In which, HotelChatter readers are treated to exclusive hotel deals dug up by us.
All deals have a limited amount of rooms attached to them and may sell out quickly.
Today's Hotel Deals
2.4.08-2.7.08 *Mardi Gras Hotels in New Orleans* $From $125/night This site has several cheap hotel deals in New Orleans like the Saint James for $125 a night. But rooms require full payment and no refunds allowed.
2.2.08-2.4.08 *Super Bowl XLII Hotel* $Days Inn North Phoenix from $150 Via Priceline. The good thing about this deal is that you don't have to stay a minimum of five nights.
2.4.2008 - 2.8.2008 *Carnival Hotel* $Everest Rio Hotel from $350 a night Rooms are still open at this Ipanema hotel for Carnival but four nights stay is required.
2.4.08 - 2.7.2008 *Fashion Week Hotel* $Six Columbus for $175 a night A teeny Pod room is available but at this price, you might have some money leftover to afford some new fashion.
Have a hotel deal you think we should consider? Or have a destination and date where you want us to check for hotel rooms and rates for you? No guarantees on either, but you can try your luck by hitting us here: tips@hotelchatter.com.
Mardi Gras is fast approaching. If you think it's too much trouble to fill out an application form to stay at the Inn on Bourbon, then you can try the confusingly-similarly named Bourbon Orleans, which has balconies overlooking both Bourbon Street and Orleans Street. It's decorated a-la France in the 1800s (with a few modern touches, luckily), and until 1964 the hotel building was actually a kind of convent. But things have changed.
These days the Bourbon Orleans has its own Mardi Gras deal and they say they still have some rooms available--although the weekend of February 2 to February 4 is fully booked. For the rest of Mardi Gras you can get rooms starting at $239 and you'll be right in the heart of the parade. But there are definitely not many rooms left, so get a reservation in before you miss out and are left to pitch your tent on the pavement. (We don't think this is actually allowed so don't tell anyone we said this).
One of the world's most famous celebrations in one of America's most loved cities is right around the corner--Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
Of course, everyone knows the place to be and be beaded on February 5 is Bourbon Street, and if you're looking for a little class among a celebration that occasionally gets a little raunchy, check out the Inn on Bourbon, an elegant hotel in the French Quarter that used to be the Old French Opera House, said to be the first opera house in the U.S., which opened on December 1, 1859.
This New Orleans hotel is so sought after during Mardi Gras you need to fill out an application to stay there. Seriously.
The Inn on Bourbon offers 179 guest rooms and seven suites, most that have balconies overlooking Bourbon or Toulouse streets, which makes it the perfect spot for looking down on (anyone up for a little double entendre?) all the Mardi Gras revelry.
You'll want to request a Bourbon Street Balcony Room, which costs about $900 per night during Mardi Gras. But you'll have to make that reservation for next year--like most Bourbon Street hotels, the Inn on Bourbon's best rooms have all been filled, though space is still available in a few standard rooms.
In fact, securing a room at the Inn on Bourbon for Mardi Gras is a little like applying to live in a New York City co-op. Priority is given to previous guests of the hotel; new entrants must fax a written request to 504-524-8273 to the attention of Jairo Brenes.
The hotel requires a minimum-five night stay that starts the Friday before Fat Tuesday and has you checking out that Wednesday. Insiders suggest booking as soon as possible to secure space in 2009.
With the official Mardi Gras website showing a fast disappearing countdown until the huge New Orleans fest kicks off, it's definitely time you firmed up your hotel booking. The parades run from January 25 through February 5 and a lot of hotels already have limited availability on that final weekend, but there are still rooms to be had.
At the Saint Louis Hotel in the French Quarter, they're running a special Mardi Gras package deal which starts at $199 per night. The deal includes complimentary cocktails and hors d'oeuvres every evening before you hit the town, a gift of your very own Mardi Gras throws, plus breakfast included each day served either in your room or in the hotel courtyard.
The location of the Saint Louis is great, only half a block from Bourbon Street and walking distance from many key attractions of New Orleans. Plus the price is reasonable, especially during Mardi Gras--but recent guest reviews have been very mixed, with some promising never to stay there again and others planning to return every year as they always have. Presumably at Mardi Gras you won't be spending much time in your hotel room anyway, so it's probably worth the risk.
Hotel Maison de Ville is celebrating New Orleans' legendary Mardi Gras celebration with somewhat lowered rates for the days before Feb. 20th.
And luckily for us, Mardi Gras hotel rooms do not cost as much as Super Bowl hotel rooms. Standard rooms start at $219, queens at $239 and the two-bedroom cottages are going for $699 a night. However, there is a three night minimum.
We found rooms open from Monday Feb. 19 through Wednesday, with the third night being much cheaper since its after Mardi Gras.
Just remember, as we reported last fall the place may be haunted by a country-music-loving ghost.
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