St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans is home to the world’s oldest continuously running streetcar, and also part of the Mardi Gras route. The avenue navigates through areas including the French Quarter and Garden District, home to legendary American neoclassical architecture and centuries-old oak trees. You can choose among a range of hotels for the ideal base from which to explore this iconic region.
The Hampton Inn in the Garden District is just a few minutes' stroll from the eateries, bars and boutiques of Magazine Street, and the Audubon Park and Zoo. It boasts a hundred rooms and suites, all with free Wi-Fi; the 420-square-foot meeting room can fit up to 30 guests. It's 2 miles from Tulane University, making the inn a convenient choice for students. The central location also offers guests immediate access to celebrations such as the Mardi Gras parade.
The Hilton, a few blocks from the French Quarter, is a beautiful high-rise hotel built in the 1920s. It still retains its original marble floors and chandeliers, while above the Grand Entry Hall sits a stunning century-old handcrafted tile inlay ceiling. There are 12,000 square feet of function space and 25 premier suites with separate living areas. A swimming pool, gym, whirlpool and the brasserie-style Luke restaurant by John Besh are among the hotel’s amenities.
Antebellum properties make up much of the Maison St. Charles Hotel and Suites, one of New Orleans’ most historic residences. The 100 percent smoke-free complex boasts 113 guest rooms and 15 suites. Part of the Choice Hotel group, it has won the chain’s Gold Award three times. The Maison St. Charles Hotel and Suites is pet-friendly and also offers complmentary Wi-Fi and deluxe continental breakfast, a free weekly newspaper, and an outdoor pool and hot tub. The historic architecture creates a beautiful wedding setting.
Those with a sweet tooth might like to stay at the Clarion Hotel Grand Boutique above Copeland’s Cheesecake Bistro -- which provides treats for room service. The hotel's business center has a computer, copy and fax machines, while its meeting room can fit 40. As of 2014, all guest rooms have been renovated as junior suites with 10-foot ceilings. Some sport hot tubs with fine views of the street below, and all come with features such as a 42-inch LCD television, a pair of phones with voicemail, coffee makers and safes.
The Columns, included in the National Register of Historic Places, was designed by renowned local architect Thomas Sully and completed in 1883. Inside, impressive historical features await. There's a mahogany staircase beneath a stained-glass dome skylight and the only surviving mantelpiece designed by Sully. The hotel’s Victorian Lounge, with a mahogany bar and 15-foot-high ceilings, serves classic in-house cocktails and is listed by “Esquire” as one of the 100 best American bars.
From Frank Sinatra to Ronald Reagan to Tom Cruise, celebrities and politicians past and present have slept at the Pontchartrain Hotel, a 14-story structure named after the Count de Pontchartrain, a member of the court of Louis XVI. The hotel, built in 1927, boasts the renowned Bayou Bar and a stunning breakfast eatery named the Caribbean Room. The courtyard terrace provides a tranquil setting to relax with a coffee, and those seeking to work up a sweat can take advantage of the day passes to the St. Charles Athletic Club.
