Celebrities, royals, and discerning travelers choose the Windsor Court for its classic style, attentive staff, and big rooms. While there’s plenty to do on the property -- including afternoon tea, a tour of the hotel’s impressive art collection, or a treatment at the lovely spa -- the Windsor Court is quietly located near all the French Quarter action. The rooms are sweet and cheerful, with classic English-style decor and upscale amenities that include free Wi-Fi, iPod docks, Molton Brown toiletries, and Keurig coffeemakers.

Set in a landmark 1890s building in the Central Business District (and a three-minute walk from Bourbon Street), The Roosevelt New Orleans, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel is an elegant, upscale property offering 504 genteel rooms and suites with posh, old-world decor. Flat-screen TVs, minibars, plush robes, and Salvatore Ferragamo toiletries come standard. Suites add living rooms and huge bathrooms. There’s a high-end restaurant, an Italian eatery, a casual cafe, and the famous Sazerac Bar. A rooftop outdoor pool features a poolside bar. Other amenities include a 24-hour fitness center and a luxe spa. Valet parking is available for a fee. The Ponchartrain Hotel in the Garden District offers similar upscale historic charm, plus an ultra hip nightlife scene, but there’s no pool, gym, or spa.

The boutique Q&C Hotel is a modern upper-middle-range property located within walking distance of the French Quarter that features smart, steampunk-style decor with exposed pipes, brick walls, and a hip vibe that attracts young, trendy tourists. Its 196 rooms are small, but comfortable and modern, outfitted with chic decor and modern conveniences like Keurig coffeemakers and free Wi-Fi. The inviting lobby includes a popular bar that offers a variety of refreshments and food, plus a great daily happy hour. There are several stylish meeting rooms throughout the hotel as well as a small, but well-equipped, fitness center. Travelers looking for something similar might want to compare rates with the Hotel Modern New Orleans, also a hip and trendy property with a bistro and a cocktail lounge.

Located on busy Magazine Street in the Central Business District, St. James Hotel, an Ascend Hotel Collection Member, is an upper-middle-range boutique property in a historic 19th-century building. The 84 rooms are decorated in a warm, Caribbean-inspired color palate and feature hardwood floors, free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, microwaves, mini-fridges, and coffeemakers. Free continental breakfast is delivered to the rooms, and the attached, upscale Chophouse New Orleans serves dinner. Other amenities include a small outdoor dipping pool, a lovely courtyard sitting area, a beautiful lobby lounge, and free off-site gym passes. Valet parking and airport transfers are available for a fee. As an alternative option, Maison Dupuy in the French Quarter features an on-site gym and a larger pool, but the building lacks the history of the St. James Hotel.

Set in a historic 1890s bank building on busy Poydras Street in the Central Business District, The Whitney Hotel is a lower-middle-range property with original architectural features, 93 warm rooms, and limited amenities. Rooms offer air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, coffeemakers, and free water, but no mini-fridges or minibars. Suites add comfortable living areas. Breakfast is offered in the beautiful former bank lobby, but there’s no full-service restaurant. Other amenities include a fitness center, a small business center, a lobby lounge, and valet parking (for a fee). Wi-Fi is free throughout the property, and free coffee and water are offered in the lobby. As an alternative, the nearby historic St. James Hotel, an Ascend Hotel Collection Member offers a small pool and on-site dining, but there’s no fitness center.

Trendsetters and celebs stay at the International House Hotel for its quietly sexy vibe, attentive staff, and posh rooms designed by a top L.A. designer. At night, the hotel’s Loa Bar (just off the rose-scented lobby) serves fancy libations by candlelight. The rates here are surprisingly fair, and the Central Business District location is within walking distance of the French Quarter.

The 165-room Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery is a historic upscale property with lots of charm and style in downtown New Orleans, near the Warehouse Arts and Central Business Districts. Much of the hotel still retains historic elements from the building's 19th-century past, including brick walls, wood-plank floors, and exposed piping. Mid-century design details and original art by local students adds even more character. The well-regarded restaurant is led by a "Top Chef" runner-up, and there's a popular coffee shop as well. Other perks include a small fitness room, upscale toiletries, and and free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel. For about the same price, travelers who don't mind cookie-cutter chain hotels can try the nearby JW Marriott New Orleans, which has a bigger fitness center and a rooftop pool.

True to its name, this Courtyard property is a 10-minute walk from the famous French Quarter. Belonging to the Marriott chain, this mid-range hotel has 141 guest rooms spread over six floors; some with balconies overlooking the street below. The lobby is modern and bright, and the on-site amenities include free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, a fitness center, 24-hour convenience store, a Starbucks cafe, and a bistro in the lobby area. Expect to pay extra for breakfast and parking. Travelers may want to consider the nearby Homewood Suites by Hilton New Orleans, which offers free breakfast and a swimming pool.

Located within walking distance of the central business district, Embassy Suites New Orleans – Convention Center is an upper-middle-range hotel that wrapped up a top-to-bottom renovation of the property in 2015. Public spaces are bright and spotless, and the 370 guest rooms and suites have elegant, up-to-date interiors. Breakfast is free, as is the nightly manager’s reception with appetizers and drinks. Other notable facilities include Stacks Grilled Cheese and Bar, a heated outdoor pool, a well-equipped fitness center, and a 24-hour business center. However, Wi-Fi is free only for Hilton HHonors members, and the French Quarter is not in easy walking distance. The Windsor Court Hotel offers a much larger rooftop swimming pool and free Wi-Fi, closer to the French Quarter.

In the Central Business District on busy St. Charles Avenue, Blake Hotel New Orleans is a mid-range hotel with simple amenities. The 122 casual rooms offer air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, microwaves, and coffeemakers. Suites add living areas, and accessible rooms are available. Cafe on the Square offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and features a full bar. The colorful lobby offers lounge areas, a small business center, and a convenience store selling drinks and snacks, but there's little in the way of local charm. Other amenities include a fitness center and meeting space. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property. There’s no pool, spa, or on-site parking. The mid-range The Lafayette Hotel across the park also features a restaurant and has more history and local character, but there’s no gym. 

The Le Meridien New Orleans is an upscale hotel located in New Orlean's Central Business District, within walking distance of both the French Quarter and the Museum District. The 410 stylish rooms and suites are outfitted with comfortable beds, large work desks, flat-screen TVs, and mini-fridges. In-room Wi-Fi incurs an extra fee, however, unless you’re a SPG Member. The outdoor rooftop pool is a guest favorite, with a large sundeck, padded loungers, and cabanas. The massive, trendy lobby is another popular spot, where coffee, wine, and small plates are served. Ample meeting facilities, a business center, and a well-equipped fitness center round out the amenities here. Travelers seeking something closer to the French Quarter might want to consider the comparable Hyatt French Quarter New Orleans.

Loft 523 is the platinum standard of New Orleans’ boutique hotels, ushering in sleek, industrial decor (no fussy florals here) in spacious lofted rooms with large, luxurious baths. Because of its size (only 18 rooms), Loft 523 lacks some amenities -- guests will have to go around the corner to sister hotel International House for a restaurant or fitness room -- but room service is available through a popular nearby restaurant, and the property can often be a better overall bargain than a full-service luxury hotel. Partiers will appreciate that hip nightclub Le Phare is attached to the hotel, though room noise levels are louder during club hours.

This upscale, mid-sized hotel in the Central Business District (CBD) drips with opulence, from the chandeliers to the marble floors in the entranceway to the large oil paintings. Decor throughout is of a classic style, but some rooms could use a refresh, and those on lower floors can be noisy. Standard Rooms can be quite small. There's a lovely rooftop pool with views of the city and nightly peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in the lobby.

This luxurious chain hotel in downtown New Orleans differentiates itself from other area properties with its sky high location -- the hotel is built on a mall and parking garage. The lobby starts on the 11th floor and rooms ascend above that, so the views of the Mississippi River and surrounding NOLA are spectacular, and the extra height means that there is very little exterior noise. The rooms themselves are spacious but rather nondescript, and a bit dated for the price. All of the requisite amenities for a comfortable stay are, however, present: flat-screen TV, quality bedding, free Wi-Fi,and in-room coffeemaker. The well-stocked fitness facility, 24-hour room service, business center, and meeting spaces also make this hotel a good choice for business travelers. The location on the edge of the French Quarter means quick access to Bourbon Street but none of the obnoxious all-night revelry.

The four-pearl Hilton New Orleans/St. Charles Avenue hotel has a historic, yet trendy, atmosphere and is located within walking distance of many famed New Orleans attractions. A large fitness center and an indoor pool and whirlpool are popular features, as is the on-site restaurant serving classic New Orleans fare. The 252 chic, spacious rooms have a subdued glamor and upscale amenities. In-room Wi-Fi is available for a fee, as is breakfast. Compared to other Hiltons, this particular hotel is a bit more expensive, though it's popular among business travelers with its ample meeting space and business center. For a hotel with similar amenities (plus free Wi-Fi), it may be worth checking the prices at Aloft New Orleans Downtown.