The Omni Royal on St Louis St is considered one of the best in the French Quarter. Just a few blocks to Bourbon St. Safe at nite. Should be a great weekend with a new parade "Krewe of Boo" on the 31st. Will be very busy in the Quarter with lots of interesting costumes. Your hotel is less than a block to the Napoleon House which has very good food including Muffaletta sandwiches. Also 1/2 block to Emeril's NOLA Restaurant, K-Pauls, and the original Brennans, where Bananas Foster was invented. Consider tours of the French Quarter, historic museums and homes. The music scene on Bourbon St will be rocking with all types of music including Blues, Jazz, Cajun, Zydeco, C & W, Rock. Don't forget the dueling pianos at Pat O'Brien's on St Peter St while you sip on a potent Hurricane drink.

As long as you are game to join the party, then you have picked a great location! Enjoy!

thanks for the help... we have our costumes all set and ready to go and we are definitely geared up for a good time!

Remember to get reservations at your restaurants of choice as between that special weekend and conventions there will be a lot of people in town.

thanks for that tip, Cajunyank...we have been so focused on where to stay and getting our costumes together that we haven't given restaurants much thought. We are a first-timer and someone who was in NOLA 30(?) years ago for Halloween and Mardi Gras so we would greatly appreciate any tips on restaurants. my preference is to do a romantic dressed-up (not costumes) dinner on Thurs night and then party, party on Friday. suggestions NOLA experts???

Just to reassure you, you've picked one of the best places to stay. The location is great, less than 100 yards to Bourbon (1 1/2 blocks). It is also a great crntral location for everything else. Safety shuoldn't be a serious concern, you would just about have to go looking for trouble to find it. This area will be crowded until the early hour of morning. You be staying across the street form the courthouse (where they filmed "Runaway Jury"). On the other side of the courthouse is the local police staion. Just as you exit your hotel to the left across the street is the Napoleon House. Alot of people say that some of the best sandwiches in the area come from there.

Try a restaurant search using the trip advisor search and you will find a wealth of information. My choices for romantic style places would be Bayona(courtyard), Broussards(courtyard) or Fellings Cafe. Irene's is a great Italian restaurant. You are close to GW Fins and K-Pauls also. Dickie Brennan's has great steaks and Acme would be excellent for lunch. Don't forget cafe du'monde for beignets and cafe au lait. There are so many just great places to eat.