Le Meridien New Orleans

Following a $29
million renovation, this former W reopened as the Le Meridian New Orleans in Dec. 2014, and offers a stylish, upscale stay
in the Central Business District. It's suitably trendy and modern throughout, though the building itself is older and it shows in places -- room doors that slam, AC units that can be noisy, some rooms with awkward, small layouts. There are also some surprising service lapses for a hotel of this category, including slow expensive Wi-Fi, no in-room coffee facilities, and room cards that multiple guests have complained too easily demagnetize. Still, for most the positives will outweigh the negatives. The location is still convenient to the French Quarter nightlife without being in the thick of it, and the decor does live up to upscale standards. The hotel reinterprets the traditional lobby
experience, offering guests a chic space -- the Hub -- with plenty of seating
areas and a daytime coffeehouse vibe that transmutes into a "wine-inspired" environment in the evenings. Cool, contemporary couches and armchairs are
clustered around coffee tables in cozy nooks throughout the space, partitioned
by bookshelves displaying various tomes and knickknacks, while a wall covered in cartography-inspired designs provides a hip backdrop. The cool, neutral
color palette cloaking the lobby favors grays and blues, with brighter hues dotted
throughout providing some vibrant accents.

The hotel is
located right on the border of the Central Business District and the Warehouse
District, across from Harrah’s Casino and a couple of blocks from the Shops at
Canal Place. French Quarter attractions, including the action along Bourbon
Street, are around a 10-minute walk away, but far enough for nights to be quieter.
Streetcars running along Canal Street, St. Charles Street, and Port New Orleans
Place can be found within a three-minute walk. The Louis Armstrong International Airport is about a 25-minute drive away.

These stylish rooms feature
modern furnishings and a peaceful color palette of neutral grays paired with crisp whites. Comfortable pillow-top mattresses are topped with high-thread count
sheets and goose down duvets, while gray sofas by the windows offer pleasant
seating areas. All rooms have flat-screen TVs, minibars, alarm clock radios,
work desks, and electronic safes, but no tea or coffee facilities. In-room Wi-Fi incurs an added fee (though its
free for SPG Members). Bathrooms are chic and modern, with white subway tile
paired with brown accent walls, as well as large vanities and
walk-in showers. Much like the rooms themselves, the bathrooms are small, but
make efficient use of space. Suites have separate living rooms with
contemporary gray sofas and dining tables.Some guests have complained of noisy AC units, and the doors lack automatic closers and bang shut.

The
hotel’s outdoor rooftop pool is located on the fourth floor, adjacent to the
fitness center. It is big enough for a few short laps, but most guests come
here to relax in the sun on the spacious sundeck lined with padded loungers or
in one of the poolside cabanas, which are outfitted with ceiling fans
and flat-screen TVs. Another highlight here is the hotel’s lobby, or Le MeridienHub, a vast and stylish gathering space with plenty of seating areas and a bar
serving coffee in the mornings as well as cocktails, wine, and small plates in
the evenings. Breakfast is served daily in the chic LMNO restaurant (included
in some rates), plus 24-hour room service is also available.The
24-hour fitness center is well equipped and full of natural light courtesy of
large windows overlooking the city. Business travelers are well catered for
with over 20,000-square-feet of meeting facilities and event space as well as a
business center with two computers and a printer. Wi-Fi is free in the lobby,
however, it incurs an extra fee in-room (unless you’re an SPG Member), though there
have been some complaints of slow connections. Parking is valet-only and
expensive.