The Ritz-Carlton New Orleans

09/14/09

It certainly didn't feel like a 5* property

by lettyfromtarlac at Citysearch

Before writing this review, I was searching for vacation packages because I want to go on vacation -- again. I just came from one several days ago, and I'm still stressed. I was wondering why, when I realized, it's the Ritz, the EVIL staff at Ritz Carlton New Orleans and their cruddy rooms!!!

Let me backtrack a bit. I booked a 3 night, extended weekend stay at the Ritz. We paid for a package, and paid extra to stay at the Ritz because I have stayed at many, many a Ritz Carlton and the quality I was expecting, so I thought, is pretty much the same at all properties. Wrong, oh so wrong!

We were booked into a standard room. I really didn't care to see a view or anything out the window because the Ritz is located at Canal Street, and what am I really going to look at, street traffic? No thanks! If I was in Hawaii and staying at an oceanfront hotel, I would have opted for a completely category. Since this was New Orleans, I'm focusing my vacation time mostly on Bourbon, Royal and Magazine Streets. No time for looking at street traffic. Of course, the room category is where my living hell began.

We arrived at the hotel at night since we came from San Francisco. Even with a direct flight, it's 5 hours minimum. The room we were given reeked of smoke. Couldn't deal with that so my husband phoned the front desk for another room. We were told that a king bed is not available because we checked-in so late. Also, the room about 4 doors down from the elevator and extra hangers I requested when booking the hotel were completely forgotten too. The lady said they only had 2 doubles left if we wanted non-smoking. After more dickering, they upgraded us to a room with 2 kings, semantics, grr!!!

We thought everything was ok, until after we quickly unpacked and went out for dinner at 12 midnight (remember, we wasted 2 hours moving rooms already), it was time to sleep. Except I couldn't, all night long, because there was a weird noise coming from the ceiling. After wasting 1 sleepless night of my 3 night "relaxing" getaway, I called for maintenance to try and fix that noise. A couple of more hours wasted waiting for the guy, we were told that we'd have to move rooms because he'll pretty much have to rip open the ceiling before he could figure out what's wrong.

I called the front desk again and was told that no rooms were available at the time, but wait 2 more hours and they'll see what they could do. We go out for lunch and came back to the front desk, where we were shown another room in the same floor as their spa. This one now had the sound of running water. "Constantly" running water. And then another room, the 1 king bed as usual, nowhere near the elevator. After all the he-- we've been through so far and the sleepless night, they have the chutzpah to dump us onto the same room.

We promptly checked-out, because we have wasted 1-1/2 days of our very short vacation so far switching rooms thanks to the Ritz. While checking-out by the way, my husband overheard another person complaining at the front desk that there's a rodent in his room!

This is the Ritz? Well, the price certainly reflected it (like $36 a day for valet service). That's not so bad if they delivered though, but didn't. It certainly didn't feel like a 5* property, not even 3* by a long shot.

05/06/08

Very nice

by norcaltravel at Citysearch

Nice hotel, prefer over the pricier Maison Orleans. The staff is very friendly and helpful. Hotel provides their own shuttle for JazzFest (it costs but is worth it and you don't need to be a hotel guest).

• Pros: Location, JazzFest shuttle, friendly staff
• Cons: no pool

10/21/03

Amazing Place!

by cdachan at Citysearch

I LOVE THIS HOTEL! Yes, it is expensive...but a treat. The layout is strange, but this is possibly due to the previous occupant (a department store). It didn't detract. Instead it made for some interesting exploring. This hotel is so comfortable and beautiful. If possible, try the spa. It is so, so nice.

• Pros: Luxury, Great Staff, Location
• Cons: Expensive