01.09.2004 19:59:22
Rob
USA/New Orleans/Cotton Exchange Hotel-Downtown F Q Area

My girlfriend and I recently stayed at the Cotton Exchange Hotel in New Orleans. We weren’t disappointed in the location, which was quite good or the room, which was nice, but we were disappointed in the hotel itself and the way its guests are nickled-and-dimed to death. We booked the Cotton Exchange on a travel web site based on its location and customer reviews, but nowhere was it mentioned that the only parking available at the hotel was valet parking at $17.95 per night or that you are charged $4.95 for a safe and $2.95 for Internet access, whether or not you use them. Our room had an excellent view of the hotel across the street, and that’s probably where we’ll stay if we ever go to New Orleans again. BTW, the parking fee applies to the Holiday Inn Express next door, too -- they seem to share some so-called “amenities” and personnel. I nearly forgot to mention the noise! I’ve never stayed in a hotel that was this noisy before. I could hear banging and jumping and kids stomping and yelling through the halls at all hours, and I could even hear normal conversations from down the hall. I will never, ever stay in this hotel again.