Back to Business at the Inter-Continental New Orleans
Written: May 29 '09 (Updated Jun 14 '09)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: The Inter-Continental offers a convenient location near the French Quarter and the CBD. Solid service.
Cons: The hotel was built in 1984 and is showing signs of needing a renovation.
The Bottom Line: A good choice for business in the Crescent City, the Inter-Continental may also be a good choice for other reasons.
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| tombarnes's Full Review: Intercontinental New Orleans |
Rising fifteen floors above the street, the Inter-Continental is still dwarfed by its taller neighbors, the Republic Bank and the towering One Shell Square next door. The building itself is an unassuming box of red granite which would seem more at home in Houston than in the Crescent City. Putting boring architecture aside for the moment, you might still want to consider staying at the Inter-Continental. Securing a good rate will make you all the happier for doing so.
The hotel was built in 1984, just in time for the Louisiana World Exposition, and has served its purpose with little of the fanfare which other New ORleans hotels have enjoyed. Its sober architecture brings business to mind, and one wouldn't be mistaken to assume that this hotel is mostly all about business. If you seek a relatively quiet hotel away from the revelry of the French Quarter, this might well be the hotel for you.
Lobby
One enters through an almost needlessly big porte cochere and steps onto an excalator to reach the second floor lobby. The hotel is all about marble, granite and polished brass- so much so that it nearly resembles an office building inside as well as out.
Check-in was swift and efficient and I was sent off to my first room on the eighth floor.
Rooms
The rooms here are mostly the same size, but there are differences. The most important thing to remember is that if you request a balcony, your room will be overlooking the inner court and the adjacent red granite wall of the Republic Bank. The outside rooms may well have a view down St. Charles Avenue, but the hotel is so boxed in by its neighbors that you had better resign yourself to circumscribed views.
Even with this knowledge in mind, I found my room rather dark and depressing, in spite of its relative comforts. I returned to the desk and inquired about the upgrades they were shilling on a sign at the desk. I was shown a couple of options and settled upon a large suite on the 14th (Club Level) floor. I do think that low occupancyy had everything to do with their offering these rooms at such low prices ($20 for a deluxe room, $80 for a jnior suite and $100 for their largest suites).
The new room, 1455, was on the Club Floor and also faced the gloomy interior courtyard. Suffice to say that the space and appointments of the suite more than compensated for the lack of a view. This was a one bedroom suite, but it had a large living room with a (non-working) fireplace and a dining table for eight. A black and white marble tiled foyer set the tone for the rest of the room. Reproduction furniture and portraits in ponderous gold frames were the basic theme.
In the bedroom, the bed was admirably comfortable, but had one of those stupendous collections of pillows which you usually end up tossing on the floor if you want to sleep at all. One and a half baths and a tiny kitchen rounded out the suite. There was also a large covered terrace outside with three sets of tables and chairs. I suppose you could really throw quite a party here if you wanted to.
If you seek the latest in hotel accoutrements like flat-screen televisions and in-room video games, you will do well to recall my earlier proviso that it's probably time the hotel received another renovation. While the room wasn't in bad shape, there were signs of wear and tear here and there. In general, the look is formal- almost staid. There is nothing trendy or cool about this hotel, which probably suits its business clientele just fine.
Baths
If I had really wanted a smart looking bath, I should have selected the smaller suite I had been shown. Its bath had recently been renovated in a profusion of marble and gleaming taps. The baths in this suite (one and a half) were almost comically drab. Off-white tiles, cream colored wallpaper and the plainest of fixtures suggested that not much had happened in the way of renovation in years. Only a framed Mardi Gras ball invitation from 1880 livened things up. The amenities were fairly standard stuff, but if you had forgotten anything, the hotel was very good about having it sent up to you right away.
Club Lounge
The spacious club lounge was also on the 14th floor. Unfortunately for me, it was closed for renovation during my stay. I suspect that it was really closed due to low occupancy. In any event, the hotel made up for the lack of a longe with coupons for breakfast downstairs and drinks in either of the bars. Not every hotel will do this, so my hat is off to them for making things right.
Dining
The dinig room here is almost an afterthought. Called the Veranda, it's a rather plain room just of the lobby without a lot of real character. Iron streetlamps for lights and ceiling fans do not constitute real atmosphere. I only had breakfast here each morning, so I'm not entirely sure if their kitchen is up to anything. In a city with so many good restaurants at hand, it would be almost criminal to dine here for anything more than breakfast.
If you want nothing more than a cup of coffee and a muffin, there's a small shop underneath the escalators on the first level.
Bar
There are two bars. The Lobby Lounge is a bankerly little alcove off the lobby. There weren't too many people in here, but the servers were friendly and I couldn't complain about being able to get any single-malt I wanted with my drink vouchers.
There is another bar on the first floor called Pete's Pub. Dark and woody, the bar was almost as unpopulated as the one upstairs. The bartender was a veteran from the old Sazerac Bar at the Fairmont (Roosevelt) nearby, so he knew his business.
Pool and Fitness
Never, never, look a small pool in the mouth when it's hot outside. Sure the pool is really little more than a glorified bathtub. If it's 90 degrees outside, you'll appreciate it all the same. The pool is on the 15th floor with the health club. The latter is surprisingly well equipped, but don't go looking for saunas, spas or steam rooms. This place was built long before such things became almost mandatory for hotels in its class. As with the rest of the place, they get most of the basics right and don't worry too much about the extra frills.
Service
Good, attentive service can make all the difference in any hotel. In a hotel which needs a bit of renovation, it makes all the difference. Nearly everyone I encountered, from Amy at reception to Michael the concierge, were both friendly and professional. Michael was adept at making restaurant recommendations and shuttle arrangements. During busy times, the hotel could well strike one as indifferent, but I had no such troubles.
Location and Transport
As noted earlier, the hotel is in the Central Business District (CBD). In truth, you will be only a few short blocks away from the temptations of the French Quarter, but you'll be nearer the office buildings and banks if that's what you came for. The Garden District is easily reached on the fabled streetcar which stops just across the street ($1.25).
The airport is served by a quirky shuttle company ($15.00 one way) or by taxi (about $30.00 one way). Parking is available on-site, but it is $30.00 or so per day.
Cost
Expect to pay in the neighborhood of $250.00 or more here during busy times. This wasn't a busy time. I was able to secure a two night package on Priceline for an astonishing $274.00- including airfare from Washington, D.C.. I have heard of bids as low as $89.00 being accepted. Before getting too excited, remember that these rates won't always apply. In any busy period the rates will be considerably higher.
Overall
The Inter-Continental New Orleans is, strictly speaking, a business hotel. You will find reasonable comfort here, but not exactly luxury. The hotel doesn't approach the level of service found at the Windsor Court. You can happily pat your wallet, satisfied that you aren't paying their tariff either. The key is to look for a deal. Chances remain likely that you will find one.
One final note. If you are concerned about the health of the city in the aftermath of Katrina, I would still advise you to visit. While there are still parts of the city which bear the marks of devastation, most parts which tourists would wish to see have been scrubbed back to life. As for the danger of visiting, if you use common sense and avoid unpopulated streets and other lurking temptations, you should be fine. If you haven't seen New Orleans, you haven't seen America.
Inter-Continental New Orleans
444 St. Charles Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70130
Tel. 504-525-5566
Fax 504-523-7310
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
tombarnes
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 - Top 200 |
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Member: Thomas Barnes
Location: Fort Lauderdale & Washington, DC
Reviews written: 688
Trusted by: 444 members
About Me:
With Barbara in Miami, 2004
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