La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham New Orleans Downtown

The La Quinta Inn & Suites New Orleans Downtown is housed in a fifteen-story yellow-hued building. The lobby is quite spacious and features a warm color palette of browns, tans, and oranges, and though decor and furnishings are bland and typically chain-like, the spaces are pleasant. Marble tile floors are paired with cream-colored walls accented by dark wood details like door frames. The lobby is filled with a multitude of couches, plush round seats, and large circular lights, though the furnishings are a bit dated and many couches show signs of wear and tear and are stained. Most guests are couples and families congregating in the breakfast room, which is partitioned off from the lobby and filled with blonde wood furnishings and granite-topped counters. 

This hotel’s downtown location is far from the bustle of the French Quarter, but still a convenient launching point for travelers to explore New Orleans on foot. The French Quarter can be reached in 13 minutes walking, while Canal and Bourbon Streets are about five minutes away. For families, the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas is seven minutes away on foot, and the insectarium is only a five-minute walk. The Mississippi River can be reached in less than 10 minutes on foot. The Mercedes-Benz Superdome is about a five-minute drive. There are a few dining options on surrounding streets that take less than five minutes to reach on foot, though it might be worth heading into the French Quarter for more variety. The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport can be reached in about 25 minutes by car.

There are two room types at this hotel: rooms with king beds and those with double beds. The spaces are fairly basic and simply furnished, with orange strips of paint along the ceiling that accent the cream-colored walls, as well as orange armchairs or benches, matching window shades, blond-wood furniture, and gray carpets. Compared to other La Quinta Inn properties, the decor and furniture are dated and in need of a revamp. Amenities include flat-screen TVs and coffeemakers, plus King Rooms and Suites also have microwaves and mini-fridges. Bathrooms have wooden floors, large counter tops, hairdryers, and shower/tub combos.  Guests have complained about cleanliness and maintenance issues, as well as noise from other rooms and hallways due to thin walls. 

The hotel has a pleasant rooftop pool, and although it's small, it offers a relaxing place to lounge. Several lounge chairs and umbrella-shaded tables provide seating, plus the pool is handicap-accessible. A free hot buffet breakfast is popular with guests and includes cereals, juice, yogurt, pastries, fruit, and make-your-own waffles. There's a small fitness center on-site with five dated machines, as well as a coin-operated laundry room. The business center is equipped with a computer and printer. Valet parking is available, but it’s fairly expensive and guests have reported poor service and long lengths of car retrieval.