Astor Crowne Plaza - Great Location and Friendly Staff!
Written: Feb 13 '05
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Product Rating:
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Pros: The location, comfortable rooms...
Cons: Rooms could be a bit bigger.
The Bottom Line: See Review.
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| JennJoy's Full Review: Crowne Plaza Hotel ASTOR-NEW ORLEANS, LA |
My husband and I had the pleasure of staying at the Astor Crowne Plaza in New Orleans’ French Quarter from February 9-12, 2005 while I attended a conference and he enjoyed a short vacation. This was our first visit to Louisiana and although our choice of hotel was determined by the company holding the conference we couldn’t have been happier with the accommodations and the location.
After making our reservations I was a bit concerned about what we were getting ourselves into as the person who booked our room was fairly unhelpful. She didn’t ask any of the usual questions (how many people, smoking vs. non-smoking, etc.) and I actually called back the day before we arrived to confirm our room. This is something I’ve never felt the need to do with any other hotel, but the original phone experience left something to be desired.
We arrived near midnight on Wednesday evening (the day after Mardi Gras) and were pleased to find a desk clerk ready and waiting to check us in. We were promptly given our keys and directed to the elevators. Due to the late hour we ordered room service as soon as we put our bags down. The food arrived quickly and was quite good despite the high price, but when is room service ever cheap? As we settled in we were tickled to find a bag with complementary “sleeping aids” in it - two sets of ear plugs, a sleep mask, and a little bottle of lavender linen spray.
The room was a bit smaller than we expected, but was quite comfortable and included a big bed with plenty of pillows, a nice sized desk with two chairs, an additional living room style chair and an armoire with the television. The rooms here are all wired for internet access which we did not use. Our room also had a CD player/alarm clock combo which was nice to play music on, but we couldn’t seem to get the alarm to work correctly so I used wake-up calls instead. Everything was clean and all the furniture was in great condition since this hotel only opened in 2002. We also had a decent view looking out onto Bourbon Street which was nice.
The bathroom was situated right inside the door allowing for a fairly long hallway into the actual room. This situation worked nicely for us so that I didn’t disturb my sleeping husband as I dressed for my early morning conference sessions. We were provided with plenty of fluffy towels and toiletries as well as a notice that the Astor Crowe does not replace your towels each day unless you leave them in the tub. There’s a similar policy with bed linens as well - they only change them every three days unless you request otherwise. I appreciated the nod toward trying to be more environmentally sensitive and there was no need for us to waste resources on washing since we don’t replace our sheets or towels after one or two uses anyway.
The Astor Crowe Plaza has a pool and hot tub which we didn’t use, but it was nice to know they were available. We did have drinks in the hotel bar twice and found the service great and the prices decent for an establishment inside the hotel. We did not eat in the attached Brennan’s Bourbon House restaurant, but did indulge in crepes from the restaurant’s kiosk on the side of the hotel. Since I was in New Orleans to attend a conference I did use two of the hotel’s second floor meeting rooms. My group and I enjoyed great breakfasts here each morning as well as a wonderful lunch and afternoon ice-cream sundaes. The service was great and all of our needs were met courteously.
Perhaps one of the best aspects of this hotel is its location right at the edge of the French Quarter on the corner of Bourbon and Canal. Despite being the day after Mardi Gras I was a bit concerned it would be noisy in our room, which couldn’t have been farther from the truth. There was plenty to see and do in the French Quarter during our stay and everything was within easy walking distance of the hotel. We didn’t have a car with us, but I understand the Astor Crowne does not have a self-park lot - it is valet only since their garage is a few blocks away. I imagine this can get quite expensive and I didn’t notice too many public parking places within a block or so from the hotel, so this is something to consider if you will have a vehicle with you.
We would definitely stay here again the next time we visit New Orleans and we’re already considering a fall trip in the next few years which will give us more time to explore the city. Although you may pay a bit more to stay in the Astor Crowe we felt the price was well worth the comfort and convenience. I would highly recommend this property for anyone wanting to stay in or near the French Quarter who is looking for a quiet room, nice amenities, and friendly staff. Laissez les bons temps rouler!
Recommended:
Yes
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JennJoy
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