The New Orleans Marriott anchors the corner of Canal and Chartres Streets in a 41-story tower at the very edge of the French Quarter. With more than 1,300 newly styled rooms and suites, many framing sweeping views of the Mississippi River, the Quarter, or the downtown skyline, it is one of the city's true full-service landmarks. A heated rooftop pool and sundeck overlook the river, and the dining lineup keeps you fed around the clock: 5Fifty5 for Louisiana-inspired plates, the 55 Fahrenheit lobby lounge for cocktails, plus the Canal Street Burger Bar and a grab-and-go pantry for quick bites.

Step out the door and the French Quarter begins half a block away. Bourbon Street's music and Jackson Square, the St. Louis Cathedral, and Cafe du Monde's beignets are all a short walk into the Quarter, while Royal Street's galleries and antique shops run nearby. The Riverwalk shops, the Audubon Aquarium, Harrah's Casino, and the Mississippi riverfront sit just south toward the water, and the historic streetcar rolls past the door toward the Garden District. Louis Armstrong International Airport is about 15 miles away, roughly a 20-minute drive.