St. Vincent's Guest House

Built as an orphanage in 1861, the St. Vincent's Guest House is full of New Orleans charm and character -- for better or worse -- but expectations must be set in advance when staying here. This is a budget property through and through, and the hotel badly needs all manner of updates and maintenance. Guests arrive to a typical New Orleans wrought-iron gate, with lush crape myrtles and other trees and plants creating a garden setting inside the fence. The three-story brick building has huge white columns, with ornate railings and detailing on the exterior. Inside, ceilings are high, moldings are richly detailed, and transoms add period flavor. The bright spots end there, though, and we saw peeling paint, concrete walkways that are cracked, buckled, and stained, and missing panes in attic windows. Hallways to guest rooms are wide and have ceiling fans, but they smell old and musty. Hardwood floors have been replaced by tile or carpet in most areas. A sign behind the front desk states that the hotel is renovating, but if so, it's a slow-going process. For now, this place mostly attracts young people on tight budgets sacrificing comfort and cleanliness for rock-bottom rates and a quirky night's sleep. It's also home to a few longer-stay guests, and according to local folklore, there are some resident ghosts as well.

The hotel is located in New Orleans' Garden District, a historic slice of the city that's home to Antebellum mansions and artsy counterculture. It sits along busy Magazine Street just where it becomes populated with boutiques, restaurants, and other businesses, and the neighborhood has an up-and-coming vibe. The location is convenient to public transportation, with a bus stop just a block away. The French Quarter and Jackson Square are not within walking distance, and take about 15 minutes to reach by car. The Riverwalk Marketplace is about a mile and a half from the hotel, and the Super Dome, home to the Saints, is less than 10 minutes away by car. Depending on traffic, Louis Armstrong International Airport takes 30 minutes to reach by car or cab. 

Consider yourself warned: Much like the rest of the hotel, guest rooms need a significant amount of updating and maintenance. They feature old floral bedspreads or quilts, old-fashioned drapery, beat-up and mismatched furniture, window air-conditioning units, and old tube-style TVs. We spotted peeling paint, broken drop ceiling tiles, and other signs of poor maintenance -- and the quality of cleanliness is hit or miss. That being said, high ceilings are a plus and all rooms have en-suite bathrooms with showers or shower/tub combos and bar soap. Some rooms have microwaves and mini-fridges, and all have large windows and ceiling fans. Dorm-style rooms with four to six beds also are available, separated into rooms for men and women, though these won't always be pleasant. One large dorm room for men sleeps 16 people and has only one shared bathroom. 

There is an outdoor pool here, but whether one wants to swim in it is a different story -- it was murky when we visited, and has a cracked concrete deck with lounge chairs as well as cafe seating for dining alfresco. Flowering trees, a brick wall, and a wrought-iron fence add a bit of New Orleans character. Picnic tables on the adjacent lawn also are available for outdoor dining, and the courtyard provides a shaded spot where guests can gather. A grill is available for guests to use, as is a communal kitchen. The hotel has a day room with a TV, free Wi-Fi, seating, two pianos, books, and magazines -- in fact, this is the only spot in the hotel with Wi-Fi. There is a pizza restaurant on site as well.