Sandbox thread for New Orleans tourism questions/recommendations

Crossposted from an ILM thread:

Since the Sazerac is one of the current topics in the drinks thread, let me ask Sandboxers for New Orleans hotel recommendations, especially tips on finding good value for the dollar. We need a room or suite for three adults, preferably close enough to streetcar lines and other public transport to make it possible to just ignore the car for most of a week. Projected trip January 11-18, flexible.

I put questions on the other thread. Would you do two rooms if comparable in cost?

2 rooms for comparable cost would be fine.

6 or 7 nights. Staybridge Suites, 501 Tchop, is jumping out at me, with a large extended-stay discount for 7 nights or more, and is pretty well reviewed. The less we have to spend on lodging, the more we can spend on foods and events. Staybridge's suites have full kitchens, a big plus.

Have not stayed at, but recommend the Royal Sonesta, which is very NoLA, and in the middle of everything (for better or worse). If you want something cheaper, try the perhaps slightly less attractively-located but reasonably central Renaissance Pere Marquette (or, if two are sharing a bed with the third in the room, consider the nearby Holiday Inn French Quarter Chateau Lemoyne, where I have stayed (in a suite)). If you're willing to go slightly over budget, you could get 1 room and 1 suite at the b&b/inn-ish Le Richelieu in the French Quarter, also very NoLA, but much quieter and on a lovely street. If you want that (or the Sonesta, perhaps), I would act fast.

The Richelieu is in the quarter and convenient to Frenchman Street, but a slightly longer walk to the streetcar.

BTW the rough budget I mentioned in the other thread was for the whole trip, not just lodging.

Ah, well that would rule out the Sonesta and Richelieu (unless they'll take 3 in a suite, which it seems they won't). Staybridge Suites is relatively central, in a corporate- (slightly lees seedy?) feeling part of the business district, but an easy walk to the quarter and a number of good places to eat outside it. Mother's (get the roast beef po boy with debris) is right across the street.

The Rolling sandbox New Orleans music on tv and in New Orleans and in your home and in your town thread

that's the other thread mentioned...