I recently was on a business trip in Louisiana and needed to spend two nights in New Orleans. Having heard positive reviews about it, I booked myself into the JW Marriott New Orleans. Here is my review of this stylish, well-located hotel.
The cost to stay at the JW Marriott New Orleans was USD 185/night + tax or 43,000 Bonvoy points.
I opted for the cash rate since it was a better value than a point redemption. I earned 75% bonus points on the rate by being a Titanium Elite Bonvoy member and 5X the points per dollar spent by using my Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card
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The best way to earn Marriott Bonvoy points for free stays at more than 7,000 hotels around the world is with the Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card (and/or the Marriott Bonvoy® Business American Express®* Card).
In addition to the great welcome bonus on both cards, you’ll earn 2 points per dollar on all purchases and 5 points per dollar at Marriott locations. And each year, you’ll earn a certificate for one free hotel stay (35,000 point value) and 15 Elite nights toward your Marriott Bonvoy status.
The JW Marriott New Orleans is centrally located on Canal street; a short 5-minute walk to the heart of the French Quarter. This small distance provides a bit of a buffer zone from the action on Bourban street when you are looking for quiet, but it is close enough to all the major attractions to be within walking distance. The airport is a 25-minute drive away, depending on traffic.
The hotel effectively has two entrances, one on each side of the building. The “main” entrance is best used when you are on foot or arriving by streetcar. This is also the entrance to the hotel’s restaurant Fogo de Chão.
The entrance on the other side of the building is where you arrive by car. It boasts one of my favourite features when visiting a downtown big-city hotel: an entry off the street in a private enclosed area. This makes for a stress-free arrival experience compared with some other downtown hotels where the hotel’s main entrance is right on the busy street.
At the JW Marriott New Orleans, you arrive and park; a valet unloads your luggage and takes it to the lobby, then they park your car for you. The parking fee is $50/night for valet service, with no option for self-parking unless you want to choose another parking option not affiliated with the hotel.
The JW Marriott has a posh lobby with warm colours, plenty of cozy seating, and nice artwork. It features several check-in desks, a valet station, a concierge desk, a hallway leading to the bar & restaurant, and the elevators which go up to the rooms and meeting spaces.
As a Titanum Elite member I was given an upgrade to a premium corner room on the 25th floor which I had secured via chat on their mobile app prior to arrival. Due to the angular nature of the hotel tower there are a fair number of these rooms. When the hotel is busy like it was during my stay, it’s more likely to be upgraded to this than one of the larger suites. Since I was by myself it suited my needs perfectly.
The hallways from the elevator to the room feature the signature cream-coloured motif with dark accents that JW Marriott is known for.
The room was a good size for just one guest with a super comfortable king-sized bed.
The entrance featured a luggage rack and cabinet featuring drawers, closet space, bathrobes, and an ironing board.
The main area has a working desk with power bar, desk light, and a book about the history of the city. There’s a large TV, complimentary water, and a cabinet which includes the coffee/tea station, mini-fridge, and safe.
The sleeping area featured a comfortable chair with ottoman, and desks on each side of the bed with lamps and power outlets.
The bathroom was a mix of marble, granite, and wallpaper. The amenities included Aromatherapy-branded soap, shampoo, body wash, body lotion, and mouthwash. Various other toiletries such as shower cap and vanity kit were next to the sink. My room had a shower with very good water pressure.
The high floor gave a view over downtown New Orleans.
The feature I appreciated the most at the JW Marriott hotel was its executive lounge. This was spread over two floors and was very stylish and comfortable. It featured various seating arrangements useful for eating, socializing, working, or having a meeting with work colleagues. I had access to this thanks to my Titanium Elite status. You can always book rooms which give you access to this if you don’t have status with Marriott.
In the morning the staff put out a full breakfast including eggs, sausages, potatoes, oatmeal, yogurt, fruit, granola, toast&bagels, pastries&muffins, and a platter of meat and cheese. Water and a selection of juices was available to drink.
Apparently, in regular times they offer an evening service as well, but when I asked about that they replied that they hadn’t yet resumed that post-covid. With no pandemic restrictions left in the city, it seemed like that was done simply as a cost-saving measure.
The hotel has a very chick lobby lounge which would be a nice place to have a drink.
There’s also a Brazilian steakhouse restaurant called Fogo de Chão which was serving a brunch when I stopped in to take a photo. I didn’t spend any time at either spot since I was more interested in eating and drinking out in the French Quarter.
If you have drinks at your hotel’s bars and restaurants, don’t forget to charge these expenses to your room bill, earning up to 17.5 points per dollar based on your Marriott Bonvoy status!
When you check out, pay with your Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card to earn 5 points per dollar!
The hotel has ample event space for meetings and weddings. Most of it was closed during my visit, so I could only get a few photos in the hallways.
There is an extensive fitness center located on the 6th floor. There’s a good selection of weight training and cardio equipment, as well as water and towels available.
Continuing through the gym beyond the glass doors is an outdoor pool. This was a decent area to cool down on a hot day, but could certainly have been jazzed up with some umbrellas and seat cushions. There was no sauna, jacuzzi, or poolside service.
On the service side, I didn’t stay much in the hotel other than use the executive lounge for breakfast. I (like most people I think) was more interested in spending time out in the city. Having said that, every short interaction I had with staff was very pleasant. They were very keen to see if there was anything I needed or if there was anything they could do for me. The general feeling of hospitality I felt was very strong.
Valet $50/day
Overall this would be a great hotel whether your stay is for business or leisure. The location is hard to beat if you want to see a little bit of everything the city offers. While I didn’t require much service-wise, all the staff were very friendly and eager to see if there was anything I needed. The JW Marriott New Orleans rooms are high quality, and there are solid dining and fitness amenities available.
Most people visiting New Orleans near the French Quarter likely aren’t going to spend much time in their hotel, and will instead spend their time checking out the world-class dining and entertainment venues. If you’d rather spend less of your budget on your hotel, there are numerous other Marriott-branded hotels in the area which have lower nightly rates and could be a good alternative place. But If you’re looking for a high-quality, stylish hotel, then you can’t go wrong with this choice.
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