My soon-to-be husband and I visited the Audubon Cottages last year as a possible place to stay and get married, as we wanted the quaint courtyard feel for our wedding. The moment we walked through the small door off the Quarter, we fell in love with this place. After our wedding in April in the courtyard of the Cottages, I can honestly say I will never stay anywhere else in New Orleans.... In regard to some of the other reviews, if you are looking for new and characterless, please don't stay here... trying to make this place into something it's not and then having to write a negative review is pointless... The rich history and secluded presence of this place is what makes it absolutely perfect... Old too some is rich and historic, musty to others is that wonderful smell when you open an old trunk, the memories, the possibilities that envelop you... And the staff at the Dauphine Orleans went out of their way to make our small wedding such a wonderful experience. I simply cannot wait to come back.

Having read the reviews here I was a little concerned in advance of my stay at the Cottages. My wife and I have traveled quite extensively and have stayed in a variety of accommodations. We stayed in Cottage 6 and enjoyed "ducking in" off the street and seeing our small garden oasis with the brick pool and tree-lined walkway. As for the room, as others have stated, this is not the Four Seasons. Our room was clean and the bedding, duvet, and mattress were new and comfortable. The furnishings were worn and the bathroom, while functional, was nothing to write home about. The service from the Dauphine was good although the morning breakfast was no better than what you might get at Fairfield Inn.

Overall, I would stay again at the cottages, especially for a shorter weekend stay like mine where the high room price is not going to break the bank. It is in a great location and makes for a great place from which to the explore the French Quarter. Just keep in mind that the price of the room reflects the unique nature of the property, not necessarily a high grade of service, decor, or amenities you may find at other similarly priced hotels in the Quarter.

I have mixed feelings about the Audubon Cottages. On one hand, the hideaway feeling, pool, and quaintness of the complex is unique and inviting. On the other hand, our cottage was musty, the upholstery worn and the bathroom in dire need of renovation. Some guests may relish the ramshackle quality- I struggled with it. When we arrived we were booked in cottage 7. It was a mess when we entered- I got a handful of dust when I tried to open the window (which was painted shut)- and when my husband tried to shimmy the couch down, underneath he found trash and loose live wires hanging out of an outlet (he's an electrician- that was a deal breaker). We were moved to cottage 5 which was much cleaner, but sadly the bedroom is windowless and therefore stagnant. We had the chance to peek at cottage 4 which was lovely- and had multiple doors that actually opened.
In the end, I would not return to the Cottages. They are adorable, but they need to be renovated. Something tells me though that had they been renovated- they'd be so expensive I couldn't afford to stay there anyhow!

My wife and some friends had planned to stay in the Audubon Cottages, where we had stayed before, for our first visit since Katrina. One of my friends found a very negative review--the only one after Katrina. He followed up by e-mailing the reviewer, who stood by his assessment. We ended up staying in another hotel, but visited the cottages to check them out. All was just as fine as our first stay there. If you want a truly Southern experience and want to feel as if you were staying in a plantation guest house with a private courtyard, this is for you. If you insist on new, banal hotel decor, please stay away, and don't write negative reviews. If this place is good enough for Celine Dion, Dan Akroyd, and Paul McCartney, it's good enough for me