The Loews New Orleans is a hotel that has good service but is in need of a little love. The lobby is beautiful and the indoor pool is a must-do for hotel guests.

Booking

As part of my volunteering related to the healthcare industry, the cost of the hotel was fully covered for my stay. While I didn’t pay for the cost of the room, the opinions contained within this post remain my own.

The cash rate of the room was $229/night, which didn’t feel unreasonable for this hotel, but the hotel can go for much less depending on the season you’re in town. Note that Loews currently does not have a loyalty program nor a credit card, so if you’re looking to get a discount, your best bet is to use up your annual travel credits you may have from your premium travel credit cards (this hotel does appear on the Chase Travel portal, the Capital One Travel portal, and American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts).

Arrival and First Impressions

I have to admit that I tend to arrive at a poor time at New Orleans Airport (MSY) as the rideshare rates seem to always hover around $100 for a one-way rate. But after a generally-uneventful ride, I arrived at the hotel to find no wait for check in. A friendly agent quickly checked me in, instructed me on where to find the guest elevators, and then I was off.

Walking around the entrance, it was clear the hotel has some pretty nice decorations throughout the lobby. It was a bit nicer in the evenings, when live music was played on the piano. New Orleans has a rather lively music scene, with many places where you can listen to jazz or dueling pianos, and it’s a pleasant surprise to see that culture extended to the hotel here as well.

The Room

Making my way up the elevator, I found my room (1524) nestled in a corner.

Upon entering the room, it was apparent my footsteps sounded louder than I normally would have expected. Underneath the carpet, it seemed as though there was a layer of plastic that crunched every time I walked on it.

The bed itself was comfortable and there were no complaints about the thickness of the sheets or the firmness of the bed. However–full disclosure–I feel I have to point out that on my second night, I awoke in the middle of the night to a rather large spider (possibly a tarantula) investigating my left hand. Needless to say, the incident spooked me quite a bit and I wasn’t looking forward to another night in this particular bed because of it. Of course, there could have been far worse things to find in your hotel room.

On one of the nightstands were two complimentary bottles of water.

The in-room desk was difficult to use with optical mice. I don’t know why this continues to be an issue at these hotels. That layer of glass on top of the desk just does not cooperate with my mouse. The chair next to it was decently comfortable, perhaps good enough to take a nap (ask me how I know).

Also found in the room were some welcome amenities, which were definitely not expected. I assume it’s related to the volunteering event being held at the hotel with which I was involved rather than any sort of standard benefit. Nonetheless, it was a nice surprise.

Additionally, for at least one of the nights, someone provided turn down service and laid out a robe for me.

The bathroom itself felt relatively dull and a bit in need of refurbishment–or at least more so than the rest of the guest room.

As an example of something that looked oddly designed in the bathroom, I don’t know what’s going on with the bullnose here on the counter.

One other thing that immediately caught my eyes was just how dusty the blinds are next to the window, which look like they haven’t been touched in months.

The room does have both a shower and a bath tub, which is convenient. I didn’t use the tub and can’t comment on the bathing experience there, but the shower was generally fine. The spray from the shower head could have been a bit fuller, but that’s about all I can say about it.

I should also note that I find the molding around the bath tub valve to be a little odd, almost like it’s boxing in the valve itself. It’s certainly not the way I would have tiled around the tub.

Bath amenities were by Julien Farel, which were fine.

The room had a decent view. New Orleans is a rather flat city, allowing for views that can extend for miles. I could also easily see the Le Meridien across the street, which is a lovely hotel I’ve had the privilege of staying in previously.

Odds and Ends

The Loews New Orleans has a rather lovely indoor pool on 8th floor. Also found here are a hot tub and sauna room. I would have liked to take a picture of the sauna, but unfortunately it was occupied each time I happened to stop by. While you don’t get any views from the pool area, it’s absolutely worth stopping by if you’re in need of a swim.

The gym was spacious, though the floor-to-ceiling mirrors also help play on the concept of space. There are plenty of machines and some free weights, making this a decent spot to exercise.

Recommendation: Not opposed to it

So let me cancel out the one-off occurrences I experienced at the hotel during my stay (the welcome amenities that I imagine wouldn’t normally be provided and the unfortunate middle-of-the-night visit by an unwelcomed spider) and I think the hotel works for most. The service here is good and the hard product, while needing some TLC in places, isn’t bad. The pool is perhaps one of the better options that I’ve been to in New Orleans and makes me consider coming back here.

Location is important in New Orleans, but it’s easily walkable to nice restaurants, the mall, and the Harrah’s casino. It’s a bit of a longer walk to Bourbon Street and the French Quarter, which is perfectly fine for me as it tends to be a bit loud over there.

Where do you stay when you visit New Orleans?

• Destination Spotlight: New Orleans, Louisiana
• An Old Hotel in the French Quarter: Omni Royal Orleans
• How to Get Started with Points