The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans

In a large Beaux Arts building that was constructed in 1908, the Ritz-Carlton New Orleans attracts business travelers and tourists alike, thanks to its convenient location and high-end features. The common areas are decorated with a great deal of red and gold and feature straight-backed furniture and high ceilings. The internal courtyard gets lots of natural light, and includes large potted plants and trees along with several iron tables. It's also one of the few parts of the Ritz-Carlton where Wi-Fi is free (though the connection is not always reliable). 

The farm-to-table M Bistro and the Davenport Lounge bar are both popular with guests and locals alike, and there are live jazz performances several nights a week. The Ritz-Carlton also has an expansive reading room, with wood bookshelves, leather reading chairs, and red fabric couches -- a classic design that almost makes you feel like you should be wearing a smoking jacket!

The Ritz-Carlton is ideally located on busy Canal Street, which separates the Central Business District from the French Quarter. This makes the hotel convenient for both business and leisure travelers. Bourbon Street is just a block away, and the city's convention center is about a 10-minute drive. There are plenty of shops and restaurants within walking distance of the hotel, and a number of tram lines run in the median on Canal Street (called the "neutral ground" by locals). The airport takes just under 20 minutes to reach by car, traffic permitting. 

The rooms at the Ritz-Carlton are extra large, and regally and colorfully designed in deep blues, purples, and golds. Even the Standard Rooms are large enough for a desk, a reading chair, and a double or king bed, and there's plenty of extra floor space. Unusual for a chain hotel, minibars operate on the honor system and items are restocked as requested. Rooms come with flat-screen TVs and iPod docks, and Wi-Fi is available for a fee. Large bathrooms have white marble tiling, shower/tub combos, and Asprey Purple Water toiletries. 

The hotel's popular M Bistro restaurant specializes in fresh farm-to-table cuisine, while the adjacent Davenport Lounge, the hotel's bar, often has live jazz performances. The Ritz-Carlton also has the largest spa in the city, along with an expansive fitness center full of recent-model cardio machines, weight equipment, free weights, and a small resistance pool. There are also a business center, a dedicated conference concierge, and 10 event rooms, the largest of which can accommodate receptions of up to 300 people.