Wyndham New Orleans at La Belle Maison

We were appalled at the lack of cleanliness when we checked in to this Presidential unit. The general manager and housekeeping supervisor offered major apologies (and a gift basket from Cafe du Monde) and got the unit cleaned up but it shouldn't be necessary to spend part of your first night with housekeeping. By way of mitigation, we checked in on December 30 and the resort had turned over just about 100% of its units with a number of staff that didn't show up for work that day. Still.

This is the first visit to N.O. where we had not stayed in the French Quarter (Quarter House is our usual haunt). The walk to some familiar places (Jackson Square, French Market) is a little longer but if you take the trolley along the river, you avoid at least half the walk to the French Market.

The new location was nice as we were able to try some restaurants in the area and finally made it to the WWII museum (a must-see).

Parking is even more expensive than normal in a city where parking is at a premium. No basement garages in N.O.! The Hilton Garden provides no relief. They now charge $30/day.

Our only other complaint was the excessively persistent concierges and their "updates." We begged them to allow us to say NO when we checked in. They did but then proceeded to call 25 or 30 times. We answered once, then stopped answering the phone.

We were at Wyndham Avenue Plaza before a cruise in June 2011 and at La Belle Maison afterward so it got a tad confusing, but I'm pretty sure that Plaza had the outdoor pool in the patio and Maison had the roof top salt water pool and hot tub overlooking the city. Maybe that is new since the 2008 review was written. Yes, parking is still expensive, but we didn't bother with a car at all. We just walked or took the tram by day and a taxi if going out after dark. A more complete kitchen would be nice but eating out in New Orleans was even nicer!

What a great time we had at the La Belle Maison this past week August 14 -20, 2009. Not too far from Bourbon Street and within walking distance of the River Front and Harrah's casino. Canal street is just a block or two over. My only complaint and the reason why I rate it a 3 is because parking is $26.00 a night valet or $15.00 ( at the Hilton Garden Inn 4 or 5 blocks east) for self-parking. I don't care if this is New Orleans downtown. I am a paying owner of Wyndham ( Grand Desert home resort) and for us to be owners I think that is a RIP-OFF (capitalized). Come on Wyndham the whole purpose is to make the stay similar to being at home - i don't pay for parking. I own my home. I could understand paying $10.00 a night but $26.00! NO!!! No Way. The rooms were very spacious and comfortable. Can't cook in the one bedrooms no stove just a microwave. i do like the fact that use of the washing and drying is free ( what a few quarters that doesn't make it even people i would rather pay for my laundry than to pay $26.00 for parking). staff was pleasant and helpful. You all have to go and eat at Mother's Kitchen just a few blocks on Poydras street then a left at the corner (north). Good food ( not New Orleans BEST but good food). The bread pudding is too die for and i'm not a bread pudding lover but it was very satisfying. The lobby area really pretty and welcoming - BIg Easy style all the way. Also, street car accessiblity right there. Hey, take the street car on St. Charles street and go check out the garden district very nice homes. Anyway, it was a great vacation - we visited to see family members and to drop our daughter off to college at Xavier University which was just minutes away off the 10 freeway. Weight room was awesome! swimming pool - very small ( what pool) just a sitting type of pool. use of computers was a great feature without having to pay. Yes I would stay again - not happy about parking at the HILTON GARDEN INN but glad that they offered $15.00 a night in and out access. :-(

RCI exchange into this resort. Nice resort, good location - nice size 1 bdrm unit. Hallways to rooms are a bit indirect. 1 min walk to Canal St., 2 min walk to Harrah's Casino. Guests have access to 2 computers, exercise room, sauna, coin-operated laundry room. Other timeshares I've stayed at had a mid-week housekeeping...this one did not.

Advise to RCI exchangers: Do Not go to RCI members get together through the resort. They claim that RCI will be doing business differently in future and the resort wants to explain the new system to you - and lunch will be provided. It is a TIMESHARE SALES Presentation. And they're saving $$$ by not even offering you anything for your time except a deli sandwich and salad.

Lovely resort with many amenities. Handy to everything. Very luxurious.