Audubon Cottages

By Angela Ash

 With a literal plethora of accommodations to choose from in the Crescent City, making a decision is never easy.  An endless number of factors come into play... such as convenience, amenities, ambiance, service, and of course, the swimming pool.  In New Orleans, there is also a fine line between being close to the action and being IN the action.  The ideal scenario would be a beautiful location, steps from Bourbon Street and other French Quarter attractions, with the peace and quiet of a plantation home along the river. Sounds impossible, right? 

Well, allow the New Orleans Hotel Collection to make you a believer with their nearly unbelievable array of properties.  If you are looking for a magical getaway, you have arrived.  This hotel collection consists of the Bourbon Orleans, the Crowne Plaza New Orleans Airport, Dauphine Orleans, Hotel Mazarin, Hotel Le Marais, the Whitney Hotel, and the Audubon Cottages.  Each property is unique in what it offers the discerning traveler. 

However, I can hold out no longer.  I can not wait another second to describe the historic brilliance that are the Audubon Cottages.

Once behind its beautiful gates, time seems to stand still, and there is not even a peep from nearby Bourbon Street.  Seven cottages, fresh from a multi-million dollar restoration, beckon its visiting inhabitants to experience the epitome of "living it up" in the French Quarter.  With personal butler service, anything you may require is right at your fingertips, including complimentary continental breakfast delivered each morning. 

Each cottage could easily double as a private residence, complete with surprising touches that really make it feel like home.  Coffee, tea, bottled water, and soft drinks are replenished every day, and the complimentary wireless internet allows you to check email, look up flight information, or (gasp) do a tiny bit of work. 

And if a purely fantastic swimming pool can make or break your hotel stay, you will be pleasantly surprised! This saltwater phenomenon is said to be the oldest saltwater pool in New Orleans.  Really... how cool is that?

The attention to detail is so above industry norm that it is almost difficut to explain.  The Audubon Cottages must be experienced... lived in... appreciated... bfore you can even begin to understand the difference between this French Quarter oasis and a standard hotel.  In short, the cottages will completely blow you away. 

And as if the cottages were not enough, May Bailey's Place is located right next door, and is a gorgeous venue to have a drink... or two.  Wait... I am being terribly conservative.  With expertly crafted concoctions, you may find yourself an instant "regular", and you may not be alone.  May Bailey's Place has been featured on the Travel Channel on Ghost Adventures, and you may find that you have a friend from another plane sitting next to you on the bar stool.  Have an open mind, because you never know what might happen!

While staying in New Orleans, I can not recommend enough that you make the Audubon Cottages your home away from home, and, if you may seek alternate options, look within the New Orleans Hotel Collection, and have the experience of a lifetime!

For more information, please visit online, or call (504)561-5858.