STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Is that Mardi Gras season? I ask because some of the hotels start having minimum night stays and charge double the regular rate for weekends during Mardi Gras. That said I have been down there quite a few times and have stayed at:
Royal Sonseta on Bourbon
Crown Plaza (Canal & Bourbon)
Sheraton (Canal a few blocks from Bourbon)
Hilton (Poydras I believe a few blocks from the quarter)
and one other one owned by the same people as the Royal Sonesta in the Quarter but on Royal or Chartes maybe??

All of those hotels have been nice. Saying on Bourbon can be a bit rowdy but it gets you the closest to the action and those hotels tend to be "boutique" hotels which are nice. The Crown gives you earplugs and an eye mask to help you sleep if that gives you any indication of the noise factor in the quarter. I didn't find it to be all that bad when I stayed there though.


As far as what to see it depends on what you are interested in. I always tended to stay in the french quarter area even before Katrina hit. I have only been back once since (about a year after Katrina) and stayed around there too since it is/was heavily patrolled and I felt safer.

I always liked the Aquarium, the Zoo, and the quarter shops & french market. Jackson square usually has local artists set up on the weekends which are nice to see. The Cathedral is pretty if you like to look at churches. I was not impressed with Ripleys so I would skip that one.

The casino you probably want to stop in is the Harrah's. I've walked through it but haven't played there before. It might be the only one there - I can't remember but you can't miss it. It is big and flashy.

As far as eating goes - I always liked Palace Cafe on Canal. It is a Brenan's Restaurant without the price tag and Margaritaville but I think you have one of those in San Antonio. I would skip Bubba Gumps - I was less than impressed there. There is a "grocery" on Decatur (can't remember the name) famous for muffalettos so if you are a fan of sandwiches and olives I would recommend it.

There are some restaurants on St. Charles (the trolley line) but I can't really remember what is there and what is good and what's not. I remember Bravo's was on the line and was pretty good as well as Copeland's cheesecake factory knockoff but both are chains and you probably want to stick with local food. I'll keep thinking.