Before my trip, I read some mixed reviews about the Prytania Park, so I was looking forward to finding out the "real deal" for myself. When we pulled into the parking lot (overnight parking $13), I was happy to see we were very close to a trolley stop on St. Charles. The $1.25 trolley fares are a very appealing way to get around New Orleans.

In the hotel’s tiny lobby, the guy behind the counter gave us a warm reception. We got a key for a junior suite and up the stairs we went to the second floor. Almost immediately I began to sense the Prytania Park has a bit of a "hostel" feel. This sense was heightened that much more when a shirtless Australian guy in a zebra striped cowboy hat leaned out his doorway and asked if we wanted to join him and his group for a quick whiskey. (Crikey!) We smiled and walked on by.

So how was our room?
Well, you know… It was okay. There was a small fridge and microwave with counter space in the entryway. The sitting room had a table-desk, sleeper love seat, and a couple of chairs. A narrow, metal staircase spiraled up to a loft area with our bed. The lace curtains, peeling pink wallpaper, and floral blanket weren’t bad. Just a bit tired. Like an old great aunt. With that said, our suite was also clean. There was a tall armoire and dresser for clothes. I liked the dark wood trim. We had a balcony outside our back door that was shared with the room next to ours. Though the hotel was completely full, we did not see or hear these neighbors. Our television got cable, and we had control of the window A/C unit. We turned this onto full blast when we went out for dinner, which made the sitting area chill by morning. Too bad our ceiling fan wasn’t working because the loft area upstairs remained toasty throughout the night. Not too uncomfortable hot. Just kick-off-all-the-blankets warm.

Bottom line?
Just like the mixed reviews I’d read, I have some mixed feelings. This is most certainly not the nicest hotel in New Orleans, but it is most certainly not the worst either…. I’d say it’s somewhere in the middle: an excellent choice, even, for a group of twenty-somethings on a budget. If the hotel were a term paper, I’d give it a solid "C."

Tip:
The free continental breakfast is pretty weak: some apples and packaged muffins. This is fine if you don’t normally eat a big meal when you wake up but not-so-good if you’re a hearty grits lover like me. You can buy juices in the lobby (as well as beer) or walk up to St. Charles and take a left. Walk down to the Please U Restaurant near the doughnut shop. This Waffle-House-like joint has been opened since 1946. You can grab waffles, coffee, eggs, and bacon here for the cost of a fast food meal. Yummy. Enjoy.