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• Hotel Review: Hyatt Regency New Orleans

After leaving the Hyatt Regency New Orleans, we grabbed our bags (well, I grabbed my Tumi T-Tech) and wheeled them over to the Hyatt French Quarter.

Checking in

It was the height of Mardi Gras. The day before Fat Tuesday.

All of the hotels were on a wristband system and checking them at the door. And the staff at this location could not have been any more welcoming or gracious. Especially Magen (hope I spelled her name right). She was at the check-in desk and consistently provided amazing hospitality service at every turn. Kudos to the check-in staff here!

As soon as we wheeled through the door, the concierge at the door verified that we had a reservation, and we were able to walk right up to our room within minutes. It was one of the best check-in experiences I’ve had at a hotel: fun, quick, welcoming, and thorough. Really, they couldn’t have done a better job, especially considering it was a holiday in the city.

Upon walking in, I noticed the beautiful decor, the wine bar and breakfast/cafe area, and the fact that this is a small boutique hotel of only 4 floors (a far cry from the 30+ floors at the Hyatt Regency from earlier that morning!).

The room

Our room was on the 3rd floor. We had a view of the swimming pool below (wish it was pool weather during this stay but alas), and of the other guest rooms surrounding the pool/courtyard area.

The room was a perfect size for 2 people spending a few nights – the bed took up most of the floor space, which is A-OK by me, and the other amenities were well-appointed. It was not over-the-top nor understated, the room. Instead, it was a good, straight-forward balance of everything I like about the Hyatt brand: well-decorated, nicely kept, clean, comfy bed, ample outlets, seating, and wifi.

It was interesting that this location was not claimed by any particular Hyatt brand; it was simply “Hyatt” (Oxford common forever!). I thought the Hyatt Regency would’ve made a great Grand Hyatt, and this one could easily be rebranded as a really nice Hyatt Place.

But I get why they’re not branding it. It’s a block (!) from Bourbon Street, and they probably want to capture that mid-range audience and be able to adjust their rates seasonally without too many expectations placed on them. It’s smart. And I still think the Regency in town should become a Grand Hyatt… but what do I know? I’m just a guy who likes branding.

Admittedly, I didn’t spend much time at this property, as I was out getting schwasted at the Mardi Gras celebrations. I didn’t get to the fitness center, or even go out and look at the pool. I also missed breakfast – so feel free to add other observations in the comments below if you’ve stayed here.

Bottom line

Overall, a clean, bright room in an incredible location. We literally walked out, hung a left, and were on Bourbon Street in 30 seconds. It’s also a block away from the Bourbon House, home of the infamous Vanilla Bourbon milkshake, which you MUST try if you ever go to New Orleans!

The location is so amazing, in fact, that this Hyatt really doesn’t have to be as good as it is. I appreciate the niceness of it, and was blown away by the courtesy of the staff. Hyatt has done a really great job managing this property (or choosing a great contractor to manage it for them).

Another thing to note is the size of this hotel. At just 4 floors, it definitely provides a more “boutique” experience than a huge property could do, and I think adds to the charm of it. The breakfast cafe and wine bar were lovely touches, too.

And, at only 15,000 Gold Passport points per night, you can get a really great value out of staying here. You can also use your Hyatt free night certificate from the Chase Hyatt Visa here to get a free night here (as it is a Category 3 hotel) and pad out the rest of your stay with points, or just pay if the numbers work out. Definitely a lot of ways to get into this hotel. The location couldn’t be a better base for exploring the French Quarter, or New Orleans for that matter.

I had a really great stay and would definitely stay here again.

Thanks to the staff for providing such a warm welcome!

Has anyone else stayed at this hotel? Any other things to note that I might’ve left out? 

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