My husband and I stayed at the Intercontinental in New Orleans on a combined business / pleasure trip. We have vacationed in NO annually for 15 years, but this was our first stay at this location. It was perfect for us, as we love to walk the city. We could get nearly anywhere we needed to go, either by foot, St. Charles Streetcar, or Algiers Ferry. It's about 3 blocks from Canal Street (French Quarter starts at Canal) and the streetcar stops directly across from the front of the hotel. The rooms were very comfortable and quiet, with updated decor. Beds were plush with duvets and lots of pillows. Work-out facility is very large and well-equipped, rooftop pool was great, and has a covered as well as open-to-the-sky lounging area.
Every staff person we encountered, including the in-house phone reservations agent, doormen, front desk staff, concierge, housekeepers, and coffee shop cashier was professional, friendly and eager to help. This hotel is a tremendous value, and we will stay there again.

The InterContinental New Orleans is a top-notch choice for those visiting the Crescent City. While I have usually stayed at properties in the French Quarter on numerous previous trips to NOLA, the IC is a great pick in the Central Business District on St. Charles Avenue, but only a few short blocks away from Canal Street and across to the Quarter.

After being greeted by friendly and welcoming bellmen, you proceed up escalators or an elevator to the hotel's cool and elegant marble lobby on the second floor.

We had a spacious and luxurious deluxe corner king room on the 11th floor with a huge patio balcony. The room, done up in a rich burgundy and gold, featured a minibar and all the usual plush hotel amenities including robes and slippers. The room's small foyer area and marble bathroom was quite nice.

While we did not dine at the hotel's restaurant, Veranda, or its casual Pete's Pub, we did enjoy a fine room service breakfast at the table on our room's balcony, and also a light breakfast another morning from the hotel's Sweet Car pastry shop located below the lobby. The Lobby Lounge is a relaxing and quiet spot for drinks before heading out to the heat and frolic of Bourbon Street and elsewhere in the Quarter.

We took advantage of the welcome, if somewhat small, rooftop outdoor pool on the hotel's 15th floor, just off the excercise room.

While the IC is a large hotel in the CBD, and may not offer the quaint charm of smaller and more historic French Quarter hotels, it is undeniably luxurious with first-class service. I would highly recommend it.

Needless to say, I was very impressed. Service at the front desk was classic Southern style (with an international flair). If you bring a car, the valet is really quick to respond.

The location is excellent -- a block away from Canal Street (where the French Quarter begins) so you don't have drunks regurgitating all over the front of the hotel :). You can *almost* completely avoid the potential traffic on the streets of the Quarter!

The BEST thing about this hotel is the size of the rooms. A regular room is HUGE compared to the typical New Orleans hotel rooms! Granted, this hotel is located in the CBD, not quite the French Quarter where the rooms are definitely smaller. I've stayed at the Iberville Suites and the Bourbon Orleans (both in the Quarter) and the Sheraton and the Le Pavilion (both in the CBD) but none can compare to the space you get here. (Note, however, that the rooms are not all the same size, so a "regular room" on floor may be slightly larger/smaller than the next -- so I discovered from another friend who stayed here as well.)

**TIP: To get this hotel from Hotwire at a GREAT price, find the 4-star hotel in the CBD that's marked "Customer Favorite". You will get either this, or the Sheraton.**

I was very happy with my stay at this hotel. The room was large and clean, with very comfortable beds. No plasma TV which was a bit weird for this hotel, but it didn't matter, as I never watch TV when I travel.

The only really negative thing I can say about the room (and the reason for not rating this as "Excellent") was that the bathroom floor felt sticky, I would guess from a previous guest using too much hair spray. And obviously the floor hasn't been quite properly cleaned before we checked in.

Other than that, I have only great things to say about the receptionists and the rest of the staff. They couldn't have been more helpful and accommodating. They provided a large deal of information concerning local attractions, restaurants, directions, and so on. We asked for late check-out and were giving it without a fuss.

One of the best things about this hotel is the location: only two blocks away from Bourbon St. and probably 10 minutes walking from Jackson Sq., this hotel is truly in the middle of all happening, but still "far" enough to avoid all the night life noise. If you don't plan in driving out of the city, I would suggest not to rent a car. We had one and never used it, since we were so close to the best places in town. If you decide for a car, the hotel has an outdoors parking, which at $15/day is much cheaper than most of the parking lots in this area.

Finally the room comes with free Internet access, but don't forget to bring your laptop. Unfortunately, I did forget, and it cost me $5.95/15 min. (!!) to check my e-mail.

Overall, a great experience and I would stay here again in a heartbeat!