Hotel Review: Le Méridien New Orleans
From a vibrant Mardi Gras celebration to the unmistakable jazz notes that fill the air, New Orleans is an alluring city with endless attractions. As a result, there are numerous lodging accommodations in the city so that visitors can immerse themselves in the city’s unique blend of French and Spanish heritage combined with quintessential Big Easy charm. I decided to stay at Le Méridien New Orleans hoping to experience its European roots and iconic cultural aspects found across NOLA's streetscape. Here is my review of Le Méridien New Orleans:
Le Méridien New Orleans is located at 333 Poydras St, New Orleans, LA 70130.
What Card(s) Should You Use to Book?
I earn tons of Marriott Bonvoy points by using my American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card. It currently offers a sign-up bonus of 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy points when you spend $5,000 within your first 3 months of card membership. The card earns 6X Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar when you book directly with Marriott, 3X points on dining and flights booked directly with airlines, and 2X on all other purchases. Paired with Marriott’s promotions and AMEX offers, it opens doors to endless points-earning opportunities.
The AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card comes with great benefits that can substantially offset its annual fee.
The AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card does come with a hefty $650 annual fee but offers tons of perks to significantly offset its costs. The card features the following benefits:
Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status
$25 monthly dining credit—$300 total in a year
$100 property credit when booked directly with Marriott and staying a minimum of two nights at Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis properties
An 85,000-point Free Night Award
Access to Priority Pass lounges
25 Elite Night Credits for chasing Marriott Bonvoy status
Even if you don’t stay at Marriott properties often, this card is still a must-have, in my opinion. It’s a true example of a keeper card that offers benefits that outweigh the annual fee.
If you’d like to apply for the AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card, please consider using my referral link. It will continue to help fund my blog operations and help visitors make informed decisions to maximize their rewards. Thank you! Click HERE to access my referral link!
If you are looking for a Marriott Bonvoy credit card with a low annual fee, consider the Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card. It currently offers a sign-up bonus of three Free Night Awards after spending $1,000 in three months, each covering up to 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. I personally value Marriott Bonvoy points at 0.8 cents each, making the 105,000 points offer worth $840. The Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card earns 6X points per dollar when you book directly with Marriott, 3X points on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases every year on dining, grocery stores, and gas stations, and 2X points on all other purchases.
Be aware that 15 elite night credits from the Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card can’t be combined with 15 elite night credits from the AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card.
The Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card’s annual fee is $95, and it offers useful perks to offset the cost:
Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status, the low-tier status offered in Marriott’s member ecosystem
A 35,000-point Free Night Award
15 Elite Night Credits that will help you achieve a higher Marriott Bonvoy status
Please note that you can’t combine Elite Night Credits from two Marriott Bonvoy personal credit cards, but you can stack Elite Night Credits from one personal and one Marriott Bonvoy business card. Thus, if you own both AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant and Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless, you would only earn 25 elite night credits.
If you’d like to apply for the Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card, please consider using my referral link. It will continue to help fund my blog operations and help visitors make informed decisions to maximize their rewards. Thank you!
The last Marriott Bonvoy credit card you could use would be the AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Business card. It currently offers a sign-up bonus of 125,000 Marriott Bonvoy points when you spend $5,000 within your first 3 months of card membership. Considering that the annual membership costs $125, you get paid to have the card! The card earns 6X Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar when you book directly with Marriott, 4X points on dining, U.S. shipping purchases, U.S. wireless telephone services, and at U.S. gas stations. All other purchases earn 2X points.
The AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Business card is the only Marriott business card on the market.
The AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Business card’s annual fee is $125, and it offers valuable benefits to justify the cost:
Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status, the low-tier status offered in Marriott’s member ecosystem
A 35,000-point Free Night Award
15 Elite Night Credits, which can be combined with 15 Elite Night Credits from other personal Marriott Bonvoy credit cards
As you can see, the card’s benefits are less substantial than the ones from the AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card, but it is a great long-term keeper card due to its annual Free Night Award perk. Furthermore, it is absolutely necessary if you want to chase a higher Marriott Bonvoy status because it is the only Marriott business card that is on the market and will grant you an additional 15 Elite Night Credits. Lastly, even though it is a business credit card, it is very likely that you could get it approved. Check out my article on how to apply for a business credit card as a sole proprietor.
If you’d like to apply for the AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Business card, please consider using my referral link. It will continue to help fund my blog operations and help visitors make informed decisions to maximize their rewards. Thank you! Click HERE to access my referral link!
Location
Le Méridien New Orleans offers a unique opportunity to be just steps away from the historic French Quarter and Canal Street. With its slightly more secluded location, travelers can benefit from a quieter environment than most downtown properties without sacrificing easy access to iconic attractions such as The National WWII Museum or exploring local culture with visits to The Sazerac House for an immersive experience into NOLA’s signature cocktail.
Lobby & Check-In Review
Upon entering the hotel, we were immediately greeted with construction noise from an ongoing renovation near the breakfast area. Despite its location being more than 150 feet away from the check-in desk, it was still difficult to communicate due to how loud and pervasive it was. However, our experience quickly improved as I ended up getting upgraded to a higher floor.
Upon my arrival, a cacophony of construction noise filled the air and created an uninviting atmosphere in the hotel.
Thanks to my Titanium Elite status, we received two complimentary drink vouchers—redeemable at the hotel bar between 4 PM and 6 PM. The front desk agent kindly explained all hotel amenities, such as pool hours and breakfast times too.
Guests were welcomed to a lobby adorned with the essence of jazz—from bold artwork to melodic tones playing in the background.
On our way to the room, we decided to enjoy some cocktails from the bar using the drink vouchers.
Enjoying a cocktail was sadly off the table due to the ongoing renovation, right next to the bar.
We ordered Sparkling Sazerac and Beaucoup Bubbles, which took about ten minutes to come out.
The complimentary drink voucher only covered a handful of cocktails.
The cocktails were refreshing and strong, but it was grueling and frustrating to wait for the drinks because the construction noise pounded our eardrums.
The lovvy would have been a wonderful opportunity to socialize, if it hadn't been for the renovation.
However, it seemed that most of the guests had a different opinion because they were casually sipping on their cocktails, even with the intense construction noise in the background. Those who couldn’t stand the noise went outside by the patio to have food and conversations.
The eye-catching wall mural on the hotel building reminded me that I was in the birthplace of jazz.
We couldn’t withstand an extra minute of deafening noise from the renovation and took our cocktails up to the 17th floor, where our room was located.
Bedroom Review
Despite having a large window looking out to the Mississippi River, the bedroom was enveloped in a dim ambiance. The ordinary bed frame had an interesting gray cotton headboard that provided minimal support.
The bedroom was dimly lit, unable to benefit from the available natural light streaming in from outside.
However, the accent wall behind the headboard came from something quite extraordinary—white crown moldings fused together, creating an intriguing textural dimension to the room. The hotel likely repurposed leftover crown moldings, and I applaud the hotel for promoting eco-friendly artistry within its space.
With a keen focus on environmental responsibility, the accent wall was expertly crafted to be both stylish and sustainable.
Le Méridien New Orleans provided nightstands with plenty of USB ports and outlets next to each bedside, perfect for charging your electronics. Across from the bed was a flatscreen TV atop a shelf that functioned as both a work desk space and storage area. It had some drawbacks compared to conventional work desk setups due to its limited size.
The cabinet door refused to stay closed, leaving a broken edge visible.
The work desk had a bar stool instead of a regular chair, which wasn’t comfortable for sitting for a long time. As far as coffee went, there wasn't much variety, with Mr. Coffee being the only option.
Premium Marriott brands like Le Méridien should not use traditional Mr. Coffee machines.
Perhaps most disappointing was the broken cabinetry door hidden underneath the television set. Inside the cabinet was a mini-fridge that didn't fully reach refrigerator temperature, but I still stored my water in it to keep it as cool as it allowed. No visit to New Orleans is complete without being fully prepared for fun, and next to the media console in this room sat a well-stocked minibar with all of your favorite libations and mixers.
The mini fridge used sensors so don’t take beverages out unless you will consume them
The bedroom boasted only one window looking out onto an unfortunately underwhelming view. Despite featuring both city sights and glimpses of the Mississippi River beyond, it was marred by either ineffective tinting or dirt on its surface.
From the bedroom, one could enjoy a lackluster view—an experience made even more unenjoyable by its grimy window.
Overall, the bedroom left much to be desired. The angular lounge chaise provided anything but comfort, and low ceilings combined with dim lighting presented a rather uninviting atmosphere.
The lounge chaise was far from cozy while the room lacked any kind of inviting ambient lighting.
Furnishings appeared outdated and worn down, while in-room amenities were below par. Our expectations based on photos posted online could not have been more off-base; we even heard partying noises outside at night despite being 17 floors up. If you're looking for a peaceful slumber experience during your stay here, try booking one with a view away from the Mississippi River.
Bathroom Review
Upon entering the bathroom, I was dismayed by its low ceiling and dim lighting. The chrome frame of the single sink vanity looked stained with watermarks and dirt—a clear sign that it had not been given appropriate sanitary attention by hotel staff. This concerning hygiene level called into question other aspects of our room stay, making me more than uneasy about safety standards throughout this establishment.
Displeased with the cleanliness of my bathroom, I was left wondering about the establishment's standards for hygiene.
The toiletries were by Infusé, which featured organic aloe vera, white tea, and coconut as the primary ingredients.
The refreshingly tropical scent of the toiletries perfectly captured the unique character of New Orleans.
The shower was equipped with a standard showerhead, and its low-profile curb minimized water from running out of the shower booth onto the floor. Nonetheless, the walk-in shower was plagued by an unpleasant odor from the drain, making it less than ideal for use.
Unpleasantly, the shower was not up to standards as it presented a nauseating odor from the drain and unclean tiles.
Upon further inspection, I noticed dirty tiles throughout, and it really made me question the hotel’s overall cleanliness protocol. Hopefully, hygiene in the bathroom will be addressed soon so that hotel guests can look forward to an enjoyable—and odorless—time spent here at Le Méridien New Orleans
Gym & Rooftop Pool Review
The hotel's fourth floor had an invigorating gym and a refreshing rooftop pool.
Enjoy a pleasant escape to the rooftop pool, offering an oasis of refreshment far removed from less than ideal room accommodations.
The sunny New Orleans climate eliminated the need for heated water in the outdoor rooftop pool, which was surrounded by cabanas featuring built-in TVs.
There were plenty sunbeds available so you don't need to worry about renting one of the cabanas.
There probably was a fee associated with renting the cabana, but you could always opt for free chaise lounge chairs outside if sunbathing is more your style.
I highly recommend wearing flipflops to keep your feet cool and safe on those hot, sunny decks.
The gym at Le Méridien New Orleans was modern and spacious, featuring a convenient towel rack near the entrance plus an unexpected mini SMEG fridge stocked with chilled water bottles.
Cardio machines were facing either the outdoor pool or downtown New Orleans.
The gym didn’t have the latest cardio machines, but it still offered plenty of strength machines to challenge yourself and reach your fitness goals.
Fitness fans could also enjoy a dedicated lifting space with two adjustable benches and brand-new TechnoGym strength exercise equipment.
The gym offered the newest strength machines from TechnoGym, designed to help you reach your fitness goals with ease.
The free-weight space was nicely padded to protect the flooring from heavy weights.
While the fitness center could have offered heavier weights, they did provide additional strength machines to enhance your workout regimen.
Though my initial expectations were low because of my unimpressive room experience elsewhere in the complex, I found myself pleasantly surprised by its contemporary design aesthetic and fresh workout gear on offer.
Slip into your workout with the benefit of a healthy dose of natural light flooding through floor-to-ceiling windows at the gym.
The fitness center was definitely worth checking out if you’re looking to break free from your dispiriting lodging accommodation.
Breakfast Review—Longitude 90
Breakfast at Longitude 90 was served daily from 6:30 AM to 11 AM on the hotel's first floor. Since it was right by the bar, we were seriously worried about ear-pounding construction noises while dining in. Thankfully, there was no renovation when we arrived at around 7 AM.
The breakfast experience was infinitely enhanced due to the lack of disruptive construction noise in the background.
With my Titanium Elite status, I received breakfast vouchers for my fiancé and me, with each voucher generously covering up to $30 worth of food.
Elite members have the privilege of enjoying hot breakfast items at Le Méridien New Orleans, instead of cold continental breakfast.
Our meal included Southern favorites such as Gulf Shrimp & Grits, Pain Perdu with its celestial blend of sweet banana foster topping, crispy potato hash for added crunch, and pecan bacon for an indulgent twist.
Enjoy an indulgent morning with generous breakfast credit for Platinum Elite and higher-status members.
I especially savored Gulf Shrimps & Grits, as the blackened gulf shrimps had an impressive level of flavor and were perfectly cooked for tenderness. Meanwhile, its étouffée provided just enough Cajun kick. The French toast was sweet and pillowy, and if you are craving something sugary, go no further than the French toast. Your tastebuds won't be disappointed.
The French toast was prepared excellently, and the banana foster flavor really came through.
I genuinely enjoyed the quality and quantity of the breakfast dishes we ordered. Unfortunately, while we were in the lobby to check out at 8 AM sharp, construction had resumed, and guests dining nearby found their peace disturbed by ear-piercing drilling noise. We do not know when the renovation is scheduled to complete but if you are looking forward to carefree mornings spent enjoying food from this restaurant try your luck before 8 AM.
Positives & Negatives
Positives
The breakfast was the most memorable part of the stay at Le Méridien New Orleans. The generous breakfast stipend of $30 per person allowed us to enjoy a delicious meal early in the morning before the renovation began. Opting for an earlier time slot ensured we had all the quiet and comfort needed without intrusive background construction noises.
Negatives
I was dismayed to find the bedroom and bathroom in a less than satisfactory condition. Wears and tears on furniture pieces were visible, while unpleasant odors from the shower drain filled the bathroom air. Dirty crevices between shower tiles further testified that a proper hygienic protocol had not been conducted for some time now, leaving me with serious doubts about the general cleanliness of the hotel.
Le Méridien New Orleans had some unexpected renovations during our stay, and the construction noise in the lobby was quite distressing. Had we been made aware of this beforehand, however, it would have allowed us to make an informed decision about reserving a room with them.
Summary
Located near the heart of New Orleans and its iconic French Quarter, Le Méridien New Orleans was a convenient home base for my trip. Its rooftop pool provided a welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of downtown, and the breakfast at Longitude 90 was delicious. However, Le Méridien New Orleans left much to be desired due to broken furniture in the room as well as deafening construction noise that echoed throughout the lobby until I checked out. Although it’s clear improvements are being made through thorough renovations, guests hoping for tranquility may want to consider another location. I’m afraid I cannot recommend Le Méridien New Orleans at this time.
