Our family’s primary hotel reward program is IHG, where we earn tons of points but use them rather sparingly for redemptions. We would much rather use them for lower tier properties, especially when available on Points Break to help spread the wealth and allow us to travel more often. As long as the hotel is clean, offers enough beds, and usually has a pool and free breakfast, we are game.
Our Platinum status with IHG also typically grants us upgrades to larger rooms which is always helpful with three kids.
However, this year my wife and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary of the 4th of July. In reality, our kids travel EVERYWHERE with us because that is the point of family travel. So my wife and I had yet to really take a vacation just the two of us. So we far due for a couples only vacation.
One location that has always been on my wife’s bucket list was New Orleans, which meant it inevitably was without the kids.
Back in January 2018, I just happen to be browsing and discovered flights from Cleveland to New Orleans were only $117 after taxes per person on Southwest, so we jumped at the chance to book. Luckily the trip also coincided with kids summer camps, so arrangements were easy and we were off to planning one of our first trips alone in 10 years!
What also came in handy was my IHG Platinum status by holding their credit card gives us a free reward night each year. The timing of the trip just so happen to be perfect where I could use my 2017 voucher in addition to my 2018 voucher, giving us two free nights and with only one out-of-pocket night.
After reviewing the various IHG properties throughout New Orleans, we landed on the InterContinental New Orleans (Louisiana) since it was ideally located within the city and also highly rated on TripAdvisor.
Like any good deal hunter, I continued to monitor the prices of the InterContinental New Orleans. When I initially booked, the nightly rate for a King Superior room was $209. Long story short, after rebooking several times over the several months leading up to the trip, I managed to get the rate down to $119, which we consider an absolute steal!
Review InterContinental New Orleans (Louisiana)
The InterContinental New Orleans (Louisiana) is located on the American side of the city on St. Charles Avenue, just west of Canal Street. It is also only a third mile from the start of Bourbon Street, making it an easy walk to tons of the attractions in the area.
With our Platinum status as well as telling the InterContinental New Orleans we were celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary, our room was upgraded to a top floor corner Hospitality Suite on the Executive level.
The room included a parlor, large bedroom with king bed, huge seating area, and expansive bathroom and powder room.
The room was elegantly appointed in furnishings. The only thing we did not like about the room was the motion sensitive food and minibar, and while we did not have the kids to accidentally pick things up, it still made us nervous to even approach the area.
Our room overlooked St. Charles Avenue looking north. While there happen to be a new building getting constructed right outside our window, it really was not much of an issue with noise.
We also happen to visit the pool on one afternoon of our trip since it was so hot. One must awkwardly walk through the gym area to get to the pool. Once we got to the pool, we were quite underwhelmed. We had expected a really nice rooftop pool given it being an Intercontinental property. Instead, it was small and unassuming. Perfect for a couple people, but could see it quickly getting filled up, as it was smaller than most pools in any IHG property we visit.
Despite the small pool, our hotel stay at the InterContinental New Orleans could not have been any more ideal. The staff was absolutely fantastic and always accommodating! The facility was impeccable and beautiful. The room was great, as was the bed. In addition, every day our room had bottles of water, a chocolate covered Oreo and fresh fruit (that was included and not an extra). On one night we were given a complimentary bottle of wine (no doubt a gift for our anniversary), and each night we received turn down service with chocolates and new bottles of water.
For the value, I could not imagine staying anywhere else in New Orleans! The InterContinental was a fantastic property with so many advantages that really helped make our experience in New Orleans a home away from home.
