More about Hotel Royal
Great location, solid hotel
by A TripAdvisor Member
I had some hesitation when I made this reservation, but hotels were scarce for the weekend we went.
We arrived in the evening and it took a while to get checked in, etc.
The lobby is very avant-modern but the front desk clerk was fairly efficient. We had to go up a couple of flights of stairs to get to our room, which is in the remodeled part of the building (the hotel is made up of multiple building all encircling a common open-air courtyard).
I have to say we were pleasantly surprised by our room! We had a two room suite with a balcony that opened out to St. Phillipe st - you couldn't ask for a more romantic set-up! Each of the rooms had a flat screen tv, and we had a very well-appointed marble bath. In addition, we had a great bed and central air, which was key since it was fairly warm.
Our complaints are fairly minor - the 'continental breakfast' is non-existent and I wouldn't count on it to replace breakfast. However, you are in New Orleans, so you should be eating out anyway! There is a very good coffeehouse literally across the street from the hotel so you can easily dash out and grab a cafe-au-lait when you need it. The room isn't terribly well sound-insulated, but the street the hotel is on is quiet (especially compared to Bourbon St!), so the occasional car noise or horse carriage wasn't bad. In our room the closet was very small, so I wish they gave you more storage. Finally, you do get tired of the stairs, but it's not a huge deal.
Overall, this was a good experience. The hotel met our needs - the location is great, it has a lot of the New Orleans charm (balconies, courtyard with fountain), and the suites have a lot of room to just lounge in. I think a lot depends on the room you get - our friends got a room also in the same hotel, and theirs was much smaller (however they had a whirlpool in the bathroom).
Absoluetly disgusting
by TripAdvisor Member zoesmom
We were told by the reservationist at the hotel that there was a two bedroom suite that would be perfect for my husand, my two children and myself. I have never seen a room more filthy and disgusting. My children are 7 months and 2 1/2 and I wouldn't let them walk in the room without shoes on. I called management to complain without anything really being rectified. There was gunk hanging from the fans in every room and one of the beds had a huge sink hole in it. I would put my dog in this room which we were paying $375/ night! The suite has a balcony overlooking the French Quarter, but a complete hazard with small children as they could have easily fallen through the rails.
The kitchen and bathroom were horrible with stuff growing in the refrigerator and the bath wasn't much better. Our bathroom had 1 towel and 1 washcloth. Perfect for a family of 4. I was horrified to have to bath my children in this tub.
I would not recommend this place to ANYONE and still can't believe that they would rent this room to anyone especially people with children.
Gross, gross, gross.
If you book the Royal, have a back-up plan!
by A TripAdvisor Member
We were not given the room that they described to us when the reservation was made telephonically. Our room, number 19, had a gay porn DVD in one of the few drawers that was not painted shut. There was a scorch mark going up the wall from the electrical outlet and the tiny TV's extension cord was stretched across the room at eye level. The "balcony" was a little ledge over the oily exhaust from the restaurant below. There were no hangers. The bedspread and bathtub were dirty and the floor was sticky where it wasn't splintery. There are other rooms that appeared nice. However, I would advise you to be wary of them as well, especially if rain is forecast. We told the front desk that our room was unacceptable and the response was incredibly rude and NOT helpful. We were eventually moved to a "sister" hotel, the St. Helene.
Again, this hotel seems somewhat inconsistent in its offerings, but the staff was more willing to make our stay as pleasant as they could. The word on the street in New Orleans is beware of the Melrose Group of hotels. You can't be guaranteed a bad experience, but then again, you can't be guaranteed a good one, either.
Could have been better for the price
by A TripAdvisor Member
Most of the reviews about this hotel are correct. However, we never were without towels. The room was small but relatively clean, no dresser for clothes. Bathroom was also small on the surface its was clean however upon further inspection was in need of a good cleaning.I think the maids just did a once over with Lysol wipes. Scary thing is we did not notice any smoke detectors. There was not one in our room or one we noticed on our floor or the floor below us. We never interacted with the staff except to check in and check out. Considering that I paid almost $600.00 for a three nite stay here, I think I expected a little bit more. Loved the location. The experience did not ruin our stay just gave us more reason to see New Orleans and only come back to the hotel when absolutely necessary.
Definitely will return
by A TripAdvisor Member
These reviews can't be of the hotel my husband and I just left. This was our 5th anniversy we stayed at the Hotel Royal and LOVED IT! From begining to end. A big change from you've seen one hotel you've seen them all chain hotels. The decor of the hotel lobby was unique & beautiful our room was gorgeous, hardwood floors, jacuzzi tub and a balcony over looking the French Quarter which was only 1 block from BOURBON ST. We always had towels and the staff was pretty nice. We Definitely will return to Hotel Royal.
What a hole in the wall
by A TripAdvisor Member
Stayed here April 2004. What a hole in the wall. Room was filthy, no pillowcases (just shams that I'm sure were drooled on many-a-time), TV cord didn't reach outlet (well the wall outlet was black with soot so maybe that was for the better). Took 2 days to get an extension cord to plug it in another outlet. Finally got pillow cases. By then, I had had enough! The last straw was a roach nearly the size of a chihuahua in the bathtub (ok, that is a SLIGHT exaggeration, but it was a good 3 inches long.) I went right to the front desk to get directions to the nearest internet cafe so I could find a deal on Priceline and get the heck out of there! Staff is slow to react. Hotel owner doesn't return phone calls. Service is definitely lacking. I paid for 3 nights but checked out after 2 and went elsewhere (and the extra cost I incurred was well worth it!) Website pictures are VERY mis-leading - perhaps there is one room renovated but I sure didn't see it (nor did 4 other friends in other rooms of the hotel). Inexpensive lodging is one thing - a roast infested hell hole is another. The only thing positive I could say about this place was the location. Of course what good is that if it's a hell hole! I'd stay away if I were you...
Good Service, Great Location
by TripAdvisor Member RobinsDawg
I was scared after reading the reviews on this site but decided to go ahead anyway. We stayed in a queen regular room ($95/ night), room #15, and was pleasantly surprised. Room was small but very clean. Staff was very courteous and the room was cleaned every morning. (No problems with a lack of towels). The big draw for this property is definately the location which is as good as it gets. We plan on returning next Memorial day and requesting the same room. One negative was the lack of storage space but that is the least of my concerns when going to New Orleans.
Cross it out of your list
by A TripAdvisor Member
Don't stay here. Horribly expensive; rude, inattentive personnel; quaint remodelling of an old French Quarter house that lacks the minimum you would expect for the price they charge you a night: no elevator (climb 3 stories up), no porter help (now climb those 3 stories with all your luggage), and narrow balconies to top it off. True it makes for great pictures for the web or Condé Nast, but when you go down to it, our room, one of their best, had electrical outlets only in one of the walls, broken curtain guides, NO water pressure, tiny area for the commode, small hanging closet, no drawers, only one tiny table (ice bucket diameter size), and, of course, no service for anything. It is so close to Bourbon Street that the noise is with you until 3 or 4 in the morning. Unfortunately I had prepaid it because of complete booking of all the hotels of the city for the ASCO convention. If not, I would have been out of there in a blink
a NOLA / FQ heads up!
by TripAdvisor Member daveandcarrie
If you want a big room and 5 star service, go pay $200 - $300 at one of those high class joints in the quarter. If you want a place to store your luggage, take a shower and a nap during the day while you party your @$$ off all night... get a great rate here on a great location, safe place, and good staff. THIS IS THE FRENCH QUARTER PEOPLE! It's not a resort area. If you have misconceptions about what you think a room is in this town, don't go. You people will be disappointed with anything.
If you spend enough time in your room to complain like the people on this board, you're not enjoying NOLA the way you should.
The Hotel Royal is a great quarter hotel!
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