California Jim

Pool, workout facility, restaurant, bar Drilling down further I see the restaurant specialize in creole and cajun, there is an oyster bar, and a specialty whiskey bar. One reviewer suggested not using the $31 per day hotel parking and instead use the public lot one block away. As to not being satisfied with the hotel selected by Hotwire, sometimes when you're expectations are low, you can get pleasant surprises. So I will just keep an open mind and see how it goes

I followed the HOTWIRE link and ended up with the Crowne Plaza Astor at the corner of Canal and Bourbon for $139 per night. Not really what I had in mind as to a central French Quarter location or a 4 - 5 star. Most reviews peg it as a 3 or 3.5 star, and the reviews are more mixed than consistent as at the Omni or Sonestra. And the price is not really all that great since I could have had it for about the same price at other websites. I called Hotwire to see if they could change it to be more central to FQ but of course they would not budge Buyers remorse? Yes. In retrospect I should have just put a $50 bid on a 4 star thru PRICELINE and I probably would have ended up at the JW Marriott Anybody have anything good to say about the Crowne?

The amenities are workout facilities, pool, onsite restaurant/bar and central French Quarter location. The Omni and Sonestra look about perfect

I click on the HOTWIRE link on this page and input 4 star or above for French Quarter and it shows a red box with $139 inside of it with a button right under it that says "continue". To the right is a link to a map. It looks like location #1 is the Marriott on Canal Maybe this is the correct site and all I need to do is input my bid? If I put in $89 I wonder if I have at good shot at the OMNI? Thanks for your patience

I must not be using the Betterbid HOTWIRE link correctly because when I use it and select French Quarter, 4 star or higher, I get a choice button of $139 per night and when I look at the map it sure seems as if the only mapped hotel is on Canal St, which probably means the JW Marriott, more on the edge of the quarter. I don't want to give up quite yet on the Omni as it has everything I want and is very central. Can someone tell me how to get to a webpage where $89 is indicated as noted in the previous communication? Also, fyi, I just read an Aug 20, 2009 CNN Money.com article that hotel reservations are down 15% in New Orleans this Summer compared to last Summer. And since I will be there Oct 21-25 when there are no major conventions, the Saints are away in Miami and there are no major cultural or music events happening (the Voodoo music festival it happening the following weekend, Oct 30-31), I would think hotel reseravtions are off even more than that, and there is a strong desire to give great deals to attract more people there and spend money. Amy advice most appreciated . I will be sure to communicate my experience in this process on this website

$119 for the Omni Royal Orleans received in this Hotwire htoel win is a great deal. I plan to be there Oct 21-25, 2009. Can you give me any tips for getting that rate thru HOTWIRE? On the Tripadvisor website I saw that some people got the JW Marriott for $50 per night but I prefer to be more central to the French Quarter rather than being on Canal St. If I bid $119 rather than $50 does Omni get a chance to say yes before Marriott does? Thanks