You want to be close, but not in the French Quarter. This is the place. Nice and comfortable rooms, outstanding service.

Debated between the Ritz Carlton, W Hotel, and the International House. The W was booked, and expected the Ritz to be a bit stuffy, so I went with International House.

I'm very happy with my decision. I requested a high floor and got the Penthouse room, facing the French Quarter and the River. Unfortunately, the views were partially, to mostly blocked by other hotels anyway.

The hotel is located about 1-1/2 blocks to the French Quarter, but if you really value cleanliness, you probably should not stay in the quarter anyway. I only say that because housekeeping seemed to be less than the very best when it comes to being on the ball. Semi-clean, let me put it to you that way. Obviously, I can all overlook this requirement during high season when a balcony room on Bourbon Street is highly sought after, but not during winter high season in general, with the rates to match.

The staff was very helpful from the start. The doorman relays your name to the desk staff as you arrive so magically everyone knows you by name by the time you step in to the hotel, a very nice touch. Our room wasn't ready upon check-in, so we were given by their GM these wicked drinks at the bar. One sip, and my wife was toast!

On Friday nights, the hotel's lobby bar is always hopping. The gym has decent enough equipment, but is a bit cramped. A spa on the premises would have been perfect.

First class hotel. From lobby to bar to room, all of it was great. Valets at front door should open the door, but other than that, not a single complaint. Would love to stay again in our lovely corner suite.

Every year my family and several friends fly to New Orleans for Mardi Gras; we are originally from New Orleans and really enjoy going back for our favorite time of year. This year we found the International House online and it looked great. The location is fantastic and the bar downstairs is very nice. Other than that it was an awful experience. We can (sort of) accept that there wasn't any room service due to the restaurant not being reopened but it does not excuse the rest of the service. We were there for 4 nights and the rooms were never cleaned. The cleaning crew would come and knock on the door every morning around 8:00am (of course we were not up yet) and would not return at a later time. We called the front desk, we put the sign out on the door for service, stopped the cleaning crew in the hallways but nothing worked. They made the bed once and we got clean towels twice but they never took out the trash, changed the sheets as asked, freshened up the bathroom, or pretty much anything else. Not only was the cleaning crew incompetent so was the front desk. Any question or request asked of them was a huge inconvenience for them. I understand it is Mardi Gras but for the past 5 years of doing this trip; we have never had an experience at any of the other hotels like this one. I couldn't believe how rude they were. They would not even pick up the phone to see if a particular restaurant could get us reservations. There was just no service what so ever. To top it all off, the rooms are no where near as nice as the online pictures portray them to be. Pretty much it was like staying at a Budget Inn. All in all, stay at one of the more competent hotels in the area. Walk the extra block to the W Hotel or the 2 to the La Pavilion. May be a little more a night but at least your mattress will not be covered in black soot that kept spewing out the air vents on your sheets that the hotel would not change!

I cannot say enough good things about this hotel. From the front desk staff, to the rooms and the bar, Loa. This place is simply put, amazing. We had a HUGE corner room on the third floor. The decor is very nice, the linens, artwork and pictures are all exactly what is pictured on their website. When we walked into the room, jazz was playing on the radio. The hotel also has free wireless access. I will be staying here next time I come to New Orleans.