The Avenue Plaza is a great place to rest your feet after a long day in NOLA. Only bummer is currently the St. Charles Streetcar is not running, so cab fare to and from the quarter is high. (The bus runs somewhat regularly and is a 1.25 each way). Rooms are very clean and staff is super helpful. My only complaints- the lack of wireless or internet access in rooms, and the loud A/C unit in the rooms. Was also difficult to view the Ashley house as the concierge staff was not able to leave the desk to show us, so we missed out :( All in all, a nice place to stay - not the ritz carlton, but not a hole! Kitchen in rooms is very convenient and garden district area is serene and safe! The friendly (and cute) door men will make you smile!

I have stayed at this hotel twice - once back in May of 2000, and most recently in March of 2005. I do not own a timeshare here, but the company with which we have a timeshares offers "getaways" here.

The rooms are okay. The first time I had a single room, the second a 1 bedroom suite. It was clean and quiet. The facilities are not the newest, but functional. Having the kitchenette is very convenient. There is a grocery store on the corner, for essentials. The single overlooked the pool in the rear, and the suite overlooked St. Charles Ave., but on the 7th floor, was high enough to have a nice view of the bridge, and you could watch the ships on the Mississippi, miles away.

I recommend this location for those who do not need to be in the French Quarter every minute of the day. When I go to New Orleans, I'm as interested in attractions at Riverbend or on Magazine Street as I am in the Vieux Carré. The Avenue Plaza puts me within reasonable distance from all of these.

The streetcar stops right at the corner. When streetcar service is backed up, there is also a taxi dispatch right nearby, so it doesn't take long to get a cab. Also there is a Visitor's center a block away.

I've never used the spa facilities. The first time I went, I used the hot tub on the roof, but it was closed on my last visit.

In March, on my last day, there was a fire in the hotel. The alarm system woked well, and management handled everything smoothly. My floor was not affected, so we were only displaced for about 90 minutes.

Overall, it's a reasonable place to stay.

New Orleans reviews are always in the eyes of the the beholder. The city can be seen as a jewel, or some people see it as "old" or "dirty". The people who think New Orleans is dirty have that Depression era mentality that new is clean, and old is dirty.

Well, the Avenue Plaza is not brand new, but it is going through some updates. We are timeshare owners at the Avenue Plaza, but have never stayed there (We always used it as a trade). We had to go to New Orleans for a wedding, and one of the benefits of ownership is the ability to book a few nights as a hotel stay at a discounted rate. (A nice perk). Check in was quick, and so was check out. Car service (valet) was quick. It costs $18 per day, but only $8 per day if an owner (another perk). I waited only a few minutes each time.

The room had two queen beds, a refridgerator, microwave, coffee maker, two burner stove, dishwasher, in room safe, table and chairs, and a TV. Rooms have been updated and are bigger than other rooms I have stayed in in New Orleans. Bathroom was not huge, but fine. Had a hairdryer, iron and board. Water needed to run a long time before it got hot, but got there.

The Spa was all booked up for treatments on Saturday, but had openings at any other time. The thing I loved about our stay was this workout facility. It had a couple of bikes (with built in TVs), stair machines, assorted machines and free weights. The wet area had a dry sauna, a steam room, a whirlpool jaccuzzi, and outdoor heated pool. Towel service was included. I think the use of the workout area has a small fee, but is free for owners (perk, again!) The facility is not brand new, but it is functional. And it was nice to sweat out the impurities before replacing them the next day in the French Quarter.

Access to the streetcar is FANTASTIC!!!!!!! It stops right out front. And the Avenue Plaza is close enough to the CBD and the Quarter that even if the car stops at every stop, it won't take long to or from the Quarter. This is the reason you should stay here. If you have never been to New Orleans and you stay in or near the Quarter, you might not get Uptown at all and missout the beautiful architecture of the Garden District and University areas. The trolley ride in both direstions is manageable from The Avenue Plaza. If you stay in the Quarter, it is one long ride to many destinations up the line. I would rather stay right where you are at the Avenue Plaza. And I've been to New Orleans about 30 times over my lifetime.

The Avenue Plaza has a nice steakhouse and small bar in the lobby. We did not eat there, but it is big with the locals. The closest bar not on sight is right next door, The venerable Uber-dive bar IGORS, and walking distance a a good breakfast place called the Trolley Stop. Great stuffed omelette. The Pontchartrain Hotel is next door and has a nice bar. We have stayed there too. But the Avenue Plaza is a winner. It isn't the Ritz Carlton. But I don't think you get a workout facility like this at the Ritz. I recommend this hotel if you do not require perfection, but functionality and location.

I have stayed at the Avenue Plaza for several years because I bought a timeshare there in 1997. The comments about the walls-and-ceilings needing work were correct, but it didn't affect my enjoyment of New Orleans, in any way. Its location (Garden District) puts it in a charming and safe-looking part of town, but you do need to catch the trolley (stops right in front of the hotel) to get to the CBD or French Quarter. Several good restaurants are within easy walking distance. There is a nice steakhouse within the building
Service at the Avenue Plaza was probably at its worst just-before the renovations. Since the hotel was partially (often mostly) closed, staffing was not at its normal levels. The Hotel changed-owners in 2003, which was good for the renovation-needs. I have found the new Owners to be responsive to needs, so far.
This isn't a five-star hotel, it is a three-or-four star hotel with a relaxed location in a beautiful town. The Pro-spa is four-stars. The room sizes-and-facilities are four-stars. The building is 55 years old, and now has some needed renovations.
There are more glamorous locations with closer proximity to CBD and French Quarter, but this is a hotel for people that want to mix NO's excitement with some relaxing downtime.