Hotel Prices in New Orleans Skyrocket for Mardi Gras
February 12, 2012
Scoring a hotel room in New Orleans for the Mardi Gras festivities is going to put a big dent in the wallet of last-minute travelers. Hotel rooms within easy access of the Big Easy parades are still available. In fact, 15% of New Orleans hotels are still posting vacancies. But a new survey by CheapHotels.org has revealed that holiday revelers will be paying significantly more than usual for the privilege of staying in one of these remaining accommodations over the main Mardi Gras period of February 17 to February 22 (Fat Tuesday).
The survey found the Holiday Inn CHATEAU LEMOYNE in the French Quarter as the biggest committer of rate hiking. Out-of-towners who want to stay at this centrally located establishment will find themselves paying $449 per night this Mardi Gras. That's more than triple the usual rate of $127, and it represents a 253% cost elevation.
The majority of the other New Orleans hotels aren't offering much of a cost break either, with almost all of them posting rooms at more than double their typical price. Case in point is the 3-star Ramada Plaza Inn. Situated right in the heart of the Mardi Gras action on Bourbon Street, this hotel that normally charges $135 per night has jacked up its rate for the same double room by 158%. Over the main Mardi Gras period, guests will be paying a nightly fee of $349.
Mardi Gras revelers who are on a limited budget will be hard-pressed to find a hotel within New Orleans itself for a reasonable rate. In fact, not a single Big Easy hotel currently has an available room for less than $300 per night. If they take a 20-minute drive outside the city to the New Orleans suburb of Metairie, they will be able to break the $300 mark, but a better bet is the New Orleans Airport region. Here, a few rooms are still being listed for under $200 per night.
The table that follows lists the 10 New Orleans hotels with the highest price hikes over the main Mardi Gras period of February 17 to February 22. The percentages shown were calculated after a comparison with regular room rates.
Rank | Name of Hotel | Location | Regular | Mardi Gras | Increase |
1. | Holiday Inn Chateau Lemoyne | French Quarter | $127 | $449 | +253% |
2. | Ramada Plaza Inn On Bourbon | French Quarter | $135 | $349 | +158% |
3. | Marriott at the Convention Center | Downtown | $169 | $401 | +137% |
4. | Courtyard by Marriott Downtown | Downtown | $156 | $359 | +136% |
5. | Royal Sonesta Hotel | French Quarter | $179 | $397 | +121% |
6. | La Quinta Inn & Suites | French Quarter | $149 | $329 | +120% |
7. | JW Marriott New Orleans | French Quarter | $199 | $429 | +115% |
8. | Harrahs New Orleans Casino & Hotel | Downtown | $291 | $559 | +92% |
9. | W New Orleans | Riverwalk | $220 | $407 | +85% |
10. | Hotel Mazarin | French Quarter | $185 | $321 | +73% |
About the Methodology:
The survey was conducted on February 10, 2012. Available hotels in New Orleans and their rates for a standard double room for the period of February 17 to February 22 were established based on a search of the leading hotel-booking sites: Expedia, Priceline and Orbitz. For comparison purposes, the rates for the same rooms for April 6-11 were established and determined as "Regular Rates."