Neighborhoods

Staying Safe -- There is, of course, considerable concern about personal safety in New Orleans. Your hotel choice, for the most part, need not be influenced by that. Daytime is mostly safe, and at night you will probably be traveling in cabs or, if you're in the French Quarter, in well-populated areas. If you stay above Bourbon Street, closer to Rampart, don't walk back to your hotel alone at night; take a cab or travel in a group.

The Faubourg Marigny

The Faubourg Marigny is very distinct from the French Quarter, though the neighborhoods border each other and are an easy walk apart. This arty and bohemian neighborhood may be better for a younger crowd who wants to be near the French Quarter without actually being in it. If you stay in the farther reaches of the Faubourg, however, please either take a cab or be very cautious returning at night; the neighborhood has suffered from crime problems lately.

Central Business District

At first glance, the CBD seems too generic big city for a proper New Orleans stay. And while it is true that many of its hotels blur together in terms of style, quality is consistent, and you can get very good rates here compared to prices just across Canal. It's an easy walk to the Quarter, but given the increasing number of more moderately priced, and excellent, restaurants in the area, you may not care.

Spending the Night in Chains -- For those of you who prefer the predictability of a chain hotel or are gambling that generic lodgings get overlooked during popular events, there's a perfectly okay Marriott at 555 Canal St., at the edge of the Quarter (tel. 800/654-3990 or 504/581-1000). A Sheraton at 500 Canal St. (tel. 504/525-2500) is also a good bet.

In the Central Business District (CBD), check out the smoke-free Holiday Inn Express in the historic Cotton Exchange building, 221 Carondelet St. (tel. 504/962-0800). Residence Inn by Marriott, 345 St. Joseph St. (tel. 800/331-3131 or 504/522-1300), and Courtyard by Marriott, 300 Julia St. (tel. 888/703-0390 or 504/598-9898), are both a couple of blocks from the convention center (a second Courtyard by Marriott is set to open in the French Quarter in 2012). The Homewood Suites, at 901 Poydras St., is pretty dazzling, in a cookie-cutter way (tel. 800/225-5466 or 504/581-5599), while the Quality Inn, at 210 O'Keefe Ave., seems clean and fine (tel. 877/525-6900 or 504/525-6800).

Still need a last-minute emergency reservation? Here's a bunch more, all more or less CBD or adjacent: Comfort Suites (346 Baronne St.; tel. 800/524-1140 or 504/524-1140), Country Inn and Suites by Carlson (315 Magazine St.; tel. 800/456-4000 or 504/324-5400), Embassy Suites (315 Julia St.; tel. 504/525-1993), Hampton Inn and Suites (1201 Convention Center Blvd.; tel. 866/311-1200 or 504/566-9990), La Quinta Inn and Suites (301 Camp St.; tel. 800/531-5900 or 504/598-9977), and SpringHill Suites by Marriott (301 St. Joseph St.; tel. 800/287-9400 or 504/522-3100).

And if all the rooms in town are booked, you might try to see if one of the chains down by the airport has something for you.