The Eliza Jane hotel in downtown New Orleans on Magazine Street was a great base for a four night stay, using category 1-4 free nights. I was upgraded to a Publisher’s Suite.
The first tip about the Eliza Jane hotel is that many of the suites at this property come at a very modest premium. I’d actually consider buying up to one either at booking, or contacting the hotel in advance, if you aren’t confident of an upgrade – since base here rooms are small. But make sure you get a Magazine Street view and not an interior courtyard. I definitely valued the light.
When I arrived at the property the valet was overwhelmed. There’s a private pay lot just past the hotel, but since I was a Globalist member staying on points valet parking is free. hen the valet paid us a mind he told me I’d have to come back outside to find him and tell him my room number – that my name was not enough.
Surely there’s a better system. And indeed a front desk staff member went out to tell the valet my room number after I’d checked in. The valet never answered the phone at all during my stay, and there frequently wasn’t anyone out front of the hotel, but the front desk always sorted it.
We were given coupons for Commerce restaurant nearby for breakfast for two though it wasn’t open one day and we were given 2000 points in lieu. I think that’s their “500 points per room per day” that I’d read to expect, which is absurdly low, even though they provided breakfast coupons for 3 mornings of the stay. I didn’t try Commerce though it seemed well-regarded.
The Eliza Jane hotel’s common spaces are beautiful great, with plenty of seating areas. When I was there earlier in the month the only food and beverage open was the bar, and only in the late afternoon and evenings. Morning coffee was put out there complimentary until 10 a.m.
Entryway
Seating
Bar
Interior courtyard
Hallway
The rooms at the hotel are a bit of a mixed bag, I think. I wouldn’t want an atrium-facing one, and would request a room facing Magazine Street to get natural light into the bedroom. My suite’s living room was darker than I’d enjoy, and the light didn’t carry well from the bedroom.
The bedroom was missing a true desk, there was a ‘desk area’ with an ottoman in place of a chair (not good for working). I thought the suite would have a dining table but it didn’t.
Living Room Of Suite
Coffee maker and water
Bedroom
Bathroom
Shower and Tub
Tub with C.O. Bigelow amenities
Housekeeping was provided on request, but really was provided when requested.
This hotel is certainly nicer than the Hyatt Centric, though location-wise some will prefer the Centric due to proximity to the French Quarter (or for their pool, since the Eliza Jane doesn’t have one). I’d rate this a solid four star hotel.
@ Gary — Who stays in a regular hotel room? Suites are mandatory.
Thanks, Gary, for the review. And for not banning me from the comments section like one of your other nobheaded readers suggested. (If you’re one of those nobheads, FOAD.)
I really hate valet parking. Even if it’s smooth I hate others driving in my car. And you know what I hate most about valet parking? Tipping the valet driver. Bet the Globalist benefit doesn’t cover the tip… and a decent tip these days is equal or more than self parking elsewhere.
Valet parking is donkey s**t, am I clear on that point?
Donkey. S**t.
Where is the shower? Hopefully not a tub only room!
I stayed here in one of the “atrium” rooms that you mentioned Gary. It’s worse than a true atrium room, the room looks out into a hallway with almost zero natural light from anywhere. Without ensuring I would not be in one of these rooms, no way I’d stay here again.
@ Gary — Great, I wonder what comment WILL push you to ban P Ness? I much prefer uncensored comments, but I know even you have limits.
@Gene – is this how you were raised? To be so selfish and arrogant to ask the owner of NOT EVEN YOUR OWN blog to ban somebody who is NOT EVEN IMPEDING YOUR OWN comments, just because of your own preference not to see such a comment?
There are many commenters on this web site who are prolific in their bigotry, Jackson Waterson or whatever his name is, that New Yorker who hates blacks and Asians and made that crystal clear.
And you want P NESS banned?
I think you need P NESS in your behind!!!
Gary I stayed in a different “Publisher Suite” March 2020 – no light in the bathroom aside from light bulbs … Be glad for that window. 3rd floor?
.
Overall I agree with your review.. even in pre Covid times the place was dark, the service in the bar and restaurant, lackluster.
Didn’t use the Valet since I was getting on a Covid Cruise… So no car.. but even in the olde times they were overwhelmed, obvious from the pained faces of the many waiting outside.
Was it downgraded to a category 4? Seem to recall it was a 5 before.
@ P Ness — Where did I asked that you be banned?
This review is great timing for me as we are planning a trip to New Orleans in September. We were thinking of staying here but as Explorists would not get a suite upgrade. I really hate dark rooms so I think we will stay at the Hyatt Centric which we have stayed at and really enjoyed. You can’t beat the Centric’s location which is so close to some awesome restaurants and when we were there the staff was outstanding.
Gary – thanks for this review. I’m staying here next month, although I’m paying cash as the room rate is far less than what I value 15K points at (even paying the $35/day parking, which would be free as I currently have Globalist status).
In my mind, this is pretty loose use of the word “review”. Couldn’t check out the Globalist breakfast one day? No pictures of food or drinks from on property offerings (or even a menu). Is there a gym? Is there room service? I would have guessed this was the bare minimum for your CPA to agree it was a business expense, though I see you used free night certificates.
@Hepworth, sheesh. How much is your time worth. How much time did you spend reading this. Email me your Venmo, I’ll reimburse you and make you whole.
@P Ness. Maybe a reading comprehension issue? Not sure where in my comment I said my time was wasted or I was owed comp. But I guess this is your schtick. My hourly rate is $1,110.
@dwondermeant:
The shower is basically a big room that includes two showerheads and a bathtub. It’s….. very roomy. The water pressure leaves something to be desired.
We had one of the Publisher’s suites when we stayed there a couple months back. Ours DID have a dining room table, and a larger one than featured in the website picture. And while it has a beer fridge, it doesn’t have a microwave. There are two safes in the room, but they’re hidden in the bottom drawers of the dressers. No closet to speak of, but there’s some hanging racks permanently attached to the wall, one in the bedroom and another in the entry area.
We asked about the water pressure and lack of microwave. Apparently neither the electrical or plumbing was updated with the remodel, and therefore they are unable to accommodate high wattage appliances and the water pressure is going to be somewhat variable.
I’m originally from NOLA and Eliza Jane is my go-to hotel when in the area. We stayed at the Hyatt Centric French Quarter in late May since EJ wasn’t serving Globalist breakfast. The breakfast at Hyatt Centric was far beyond expectations, but EJ is in a better location since it’s away from the madness that is Bourbon Street. If staying in the FQ I’d go for the W French Quarter which is on the river side and less chaotic. The W FQ lower level Carriage House suites include backyards with a private hot tub, which is incredible for being in the middle of a city.
@Gary
Nice looking hotel, but Nawlins’ in summer? Phewww