There's no bad reason to visit New Orleans, but if you want a really good one, how about the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival? Beginning this weekend (4/23-4/25) and running through the weekend after (4/29-5/2), it features literally hundreds of acts (not all jazz), with everyone from from the Dead Weather to Juvenile to Parliament/Funkadelic to Band of Horses, not to mention dozens of local groups that blow those acts away. And while you probably won't spend much time there, your NOLA hotel room is going to be the only place you can get some peace and quiet in the whole city. At the end of a late jazz-inspired and cocktail-fueled evening, it's nice to have a home away from home to get back to, so try one of these killer accomodations.
By Patrick Albertson
Renaissance Pere Marquette Hotel
817 Common Street
504-525-1111
marriott.com/hotels/travel/msybr-renaissance-new-orleans-pere-marquette-hotel
• Contemporary stylings and convenient location are handy, but what's better than a world class bartender in Chris Macmillan downstairs to start off your night or fix you a night cap? How about an outdoor pool? Two-for-two—the Renaissance has both.
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International House
221 Camp Street
504-553-9550
ihhotel.com
• Offering a sophisticated blend of high design and NOLA charisma, the International House is a great home base for debauchery, just across Canal Street from the Vieux Carre.
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Lafitte Guest House
1003 Bourbon Street
504-581-2678
lafitteguesthouse.com
• Taking it back to the 19th Century, the Lafitte Guest House serves up a taste of Southern hospitality and has a beautiful Bourbon Street balcony that all guests have access to. Read: bring your beads.
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Cornstalk Hotel
915 Royal Street
504-523-1515
marriott.com/hotels/travel/pspbr-renaissance-palm-springs-hotel
• This quaint, 12-room French Quarter landmark has got a fresh facelift to update its historic charm and it's the only place where you can rent out the whole joint if you want to go really big for a weekend.
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