InterContinental New Orleans

Intercontinental is a great hotel chain, and this outpost lives up to the chain’s fantastic reputation. The hotel had been recently updated so I had been meaning to check it out and this last weekend finally did. It was updated two years ago! Time flies for sure. Anyways, I stayed over for a night to have a relaxing staycation. Glad I did.
Check-​in was a breeze, with everyone being friendly and efficient. The room itself was luxurious and mine had a balcony. Since was decent, with a nice entryway. Bathroom products were fancy and the shower head was one of the better ones I have experienced at a hotel. Bathroom towels were thick and soft, just like I like it. Bed mattress was likewise soft and comfortable. The only complaint was the pillows, and they were aweful. Small and flat. I had to stack two together and it still didn’t work. When I stay again I will bring my own or request a few more.
All in all, a solid hotel and one that I would recommend to friends visiting. I’d easily stay again!

Stayed here for the New Year with a group of friends, mostly couples. It’s a great location because you can definitely walk to Frenchman street or bourbon. Also, it’s right next to a streetcar stop if you don’t feel like walking. The staff were all friendly. The room was clean and everything was in working order. We weren’t in the room a ton, but hopefully no one is when visiting NOLA. There was a really convenient shop in the lobby that was open late. It came in handy for advils and waters. If I go down again, I think I’d stay here again.

This hotel is very centrally located. The St. Charles St. street car runs past the front door. You are blocks from the French Quarter, the popular Sazerac Bar in the Roosevelt Hotel, and the well known Mother’s Restaurant. The hotel staff is very attentive and accommodating, However, I was disappointed in the condition of the rooms themselves, especially the room I was assigned. The first night, I was given a room right outside the elevator bank which was fine until early morning when guests started leaving and the elevator bell rang every couple of minutes. It started to drive me crazy. But it got worse as the morning went on. Someone in a room somewhere above was taking a shower which caused the pipes in the wall between the sink and the bathroom to start vibrating and banging so loudly that it sounded like jack hammering. I actually thought a pipe might burst and flood the room. There was also hair from the previous occupant in the bathroom and a light out in the mirror.
After the pipe incident, I decided to ask for a new room. The second room was better. It had a patio which was nice to sit on for some fresh air even though it faced the wall of the garage across the way. Even this room was not well maintained, as I noticed it had an exposed sprinkler head in the ceiling. But I liked the fact that it had a walk-​in shower instead of a tub like the first room. I hate stepping into tubs that have non-​slip stickers because they always seem grimy when they darken over time. I also thought it was odd that the first room had different amenities available than the second room. Finally, the doors bang really loudly when they shut so it is hard to sleep in if you want.
All in all, I was satisfied with the hotel. Because it is winter, I think I may have gotten a slightly lower room rate than I would have during the high season. But I don’t think I would want to pay more than what I paid for the room I got.

Stayed here for the weekend with two friends. The hotel staff were very friendly and accommodating. The concierge, Eric, accommodated us with after hours pool access for a night cap, directions, suggestions for dinner in the area we were going, and was just a nice and generous guy. The reception clerks we’re welcoming and friendly. The hotel is very clean. Our room smelled fresh, had very comfortable beds pillows sheets etc. we asked for an extra robe and had it in minutes. This place is located close to everything but still managed to be away from large crowds and noise– at least during our stay. We will visit again.

Hotel in great location, we were down for the Bayou Classic, walking distance to Bourbon Street and SuperDome. We booked early so we received descent rate. Your fridge comes fully stocked $ 6 for can sprite. Room Service was pricey and simply not worth the price. Everyone we came in contact with was pretty nice. We requested Db bed but was given one bed, I had to explain to front desk and thank goodness I had a copy of my online reservation because she wasn’t gonna give it to us but when she saw my copy of reservation stating 2 rooms our problem was resolved. We would stay again if in area.

Nice place to stay, really nice bathroom, beds were comfy, facilities were very nice, waiting area was nice. Location is very good, close to everything. Fairly reasonable rates.

Hotel is in great condition, and in an ideal place. A 3 block walk to but on street! Very quiet area for sleep and far enough away from the hustle of bourbon street. I highly recommend this hotel. This was my first visit to NOLA, and the entire experience was 5 stars!

*** THE BAD
We had a reservation for a month before arriving. Once we arrived we were informed we were bumped from our reserved room. After raising enough hell we got to the manager and he was able to give us the room we initially reserved.
*** THE GOOD
Location is less than 10 mins from Bourbon Street. Hotel rooms were nice. Hotel bar and restaurant are nice also.

I booked this hotel because we were going to a wedding at Muriel’s and wanted to make it a weekend getaway. Our room looked exactly the same as the picture online. Nice big windows looking out toward the city. Great artwork through out the lobbies, halls and room. Soft comfortable pillows, a firm mattress, and the comforter was the best. One negative was they didn’t have a parking garage/​lot, we ended up parking on the street in front of the hotel. Which actually worked out well enough, It saved me from paying $ 40 in an public lot. We only spent on night but will definitely be staying there again. We were able to walk just about anywhere downtown with ease and it was only a 15 min walk from Jackson square back to the hotel. We walked to Mother’s for breakfast the following morning. I really liked that they had a noon checkout so we didn’t feel rushed.

There was trash on the carpet of our hallway when we arrived, and it was still there the next morning. The Internet is ridiculously slow even by the slow standards of chain hotel Internet. If you want hot water from your shower faucet, turn the handle to «C.» The lobby looks cold, soulless, and cheap. No one in charge here gives a damn. There are at least a dozen hotels within a few blocks. Pick any one of them and they are bound to be better.

Good location. Ashley working the front desk was really cool and let us check in like 3 hours early. Nice rooms, comfy beds. Would totally stay here again.

Yet another great example of the InterContinental brand. I have stayed at InterCons before, but only when overseas, this is the first time I stayed at a Stateside property and I am happy to say that they experience was absolutely I expected. The same standard of service that I have come to expect from other properties within the brand. From a note and complimentary bottle of wine from the management, to the daily maintenance of the room.
Right on the edge of the Central Business District the InterCon is within walking distance to the French Quarter to the Riverwalk to the National WWII Museum.
I have stayed at at least three or four other New Orleans hotels and I have found the one that I will not only always return to, but refer friends and family to.

Very busy hotel in downtown New Orleans. In my opinion it’s in the perfect location. You are only a 5 minute walk to Bourbon Street, the French Quarter, and Harrah’s Casino among other things. But you are far enough away that you don’t get the noise.
The rooms are very nicely appointed. As an IHG Royal Ambassador I was given an upgrade to one of their corner parlor suites on a higher floor. It was very spacious and had some views of the city. I had a few issues at the hotel but they very addressed immediately and very professionally.
It was a pleasant stay and I would return if I’m back in New Orleans. For the price it’s a great deal.

So I snagged a pretty good Groupon deal for a room at the Intercontinental during Essence Festival weekend which is unheard of! It was listed as a «4-​Star Secret Hotel» and you only got name and location once you booked. But after some research of the hotels in the area… and matching up the hotel pictures I had figured out name before I booked. Rooms around this time of year can easily go for $ 200+ a night, so I’m glad I lucked up on this deal. And not to mention it was a king size room with a balcony! I had hit the jackpot.
After verifying with Groupon that they did indeed make my reservation check in was a seamless process. Front Desk Manager Chris was very pleasant… got me checked into my room in less that 5 minutes. Tons of staff on hand to assist with baggage/​luggage and getting around the huge wonderful space. Chandeliers galore, grand pianos, local art on every wall. You know you’re gonna have a wonderful experience by the time you hit the lobby.
The room… was EVERYTHING! Large enough for 4 women to get dressed for a concert and not have to kill eachother over mirror time. The balcony was one the best parts. You get a view of the courtyard that’s in the middle of the hotel. At night when we got back in from the show we all hung out on the balcony… it was awesome. One of the cooler summer nights we’ve had so far… so it was pretty much perfect. I say you swing for a room with a balcony ANYTIME you stay here.
The bed was huge and very comfortable… so much so it was a struggle peeling myself out the bed to make sure we checked out in time.
During the day the bar was giving out free tasting of house wine… tons of restaurants in the area, extremely close to the French Quarter, valet parking… the works.
Overall my stay was pretty much perfect. And this place definitely goes in my top 5 hotels when I have family or friends coming in town… or I just wanna get away and play tourist for the day.

I expected more from this hotel. So, overall… it was a bit of a disappointment.
The good: comfy bed, clean room, nice bar (didn’t eat at restaurant) and quick walk to the French quarter.
The bad: dirty common space (hallways were noticeably dirty, as if they hadn’t vacuumed in a day or two…), the ceiling in our bathroom had a gaping hole in the drywall around the sprinkler, out of date shower area (the vanity was updated, but not the bathtub/​toilet area), indifferent staff.
We came to NOLA for my birthday and I got a great deal on a room at this hotel thanks to a colleague of mine that does conference planning and was able to call in a favor. If I knew then what I know now, I probably would have opted to go someplace else and pay a little bit more.
Overall, it wasn’t bad enough to give it a 2/​poor, but certainly not good enough to get a 4/​very good rating.

We wanted something nice, clean, good location, and safe. I’m still not sure the price is justified, but the location was perfect for us. Now I realize the rates were probably higher during our stay due to a big event that weekend.
We arrived rather early, about 9:30am. Check-​in isn’t until 4pm. The young lady at the front desk was very nice and professional, wish I’d gotten her name. I confirmed that we’d stayed at another IC before and that we were celebrating a special occasion during our visit. She also confirmed that I was a member of their rewards club. I was delighted when we were allowed to not only check in that early, but also upgraded to a balcony room! Excellent customer service.
The room was nice, standard size, and clean. Not much privacy on the balcony. Our room was across from a large office building that including a garage and several floors with visible offices and cubicles. Again, not much privacy, but we didn’t spend much time out there.
The bathroom was clean enough, but had a slight peculiar odor common to hotels. The shower banged loudly when I would get the water temperature just right, so then I’d have to adjust it.
We didn’t experience any problems with noise from the hallway, other guests, elevators, or the street.
The location is in walking distance to plenty of restaurants, banks/​ATMs, and the French Quarter. I like that it’s situated just far enough from the chaos of Bourbon Street. We always felt safe walking around too.
The concierge did a good job of directing us to some places I wanted to visit. He also made us aware that the New Orleans Jazz Festival was that weekend. We were guided to another hotel where we could purchase tickets and roundtrip bus ride. He even made a reservation for our dinner that evening at Arnaud’s.
The décor is nice. The business center is lacking — it’s a square cube with two seats and not easy to locate. I walked around a couple minutes looking for it.
We received a bottle of wine, fresh fruit, and bottled water from the hotel. Bed was comfortable (why are they so high off the ground?). We didn’t eat at the restaurant or have a vehicle to park — so no comments on that. Had no issues with getting a cab outside when needed.
My one complaint was check out. Other guests were checking in, and we needed to check out to get to the airport. It took way too long because only one person was working at the front desk. Unacceptable.
Would I stay here again? Definitely. Nice hotel, great location!

Main comment: not the quality or value that the rate dictates.
The front lobby was lovely and clean. But we used the Camp street entrance several times. That area was dirty, looked beat up, some plants barely hanging on and staff would take their smoke breaks outside that door next to a vent that drew their smoke back into the building.
We looked at the exercise room and pool, but were out and about too much to use it. They were clean, new looking and nice.
The room was small and decent, the beds were comfortable, plenty of usb and electrical plugs. The fridge did not work (room 525 — sorry we forgot to tell you) and the shower diverter did not work well — I was looking forward to the shower with the two heads but there was not enough pressure to run them well since most of the water was going into the tub.
The halls were dirty, I thought that was weird, like, really dirty carpets.
There was a 5^th floor patio that I went out to enjoy. The plants were wilted from lack of watering, the sculpture was broken, with parts on the ground, there were broken chairs and it had not been swept or cleaned up in some time. Disappointing.
We stopped in at the concierge desk for some guidance. He was very helpful and guided us to an excellent brunch place (Café on the Square).
Some of the staff communication was odd, awkward and lacking excellent customer service but then Eric at the front desk and the concierge did shine with the kind of customer service we wanted to see across the board.
I would not stay here again for the price. It seems they do not have enough staff or enough driven staff for the needs.

I am the first to admit that I am a hotel snob, a far cry from the roots of my childhood where a stay at the Holiday Inn would have had me itching with excitement. Now I find myself saying, «Filter for only 4 and 5 star hotels… Kimpton only please… Don’t they have any boutique hotels in this town… what, no rooftop pool?»
The Intercontinental totally exceeded my expectations. It was centrally located in the business district part of town making it a 0.5mi walk to the convention center, but most importantly making it far enough from gritty, bodily-​fluid infested Bourbon St. that my olfactory senses were not offended each time we stepped outside. At night it was quiet, and I slept like a baby. The room was clean, comfortable, spacious.
To work off all the fried NOLA food, I took full advantage of the gym on the top floor that was well equipped with state-​of-​the art machines.
There is also free wifi, though it is slow. If they had a turndown service, left a mint of my pillow, and told me a bedtime story I probably would have given them 5 stars.

Great hotel with a lot of neat areas– especially neat if you have a patio) if the weather permits — nice outdoor garden to go and meet with friends– great food in this hotel — breakfast and dinner. Only thing that I have to complain about is the soap, shampoo, and body wash– seriously smells like you are washing your body with pinesol — or like a Lemon scented wood cleaner… So so bad. The air in the room froze and i had to turn it off and let it defrost– so don’t turn it down too low. They were also doing a lot of renovation when I was here so wet paint signs and letters in the door letting us know that we might not have water pressure. Will probably have a five star experience next time.

Checking in on the last Friday night of January took much more time than I expected. There was one person at the check in desk for awhile and probably 15 people in line (including my two colleagues and me). It took about 10 minutes before someone else came in to assist with checking in guests.
The guy who checked me in was helpful and answered my questions about the gym and made a recommendation for King Cake (go to Rouses Market; surprisingly, my colleague who lived in NOLA did, and we didn’t even tell him about the recommendation. Cake, good!).
I was lucky to have gotten a room on the highest floor away from elevators (my usual request). I also liked that it didn’t appear anyone was near me from my early trips to the gym and seeing the NYTimes on the floor outside of guests’ doors. One negative was my room was across from the staff room but I didn’t really hear anyone coming and going.
Room is beautifully appointed and there are a bunch of lights and outlets, a must in this tech driven age. The closets have sensors so when you open the door or even walk by, the lights come on. I like that the hangers are removable.
There is a room for the toilet and shower and one nook for the sink which is great if you’re sharing.
The gym is amazing. The cardio machines have tv and radio options that you can plug your headphones directly into. They have free weights. There is a yoga mat and lots of towels (but I went before 6 am every morning).
Wifi is free in the room. I think I called to ask for the free code.
Some negatives:
For my three night stay, the tv only worked on the last morning I was there (yay, 15 minutes of tv!) I had called on Saturday morning and was told they were aware and going to have it fixed. When I asked my colleagues about their experiences, they were telling me they watched movies at night and all I got was 15 minutes? Meh. It’s ok I ended up reading my NYTimes.
That leads me to the second con: NYTimes delivery is not consistent. My colleagues said they did not get delivery to their doors but they do have a stack at the table near each floor’s elevators.
On the first full day of the conference, I felt really ill and had a splitting headache and decided to lay down. People came by knocking on my door and I got up to answer it. Before I had barely opened it, someone had swiped into my room and said I had surprised her, even though I said I was coming. Nevertheless, I got a small bottle of water and some chocolates. That was the end of the complimentary stuff.
There was no water in the gym on the second morning so I had to quench my thirst with the small bottle of water I had received the night before.
I’ll try to end on a positive note. I thought the bellmen did a great job making recommendations, getting us cabs, and helping us with our bags.