This is an unremarkable hotel that didn't really make an impression on me. The location is great -- just five minutes from the French Quarter. The room was all right, although there was some noise from the air conditioning, the large fan above the bed and the toilets/showers/baths being used by other guests. The bathroom lights were on the lowest setting possible which meant I had to have my own shower pretty much in the dark. Only once I'd left did a colleague point out that there was a small lever next to the bathroom light switch which you could use to control the lighting.

My husband and I just took our first trip to New Orleans. Having read many of the reviews on this site, I decided to book the International House. It was the best decision I could have made. The hotel is located across the street from the French Quarter, and a short block to the St. Charles trolley. The hotel is very quiet, clean, and the staff was very knowledgeable. We berated the front desk with questions about restaurants, tours, and live music venues- they were spot on about everything. The only downside is that their breakfast consists of granola bars and cold coffee. I would stay there again on my next trip.

If you are familiar with hotels in europe, this one compares with more perks and better service.
The hotel was MOST accomodating. We booked a four night weekend (Thursday thru Monday) through a third party website. After reading reviews here, I began to be concerned, because we were traveling as three...my daughter, my husband and I, in viewing her chosen new university Loyola. I did not want to be cramped in a small room or disappointed as we showed off the city to our daughter. I emailed them our information and asking for a larger room if possible and they wrote right back. The hotel could not have been nicer. They confirmed we were in a large superior double. They even offered to arrange a car service to pick us up at the airport, as we were arriving late on a Thursday evening. We had already gone ahead and booked a service, which the hotel confirmed was very reputable when I asked them for a reference.
We arrived at about 11PM on Thursday evening. What a comfort to have low lighting, luscious smelling candles in the foyer and friendly faces to greet us after a long day. A group of guests, gathered around the large ottoman in the foyer, listening to a young girl and her guitar, gestured for us to join them. We would have loved to, had we not wanted so very much to change, unpack and find a nice corner in the inviting bar, Loa, in the lobby to unwind.
Check in was a breeze. The doorman/security/bell captain, had our bags out of the sedan and into the hands of a very polite, friendly and capable bell service man, who carried them to our room, before we could even give direction. Our doorman/security was a kind gentlemen, friendly and truly happy to share a chat. My husband spent most of the four mornings enjoying his coffee on the hotels front steps chatting with the doormen, as he waited for the girls to get ready!
After changing, we wandered back to the lobby and the bar for a drink. We found a cozy calming niche and my daughter, my husband and I enjoyed a cocktail and a glass of soda before retiring.
The room itself was very large, as hotels go. It was room 305. A nice touch to have jazz playing when we walked in, We only experienced that once before, in a little inn in Newport RI. It spoke volumes to us about the hotel and their respect for our arrival.
The window to the bedroom sat above the archway entry to the hotel. The attached full bath was enormous. It rivaled my home master suite. I have new plans for my home bath now :) The bathroom had an expansive glass picture window with dramatic sweeping ceiling to floor curtains, Italian travertine tile and a extra large glass walled walkin shower.
Yes the lighting is low in the room. But after a day in the heat and humidity of New Orleans or an evening in the noise and smoke of a french quarter jazz bistro, we always found it soothing to come home to.
Breakfast is a gracious offering of coffee, teas, large bowls of fresh whole fruits (apples, oranges and bananas when we were there) and granola bars. This is served in an intimate room off the lobby, with a couch, two extremely comfortable settee chairs and a flat screeen TV. It was a nice place to meet people. One morning I shared some time with Ann, who was in New Orleans for her sons wedding that evening. Runnning into her again the next day we shared details of our experiences- her wedding, my college tour. This I cannot find in the larger hotel settings. Another morning we exchanged breakfast banter with a young man who had close ties to where we live, although he now lives in California. This room was nice, but it does close after breakfast is through, which is disappointing, because it was quite relaxing. Maybe cold teas later in the day for the road weary could be worked into the schedule?
The front desk was always eager to help. They made recommendations and reservations for us for dinners and brunches. On the morning we left (catching a 6AM flight!) They cheerily placed a wake up call to our room at 3:30am as we requested, then called back at 4am to see if we needed assistance with our bags. They arranged our taxi the night before and made sure the driver was on time. It seems they work with him often.
Our time away and my daughters intro to New Orleans was made so much more special by the hotel. The bar was a quiet place for all three of us to relax on Saturday at 5PM..The room was relatively empty at that time and we were able to capture great window seats, on the comfortable settee and chairs, for some good people watching, scotch sipping chatter and debreifing. We felt revived in no time. Yet another night, upon returning from a days activities, we found a huge party going on in the foyer/lobby! What fun! Even the New Orleans fire department was there, as only can happen in NOLA, in their trucks and uniforms to enjoy the fete! It turns out it was a thank you party for a fundaiser which had been held earlier in the year. We were honored to be able to be a part of it- Had we known we would have made a donation!
Yes the noise on the street can be heard, as in any city. I have stayed in NYC often and did not expect otherwise here. The Omni across the street has speakers on the otuside of their building. Light blues can be heard very faintly throughout the night. To those who love having a soundtrack to life, this was bliss for me.
The beds are extremely inviting and decadent. I had a hard time getting out of them. Plenty of towels everyday. Facility staff who honor the privacy signs. A large walkin closet for hanging garments and a very charming armoire for drawer items and a small TV.
The hotel sits on a small side street one block from Canal and one block from the St Charles Trolley. Could not be more convenient for walking to Vieux Carre, the Riverwalk and the Casino.
We truly enjoyed our stay and will book again, as we return often for the next four years of my daughters college experience!
If you want to capture the true spirit of New Orleans, this is the place

The good:
Location was great.
Room was spacious and nicely decorated.
Bathroom was lovely - and huge.

The bad:
We waited an hour past check-in time (4 PM) for our room to be ready. The lobby was packed with other people waiting. No apology was offered.

They vastly overestimate the luxury of the place. Lots of the amenities they advertised weren't there. Examples:
- No minibar
- No flowers in the room
- No down comforters
- No restaurant (closed for renovation)

I didn't need any of those things, so I was relatively happy with the place. I thought it over-sold itself, though, and I agree with the reviewer who said it's trying to hard to be hip. It's a nice hotel - they should drop the pretension and work on the basics.