I splurged on a gorgeous Airbnb during a quick stop in New Orleans recently. Right off of Bourbon street, but just a bit away from the party crowds, it was so perfect, and really reminded me of how wonderful Airbnbs can be when they get it all right and really have a sense of place!
The Airbnb is basically a boutique hotel, with the best features of both (there’s housekeeping service, and no rules about cleaning your dishes or taking out the trash–speaking of which, what’s up with so many Airbnbs charging a cleaning fee, then asking you to do half the cleaning?). Secure keypad entry to the hotel front door and our room door made late check-in super easy, and while there wasn’t an employee on the property at all times, the property manager stayed in contact via the Airbnb messaging system to make sure everything was perfect.
Our room was a good size, with high ceilings and a large balcony that made it feel even more spacious. The kitchenette was nice to have, and included a complimentary bottle of champagne and orange juice for mimosas, along with local spicy potato chips.
No one who knows me will be surprised to find that the balcony was a major deciding factor in booking the room, and very worth it.
The room I booked is actually part of an early 1800s mansion, renovated entirely into Airbnb rentals, so all guests have access to the lovely private courtyard. After long day of walking, I really wanted to stay in and just order pizza to eat in the courtyard, which is even prettier at night. My introverted impulses were vetoed, but I maintain that the best hotels are the ones you’re very tempted not to leave.
Here’s the link to the room I booked, and find all of the host’s properties here.
Related posts: