assistance from nola residents?

[Platypus]

Looking for some info from locals on where a relatively safe/affordable place (<=200$ a night) to stay within the nola area is. I suppose moreso what areas I should avoid. I live in Chicago so I'm not a stranger to seedy areas. I have no interest in the whole bourbon street scene or staying somewhere that's sketchy, otherwise very open to suggestions. There will be 3-4 of us most likely.

While I potentially have an ear (or eyes, as it were) any particularly cool areas for street art or urban decay/abandonment in terms of photography opportunities would be good to know about as well.

thanks for any insight.

 

[GTaudiophile]

AirBnB

Garden District.... Magazine St.

 

[Platypus]

AirBnB

Garden District.... Magazine St.

Thats actually what I've been looking at, so that area is pretty solid then?

Thanks for the reply

 

[Cheesemoo]

http://hotelmonteleone.com/

I believe the oldest Hotel in N.O.

my favorite place to stay in N.O. ( I live in west Louisiana) May be a little beyond that $200 a night depending on when you go.

The Carousel Bar is very neat

http://hotelmonteleone.com/new-orleans-dining-entertainment/carousel-bar-lounge/

It is close to Bourbon though.

 

[Platypus]

http://hotelmonteleone.com/

I believe the oldest Hotel in N.O.

my favorite place to stay in N.O. ( I live in west Louisiana) May be a little beyond that $200 a night depending on when you go.

The Carousel Bar is very neat

http://hotelmonteleone.com/new-orleans-dining-entertainment/carousel-bar-lounge/

It is close to Bourbon though.

Thanks for the info, looks like it'd be just two double beds, and while I like these guys, I don't think sleeping together is an option unfortunately :awe:

 

[RagingBITCH]

Thanks for the info, looks like it'd be just two double beds, and while I like these guys, I don't think sleeping together is an option unfortunately :awe:

I work for Hilton and Hotel Mont is pretty bad-ass. That being said - there are a significant number of Hilton (and under their umbrella) hotels near the Convention Center that are fantastic properties and under $200. It's a short enough walk to the Garden District. If I had to make a recommendation, I'd say the Hampton Inn & Suites New Orleans Convention Center is a pretty good pick.

The last time I stayed was at the Hilton St Charles (St Charles and Poydras) and even from there, it was still within walking distance, depending upon how fit/fat you and your friends are.

 

[Platypus]

I work for Hilton and Hotel Mont is pretty bad-ass. That being said - there are a significant number of Hilton (and under their umbrella) hotels near the Convention Center that are fantastic properties and under $200. It's a short enough walk to the Garden District. If I had to make a recommendation, I'd say the Hampton Inn & Suites New Orleans Convention Center is a pretty good pick.

The last time I stayed was at the Hilton St Charles (St Charles and Poydras) and even from there, it was still within walking distance, depending upon how fit/fat you and your friends are.

awesome thanks for the tips, walking is not a problem we're all from big cities

 

[nageov3t]

I don't think sleeping together is an option unfortunately :awe:

well, there goes all my interest in this thread....

 

[Platypus]

well, there goes all my interest in this thread....

ahahaha
my husband wouldn't appreciate that I imagine

 

[RagingBITCH]

awesome thanks for the tips, walking is not a problem we're all from big cities

lol. Well in case you get tired you can always take the streetcars over to the Garden District. I enjoyed the walk to soak in the culture and city. Bourbon isn't too bad before the wee hours of the night - it's kind of fun going and enjoying a beverage taking it all in.

 

[OCGuy]

Superdome

 

[Platypus]

lol. Well in case you get tired you can always take the streetcars over to the Garden District. I enjoyed the walk to soak in the culture and city. Bourbon isn't too bad before the wee hours of the night - it's kind of fun going and enjoying a beverage taking it all in.

thanks again, can you recommend anything re: my photography question off the top of your head? Want to try and plan out some areas to capture. Off the beaten path kinda shit without wandering into sketchy places.

 

[RagingBITCH]

thanks again, can you recommend anything re: my photography question off the top of your head? Want to try and plan out some areas to capture. Off the beaten path kinda shit without wandering into sketchy places.

That part I can't recommend...hopefully a native/local can give some insight

 

[BurnItDwn]

The last time I went to Nola, fiance and I stayed at http://www.lerichelieuhotel.com/
It may not work well for your group though ...

Very very beautiful nice hotel, it is in the french quarter, but much quieter than Bourbon street. It's pretty close to Frenchmen street which has a number of nice music clubs/dives.

Not much "decay" there, more or less, things are fixed/repaired since Katrina in that area.

I stayed in a MUCH less interesting hotel on an earlier NOLA trip, in the business district, we were only a couple blocks from Canal street back then.

Anyhow, I love NOLA. It's one of my favorite places to visit, and planning to go there again next year (was planinng to go THIS year, but my best friend moved to SC, so I'll be going there in the fall instead.)

 

[ElFenix]

thanks again, can you recommend anything re: my photography question off the top of your head? Want to try and plan out some areas to capture. Off the beaten path kinda shit without wandering into sketchy places.

NO has sketchy areas all over. It's kind of amazing how fast it goes from stately houses to crack houses.

Head over to the Tulane and Loyola campuses (st Charles street car from downtown), they're nice to photograph.

Also, the cemeteries can be neat to photograph as well

 

[Platypus]

Thanks ElFenix

 

[BergeLSU]

Pretty good advice in this thread.

Unfortunately, the areas it sounds like you'd like to photograph aren't necessarily the areas you want to be walking around.

Depending on when you come in, cat's claws could be blooming and making for some gorgeous photos in the spring. There are some surprisingly kept up houses that have the ivy growing like in this picture.

The Treme neighborhoods are within walking distrance from the French Quarter, though, again, not the best area to be hanging out in.

I'd recommend taking a day walking down St. Charles or taking the streetcar and staying Uptown and in the Garden District.

 

[Herr Kutz]

On or south of St. Charles

 

[bignateyk]

We stayed at a place on Frenchmen Street that was under $200 a night. It wasn't bad, but it was loud as hell at night.

I would stay in the Garden District next time and take the trolley into the French Quarter.

 

[Platypus]

Unfortunately, the areas it sounds like you'd like to photograph aren't necessarily the areas you want to be walking around.

This is somewhat what I figured but I live in Chicago and venture to all kinds of shady areas for photography... so maybe it's relative. Does the situation change in nola if I am with multiple people or is it just not tenable to even try? I'd specifically like to find abandoned areas from Katrina's aftermath if possible.

Thanks to everyone else for their input as well, I think I found a suitable location.

 

[BergeLSU]

This is somewhat what I figured but I live in Chicago and venture to all kinds of shady areas for photography... so maybe it's relative. Does the situation change in nola if I am with multiple people or is it just not tenable to even try? I'd specifically like to find abandoned areas from Katrina's aftermath if possible.

Thanks to everyone else for their input as well, I think I found a suitable location.

Daytime with a group of people you can go pretty much anywhere. After dark, pretty much stick to the populated areas and well lit areas and you will be fine. I've never seen a hint of trouble, but I know my surroundings. Almost all crime here is local gangs or drug related (Just had two bodies dumped near my house after two drug dealers killed each other 10 miles away). The tourists who get robbed are usually too drunk, alone, and not in a place they should be. Be smart about it and you are fine.

I think the 9th Ward is an area you'd like to see and take pictures of, but it is too far without a car.