of headliner Jeremy Davenport who has
performed there for many years. The
dining room opens to this lounge, so guests can have a supper club experience.
Former smoking lounge off the lobby |
The Davenport Lounge |
The Ritz Carlton Suite |
Canal St view from the private terrace |
Standard
rooms and suites also have traditional décor with richly colored bedding. All
suites have sofa beds, so they can accommodate a family of four if the children
are young, and rollaways are also available.
French doors separate the bedroom and living room giving parents their privacy.
Standard room at the Ritz Carlton New Orleans |
One Bedroom Suite |
If
families want connecting rooms, there are 38 available in various configurations. Some rooms have connecting doors, but many
are set up as a “lock off suite” - separate rooms that share a foyer with a
master door that can be locked off from the hallway. There is even one suite that connects to 2
king rooms to create a 3 bedroom suite.
So I've talked about two very large hotels, neither of which are hard to miss. So where is this "hidden hotel?"
Well, it's inside the Ritz Carlton! Their Club Level is not just a
dedicated floor, it is a “hotel within a hotel." Club guests have to check in at the main
lobby, but from that point on they never have to enter the main hotel as they
have their own elevator and private drive. It's completely exclusive, offering guests an intimate and personalized boutique hotel experience combined with the amenities of a full size hotel.
The décor is distinctly different, with more neutral colors and wood floors, to give the feel of being in a Southern home. (In order to prevent scratches, rollaways are not allowed in these rooms, but they have air mattresses which are fun for kids. They fell like they are camping!)
The décor is distinctly different, with more neutral colors and wood floors, to give the feel of being in a Southern home. (In order to prevent scratches, rollaways are not allowed in these rooms, but they have air mattresses which are fun for kids. They fell like they are camping!)
Club room at the Ritz Carlton New Orleans |
The
Club Lounge was very spacious, with multiple rooms and plenty of seating. In addition to the usual food spread, there
was a 24 hour “grab and go” station which is great for those always hungry
kids.
The Club Lounge |
Grab N Go Station in the Club Lounge |
So
if you want to experience Ritz Carlton service and luxury, but don’t want the "big hotel" feeling, then a Club room is the perfect solution!
While
Bourbon Street does not exactly cater to children, the rest of the city offers
family friendly activities, and the concierge can provide a “Top 10 List.” The hotel provides POLO Kits (Protect Our
Little Ones) which include outlet covers, infant/toddler bath amenities, and
(if needed) a forehead thermometer strip, and parents can also request cribs, pack & plays, infant bath tubs,
humidifiers, a diaper pail, microwave
and mini-refrigerator.
And
of course, my clients receive exclusive Ritz Carlton STARS amenities, which
include daily breakfast, a welcome gift, and upgrade on arrival if available.
If you’d like more information about planning a trip to New Orleans, or cruising from there, just send me a note at suzette@family-treks.com.
Cruise ship in port |