Harrahs New Orleans

Any idea how I can get the best room rate?

 

I'm heading there for a conference in August. I'll be staying at the Marriot, but I booked it through the totalrewards website. I'm guessing they won't have $5 tables but I'll be looking.

 

The issue there is the "clientele" as they have panhandlers getting in regularly and sometimes they will hassle customers for money or a drink. I don't know if there are restrictions on them banning people or something but I didn't understand why because everyone passes through security. You'd figure they'd stop letting some of the people in that they've thrown out in the past. The actual customers tend to be from out of town. I don't think we met a lot of locals playing.

Hotel wise, we had a premium room
and it blew away LV and Joliet easy. We weren't impressed by the onsite restaurants but you can easily walk to tons of better options. Casino wise, it's big in there with lots of slots but I can't speak to what they have for tables.

Location wise, it's perfect as its a few blocks from Bourbon Street and an easy walk to many popular sites.

 

We have been to Harrah's in NOLA many times and love it there. The rooms at Harrah's are very nice and their partner hotels are first class-Doubletree, Hilton, etc. I can't understand why anyone would call any of them a hell-hole. We've never been bothered by panhandlers inside the casino because the security boothlings at the entrances screen them out. Machines there are, in my opinion, pretty tight but we've always had fun gambling there and the location can't be beat-just a few blocks from the French Quarter.
I agree about the limited restaurant selections but why would they need to have them on property when you have all of NOLA at your feet.
You have to experience NOLA at least once.

 

You either love New Orleans or you hate it......I don't think there is any in between. The company I work for has an office in NOLA and they have to offer a premium to get people to live there. The crime and murder rate in the downtown area (where Harrah's is) is an embarrasment to the entire city.

Yes, the French quarter can be fun, but watch your belongings as there are lots of pickpockets in the area. Also, some of the filthiest cabs I have ever ridden in are in NOLA. The casino there does tend to draw a lot of panhandlers (leo21 hit it dead on) and can be a bit scary if you are by yourself.

Never walk the streets around the Harrah's casino alone at night if you are a woman.

I admit that my data is pretty old as I've only been back to NOLA twice in the last 10 years. A good friend of mine lives there in the Garden District and she loves it--so, we're back to the either love it or don't......and like Shifter, I don't. YMMV

 

I've found that Harrah's hotel seems to have much higher rates than the other multiple hotels around the area for some reason if you aren't going in with a players card that is platinum/diamond/7star. I'm not sure why they charge so much, but many times they are priced higher than the Ritz Carlton that's about three blocks away. (Granted, its not one of the best RCs I've stayed at...but still...) I suggest looking at the Westin at Canal Place, the Marriott on Canal or the Doubletree if you're just trying to be close to the casino without breaking the bank.

As far as safety is concerned, I've never had "undesirables" approach me in that casino. Ive also felt pretty safe walking around that neighborhood (warehouse district) at night. There are other parts of the city I wouldn't go stomping around as a solo female, but that holds true for many other cities as well, including Las Vegas. When I lived in NOLA, I often felt more endangered in my neighborhood Wal-Mart parking lot. But as someone else said upthread, with NO either you love it or you hate it.

 

I didn't have anyone personally approach me but I noticed people loitering. But other people in my party did have people approach them and even observed some folks picking up abandoned drink glasses trying to inhale vapors. The goal of the panhandlers seems to be to get enough change to gamble long enough to get a drink. And we caught security guards at the entrances napping so they aren't doing enough to keep people out who they've 86ed before.

All and all I would go back and stay there. There is so much to do outside of the casino so if you can get them to pick up the hotel stay, it's worth it.