Family-Friendly Hotels in New Orleans

The Blue60 Marigny Inn is the most practical choice for a family on this page. Its listing names family rooms, a mini fridge, a microwave and a coffee machine in the rooms, and free WiFi throughout, which makes breakfasts and snacks easy to manage. Its signature feature is a patio jet spa. It is a three-star inn in the Marigny, about 1.3 kilometers from St. Louis Cathedral and around 1.5 kilometers from Bourbon Street, close enough to walk into the French Quarter but outside its loudest blocks. It scores 8.9 from nearly 290 reviews, the same score as Hotel Provincial on a smaller number of stays.

Hotel Provincial puts a family right in the French Quarter. It is a four-star hotel 300 meters from St. Louis Cathedral, with a courtyard pool, premium bedding, central air conditioning and a 24-hour front desk. Its listing notes that the courtyard is sheltered from the evening noise of Bourbon Street, which matters when children go to bed early. From here, Jackson Square, the riverfront and the French Market are an easy walk, and the pool gives everyone a break during the hottest part of the afternoon. With an 8.9 score from more than 1,600 reviews, it is the most reviewed hotel on this page.

The Hyatt Regency New Orleans is the large, full-service option. It is a four-star tower next to the Caesars Superdome and the Smoothie King Center, with a heated outdoor pool, a sundeck, a bar and several restaurants, including Creole cooking and Spanish-inspired seafood. The heated pool is the most useful for a winter visit, and the choice of restaurants saves time with tired children in the evening. It scores 9.0 from more than 1,000 reviews, the best rating of the three. It suits families coming for a game or event at the Superdome, though the French Quarter is a longer walk than from the other two.

Choosing comes down to what your family needs most. For a kitchen-style set-up and family rooms, the Blue60 Marigny Inn is my pick, with the Marigny's calmer streets as a bonus. For a pool and the French Quarter on the doorstep, Hotel Provincial works well, especially with its sheltered courtyard. For a heated pool, restaurants on site and an event at the Superdome, the Hyatt Regency is the easy answer. Whichever you choose, I would plan sightseeing in the morning, keep the pool for the afternoon and avoid Bourbon Street with children after dark. For Mardi Gras or Jazz Fest dates, book well ahead, as the whole city fills up.