I recently stayed at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel on Canal Street, and unfortunately, my experience was very mixed.
I'll start with the positives. The location is excellent, and the hotel lobby is beautiful, spacious, and welcoming. There is plenty of seating throughout the lobby, areas to relax, dine, or meet with friends, and the bar area adds a nice touch. I do wish they would add some live entertainment, such as a pianist or local musician, because the space is large enough to create a much more vibrant atmosphere.
The highlight of our stay was Debbie at the front desk. She was incredibly friendly and accommodated our early arrival with an early check-in, which we greatly appreciated after traveling. The check-in process was quick and efficient, and the overall front desk staff was welcoming and professional.
The hotel also has security in the evenings, and guests must use their room key to access the elevators, which adds a sense of security.
Now for the negatives.
The guest rooms are desperately in need of renovation. For a Marriott property, I expected much better. The room felt dated the moment we walked in. The brown carpeting appeared old and stained in several areas, and the room overall had a damp, worn feel. The bathroom showed signs of age, including rust around the bathtub vent and other fixtures. I also noticed dirt buildup around the air vents, which was concerning, considering that air is constantly circulating through them.
To make matters worse, I was bitten by what appeared to be a spider while sleeping and woke up with two bites on my arm.
The room simply did not reflect the quality or price point I expected from a Sheraton or Marriott-branded hotel. While the hotel's public areas are impressive, the guest rooms tell a completely different story.
We also utilized the Club Lounge for breakfast. The staff there were friendly and helpful. Breakfast included eggs, sausage, potatoes, grits, fruit, bagels, croissants, juice, coffee, tea, and other standard breakfast items. The grits were probably the best thing on the menu. However, the menu was nearly identical each morning, so a little more variety would have been appreciated for guests staying multiple days.
We tried lunch in the lounge once, and while there were a few options available, some of the food was overly salty and not particularly memorable.
One additional disappointment was the Starbucks located inside the hotel. The staff there were noticeably unfriendly compared to the hotel employees. Customer service felt rushed and unwelcoming, especially when guests were trying to decide what to order. While Starbucks is operated separately from the hotel, it still affects the overall guest experience because it is located on the property.
Overall, the Sheraton New Orleans has an outstanding location, a beautiful lobby, and some wonderful employees, especially Debbie at the front desk. However, the aging guest rooms, cleanliness concerns, and lack of updates significantly impacted our stay. Until the rooms undergo major renovations, I would have difficulty recommending this property at its current price point.
