Best Hotels For Mardi Gras

If you are coming for Mardi Gras, you might want to stay in a hotel on the parade route. Here are a few of the favorites.

A beautiful small historic hotel, The Columns is at 3811 St. Charles Avenue, near the beginning of all the parade routes. The parades pass on the other side of St. Charles, so you can just walk across the street or enjoy the view from the front veranda. It has one of the best bars in town. Phone: 504.899.9308 Fax: 504.899.8170 Toll Free: 800.445.9308

This small boutique hotel is at 1509 St. Charles Ave., right on the uptown parade route. It offers off-street parking, and has a little courtyard in the rear when you need to get away from the hustle of the crowds. The rooms feature traditional decor but with modern amenities, and is near quite a few restaurants. Visit the website.

Hotel LeCirque is located right on Lee Circle, on St. Charles Avenue, and you don't even have to leave your hotel to see the parades. It is within easy walking distance to the Warehouse District, the Convention Center, the Superdome, and the New Orleans Arena. It has The Hotel LeCirque 137 rooms, and offers Mardi Gras package rates. 936 St. Charles Avenue 24 Hour Toll Free Reservations: 1-800-684-9525 Local: 1-504-962-0900

A four-diamond hotel, the Intercontinental is also directly on the parade route on St. Charles Ave, in the Central Business District. 444 St Charles Avenue. It has 479 rooms and one of the best hotel restaurants in town. Tel: +1 504 525 5566, Fax: +1 504 523 7310 E-mail: new-orleans@interconti.com

The Royal St. Charles is a contemporary boutique hotel one block off of Canal Street and from the French Quarter, a great location to be in the heart of the celebration. With modern amenities and original artwork, the rooms are lovely and comfortable. 135 St. Charles Avenue Phone 504-587-3700 or Toll-free 800-268-9749

A Best Western Hotel, The Parc St. Charles has 123 guest rooms and is right in the heart of downtown, on the St. Charles parade route. Five blocks from the French Quarter, the abbreviated streetcar line still passes by here. 500 St. Charles Avenue Toll Free: 1-888-856-4489 Local: 1-504-522-9000

The Astor Crowne Plaza is at 739 Canal Street, at the corner of Bourbon Street and is home to the wonderful Dickie Brennan's Bourbon House Seafood & Oyster Bar. It has 707 rooms and 28 suites, and a friendly staff. 739 Canal Street at Bourbon Reservations: 1-800-684-1127 Local: 1-504-962-0500 Fax: 1-504-962-0501

Check out the Renaissance Arts Hotel;the International House Hotel; and Le Pavillion. All are within a block or two of St. Charles Ave. downtown.