Best Luxury Hotels in New Orleans

Celebrities, royals, and discerning travelers choose the Windsor Court for its classic and luxurious style, attentive staff and big rooms. While there's plenty to do on the property -- including afternoon tea, a tour of the hotel's art collection, or drinks at the Polo Lounge -- the Windsor Court is quietly located near all the French Quarter action. The rooms are showing their age, but they're in the process of getting a complete overhaul.

The 600-room Hotel Monteleone has made literary history and cocktail history, but it's no museum piece. In 2010, the hotel refreshed its guest rooms and baths, and there's more to come -- bar room and bistro expansions, as well as a makeover for a ballroom and several meeting rooms, should be finished by December 2011. On the upper floors, the hotel offers some of the city's most exhilarating views. If you'd rather get your kicks on the ground, ride the legendary Carousel Bar.

The Royal Sonesta is Bourbon Street's swankiest hotel, and guests can customize it to their level of party pleasure. Low-key travelers should ask for a hushed interior room deep in the property, while those who want a certain New Orleans experience can take a balcony room and watch an eclectic parade of people go by at all hours. Live jazz and a hopping pool scene add appeal for weary business people who can't wait to break out of their meetings.

The hotel’s personality comes from its globally conscious restaurants as well as the parties it caters -- on any given night you might bump into a Queen of Mardi Gras, well-heeled sales reps hoisting cocktails, or even celebrities like the Rolling Stones.The hotel also has luxurious amenities like guest baths that are elegant, with marbled sinks, dark wood cabinetry, and nickel fixtures.